Wanting to restore Lee Enfield

[TransAm1991]

I was looking into a hunting rifle, as I would like to get out this fall and get hunting, and decided the way to go would be a No.4 Lee enfield..

I found one on this site, looks to be in pretty good shape, missing the upper and lower front hand gaurds, and it's shortened about 3/4 of an inch.
Is it worth fixing up to look original, but have it as a hunting rifle? Or should I keep looking?

 

[skirsons]

It's all personal preference. It's never going to be fully restored, or have the same value as a collector's item, but if that's not your objective I'd say go ahead. It will still be a useful gun that you won't have to worry about dropping and have that military look to it!

I like some of the tanker projects people have done with the bubba'd rifles.

 

[bearhunter]

Is it worth it?

No, it isn't worth it.

It will cost you $150 + shipping and running around on top of the cost of the rifle. Then, you have no idea how worn the ways on the stock you get are going to be. That will mean a bedding job of some sort, if it doesn't shoot well. It may mean something similar even now.

You still have time, take your No4 out an shoot it. If it doesn't perform, either sell it to someone that can make it work or if your able do it yourself. Handloading might or might not work. As often as not, NoI and No4 Lee Enfields have bedding issues. When they're set up properly, they can be very accurate and don't deserve the reputation a lot of old time bubbas gave them.

 

[buffdog]

Lee Enfields

You are in a good place to get a Lee Enfield. Since you have not bought one yet, I would look at going to several of the Gun Shows and see what is available. Ontario has dozens of Gun Shows, and you can probably attend 2 or 3 a month. That way, you can examine what you are getting.

As pointed out, it would probably cost you about $150 for the bubbed rifle, plus another $150 for the wood and $25 or so for the metal fittings. For $350 you should be able to get a good one at a Gun Show.

The alternate is to look at some of the Dealers advertising here on Gunnutz. I think Trade Ex has some Number 4 rifles available, and they have a toll free number. Phone and talk to Anthony, and have him pick you out a good one.

.

 

[Woodeneye]

I say go for it,wood is cheap and the metal bits are easy to find(Numrich).It only cost me about 125.00 to find all the parts i needed,I didnt build as a collectors gun.i built it because i wanted to restore a gun my brother had.Its not pretty and the bayo lug is chopped off but i think it looks cool and in the end thats what matters

Before

 

[TransAm1991]

From the sound of talking to the CGNer who owns it, it sounds like it shoots, and cycles okay, the pictures show a bit of rust on the barrel and magazine, but it doesn't look too bad.

 

[rattus]

For the same price as a restore project you could buy an original one from Tradeex, a full wood surplus No4Mk1. I bought one and it is very accurate for an open site rifle and I would happily hunt with it. You can get a no bubba scope mount, too. You can email them and explain what you are looking for, they are very helpful.

 

[bearhunter]

ta1991

If your money is tight, buy the rifle for what you want it for. Hunting and shooting. No matter what you do to that rifle, it will still look like a BUBBA.

A lot of people get upset when they see a sportered Lee Enfield. I don't. That's part of that particular rifle's history. Someone wanted a rifle light enough and more suitable for hunting, so they sporterised it. Some were done well, some weren't. There was a company in the 70s that cut off the bayo lugs shortened the fore stock and threw away all the top wood and metal bits. They did tens of thousands of them.

Don't throw good money after bad. The Tradex rifles (banner sponsor at top of page) are decent rifles for the price. At least, you know they've been arsenal prepaired for storage and are correct.

The problem with the rifle you mention is that you don't know what else was done to it and obviously don't know what to look for let alone know how to fix it if it needs parts or repair.

In the end, that rifle will cost you twice as much as what you really want.

If it is as you say a "good shooter" and I'm not certain what you mean by that, you can mount a scope on it etc without fear of detracting from its collectability or devaluing it.

If it's accurate, leave it alone.

 

[collector67]

If you are going to use it for hunting, don't bother restoring it because the extra weight added from the full stock will be significant, especially if you are going to hump it around through the bush. That's why they were altered like that back then, to make them lighter and less cumbersome.
Basically, + 1 on what bearhunter has already pointed out....