So I stumbled across a siamese contract enfield that had previously passed through the hands of Bubba. It has a replacement 60's era aftermarket sporter stock and a mis-matched bolt. The bolt has the serrated late model cocking piece and looks like someone has manually matched the bolt to the western numbered serial # under the fore end. Barrel matches the receiver and the bore is shiny with slight evidence of darkness in the grooves. Metal shows no sign of pitting or rust, It looks like bubba gave it a once over with some black spray paint.
Anyhoos long story short, I am in the process of gathering all the bits to put this one back to military configuration for my personal collection. I was hoping someone with more knowledge of this batch of enfields could answer a few of my questions:
1) What stock cartouches were typical for the Siamese enfields (if you've got photos even better). If possible I would like to try to replicate any cartouches that would have been hammered into the stock by BSA back in the day.
2) Were the stocks english walnut like the typical BSA enfields of the 1920s? Reason I ask is every original Siamese Enfield I've ever come across has super dark wood. Would this just be age/humidity related discolouration? or was the stock treated with something to make it darker? I have sourced all pieces for a complete stock set in walnut and would like it to be as original as possible but before I go staining anything darker I figured I should check how they came off the line.
3) What is the market rate for siamese enfields these days? I'm not planning on selling this one but am just a bit curious as to if other collectors value them highly.
Any other light you might be able to shed onto these unique rifles would be appreciated. If you've got one yourself and don't mind sharing a few photos they would help me out.
Anyhoos long story short, I am in the process of gathering all the bits to put this one back to military configuration for my personal collection. I was hoping someone with more knowledge of this batch of enfields could answer a few of my questions:
1) What stock cartouches were typical for the Siamese enfields (if you've got photos even better). If possible I would like to try to replicate any cartouches that would have been hammered into the stock by BSA back in the day.
2) Were the stocks english walnut like the typical BSA enfields of the 1920s? Reason I ask is every original Siamese Enfield I've ever come across has super dark wood. Would this just be age/humidity related discolouration? or was the stock treated with something to make it darker? I have sourced all pieces for a complete stock set in walnut and would like it to be as original as possible but before I go staining anything darker I figured I should check how they came off the line.
3) What is the market rate for siamese enfields these days? I'm not planning on selling this one but am just a bit curious as to if other collectors value them highly.
Any other light you might be able to shed onto these unique rifles would be appreciated. If you've got one yourself and don't mind sharing a few photos they would help me out.
