should I unsporterize my no1mk3 lithgow????????????????

themouser

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So I got this rifle for peanuts. It is an FTR and in beautiful shape. The barrel and action were forced matched and the numbers ground off top of barrel and action and restampted on side. I guess that is the norm for an FTR?
I may have a line on the military stock and bands etc for around $200. What I would like to know if this is worth the effort?
I dont see alot of these rifles in their military form.
 
So I got this rifle for peanuts. It is an FTR and in beautiful shape. The barrel and action were forced matched and the numbers ground off top of barrel and action and restampted on side. I guess that is the norm for an FTR?
I may have a line on the military stock and bands etc for around $200. What I would like to know if this is worth the effort?
I dont see alot of these rifles in their military form.
Depend of the condition of the rifle. If its in very good cond and the barrel was un cut and military sights are there,would be a nice restoration project.
Joce
 
Do the job right, taking care with fitting the action, getting the bedding and barrel pressures right, and you could be in for quite a surprise.

Many SMLEs will shoot an honest 1 MOA with their factory iron sights. With target sights, they will do it all day long.

I have a couple here which will do it any time.

One is a 1918 Lithgow that I set up myself, the other a 1918 NRF which is untouched since it left the factory.

Put that 17-inches of Pattern 1907 on the muzzle and you have the Ultimate Crowd Control Mechanism.

Have fun!
 
Yes, be careful!

I bought one for $8.50 when Simpson's-Sears was selling out of them.

Then I rebuilt one out of junk parts, put $12 into it an got a Mark I*** Navy out of it.

They went into the closet and, next time I counted, there were 14 of them in various states of undress.

I think they have orgies when we aren't looking!
 
The rifle that got me into collecting milsurps was my dad's sporterized Longbranch #4 Mk1*, it was a worthwhile and interesting experience restoring it to "era original".
 
While "restoring" a lee enfield is a worthy pursuit in and of itself, I think you might be able to find a better candidate for the process - IE original numbers and so on.

You should ask yourself if the rifle has a full length barrel, good bore condition, good headspace, good trigger pull, decent blueing, because if it doesn't - you can easily find one that DOES - and restore that one instead.

Just my 2 cents!!

I love restoring stuff myself, and often spend more money at it than I should. If you know the risks why not?
 
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