What to do: De-sporterize? .45ACP conversion? Tanker? Wannabe Jungle Carbine?

Grizz Axxemann

Grizz Axxemann

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So I've had this Savage No4MkI* sporter collecting dust (and possibly even rust) for quite some time now... I was going to desporterize it, but it got backburnered. Now after poking around fr the last little while, I see guys are doing .45 conversions now.

I also remember a couple of guys doing tanker jobs, too. Now this appeals to me because my barrel was backbored.

Not sure what to do, since it's probably all over my head, but it'd be nice to have a project to putz around with from time to time when there's nothing to do at the shop (very gun friendly workplace) or set aside money from my side job to compensate someone for their work on my gun.
 
It's fun to turn them into an ersatz #5. You can get conversion kits for that. The tanker is also a nice look and attracts attention at the range.
 
So you want to butcher another Number 4.

I thought we stopped doing that 30 years go, when the supply of cheap surplus (which was "inexhaustable") got exhausted.
 
Butcher? It already WAS butchered. Or would you rather I let it rust in peace (or pieces as it is now) in the back of my gun closet? Sorry bub, but I'd rather have fun with this thing than let it take up dead space or sell it (I hate selling guns.)
 
Is it actually rusted? Lots of No 4 barrels can be had, if you want to replace your shot-out counter-bore. I can't actively support or encourage someone to cut up a rifle though, even if it is a junker.
 
I honestly can't tell you if it's rusted or not. I haven't looked at it in three or four years...

Chopping it is easier for me than swapping barrels. And I won't shed any tears in the process, since it's already been bubba'd
 
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Might want to do that first. If the rest of the parts & receiver are good, why not try to source a barrel? If your shop has the necessary tooling, get in contact with Al @ Milarm in Edmonton, would be a good project re-barreling a Lee Enfield. Marstar has some blonde stock sets available if you need to replace the wood on it.
 
gerard488 said:
I have to ask the dumb question, What is "backbored"?
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I'm assuming it's the same as "counter bored", in which a barrel with a badly worn crown has the first inch or so drilled out just slightly larger than the bore diameter, so as to give it a fresh, clean crown, just inside the existing barrel end. Does that make sense?
 
Even "badly rusted" barrels can be cleaned up and shoot well. I have a SMLE that had 50 years worth of dust and grit, and 3 rather larger rust patches about halfway down the pipe. With absolutely nothing to lose, I ran steel wool on my cleaning rod through the barrel several times until the rust patches disappeared. They've never come back, and it shoots quite well.
 
So, if I was to replace the barrel (last inch cut off and ears removed) and the wood (sportered) on my mis-matched LE No 4*, what would I expect to pay?
 
tootall said:
So, if I was to replace the barrel (last inch cut off and ears removed) and the wood (sportered) on my mis-matched LE No 4*, what would I expect to pay?
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Lots. Most of the parts are not very much but finding a full length barrel is getting harder. Then if you do not have a barrel vice and action clamp, then you have to pay someone to change out the barrel.
So lets say minimum $150 for the barrel with change out, $100 for furniture, another $100 for the metal bits. That brings it to $350 if you are lucky. So a sporter worth $150 plus $350 = $500 for a rifle that a collector wouldn't buy and you might get $400 if it's a decent build. That's all okay if you are doing it for the joy of it. That's great
Honestly. I don't know why people get there shorts in a knot about altering a cut off sporter. I have done a few and the fact is that they can always be changed back. All you are doing is altering the furniture for the most part.
It's funny. The same collectors that cry about altering a cut down and drilled and tapped barrel wouldn't buy that same rifle except for parts.


This one was built from nothing more than a receiver. (I have the repo butt plate installed now). My total cost was about $200 for the whole thing as I used spare parts.
 
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Points,
Thanks, thats what I figured. I have a complete full wood and metal Longbranch, and was recently given a beat up sporter No.4. At the time, it was missing the bolt.
(remember this thread? http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/853968-Question-for-Lee-Enfield-gurus? )
Anyway, while I appreciate the desire to save milsurps as issued, I have to be practical as well.
I dont see restoring the beater as practical, so I am debating replacing the ugly wood with an ATI synthetic stock, and adding a sight base and some sort of reflex sight.
I could do that for less than ~$350
 
A couple of things to laugh about
1. there is NO such thing as a"Tanker" I believe that term originated with shortened Garands of which about ten were made and never issued. Try climbing through the hatch on a tank with a rifle!
2. there NEVER was a "jungle carbine" It's a rifle, No5Mk1. Note they also wound up with troops in Norway which is noted for it's lack of jungles. The term was coined by surplus dealers, NOT the government.
 
John Sukey said:
A couple of things to laugh about
1. there is NO such thing as a"Tanker" I believe that term originated with shortened Garands of which about ten were made and never issued. Try climbing through the hatch on a tank with a rifle!
2. there NEVER was a "jungle carbine" It's a rifle, No5Mk1. Note they also wound up with troops in Norway which is noted for it's lack of jungles. The term was coined by surplus dealers, NOT the government.
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Laugh all you want. We're not all experts like you. :p

I can tell the difference between a clip and a mag though :)
 
Laugh all you like; SOMEBODY has got to keep things straight in order that we all know what we are talking about. John is DOING just that.

I wanted to get a GENUINE "Tanker" (because I was actually IN Tanks).... but then the Gummint put the STEN GUN on the "thou shalt not" list.

Poor me!

I am now gonna go and hug my ugly little Rifle Number 5, Mark 1.
 
I don't claim to be an expert

An X is an unknown quantity and a spurt is a drip under pressure.
Of course since we are talking about Enfields, its a charger, not a clip
Garands use clips;)
 
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