I've got a couple jc no.5 lee-enfields. One is in wicked shape (Dads, he never shot it much) the other is good (bore very good) but has very small spots of rust in sneaky places; bayonet lug, nooks and cranies. I've rubbed a bit off with a bamboo stick and rag and oiled, but gone no further. I've been debating pulling the stock to have a good look underneath, but don't have tons of time to do a proper restore. Should I leave well enough alone, or should I have a poke? I'd like to stop it in it's tracks without going crazy. Any advice?
when to poke and when to leave alone...
- Thread starter 5440fight
- Start date
- Location
- Pile of Bones, SK
Strip it and clean it. If there is visible rust on the outside then there could be some pitting under the wood. If not then you're lucky and a good cleaning may prevent this or at least stop it from worsening. Even if there is no signs of rust on the outside I always strip and thoroughly clean under the wood as a preventative measure. It only takes a small amount of moisture to get underneath to leave some nasty pitting.
PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
Most Junglies had a green preservative paint applied on the metal under the wood surface. You might get lucky and find you have one of those.
Anyway, it's a good thing to have a look under the hood from time to time.
PP.
Anyway, it's a good thing to have a look under the hood from time to time.
PP.
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Agreed with previous posters. You can strip the action from the stock inside of two minutes...lack of time is no excuse. At lease give the action a good wipe with CLP or other gun oil, clean it up.
I always strip a rifle down and give it a good cleaning when I get it. Won't hurt it and it is good for it. Give the metal a good look see and a cleaning if necessary and give the wood a rub with BLO and your good to go.
I agree with the previous respondents. I took my #5 completely apart, coated all the metal with CLP, let it sit for a day to soften up the gunk, then wiped off the CLP with a clean rag and some Q-Tips, leaving just a very thin coat. For the wood, which was pretty grungy, I used acetone to clean the wood, then put on a few coats of BLO over the course of a few days, then let it cure for a week. Reassembled, and she looks great.
As far as a little rust goes, well, if your rifle has the proper Suncorite finish, I wouldn't start going at it with steel wool or anything abrasive. Maybe a tooth brush and some CLP to clean it up and then just keep the rusty spots oiled.
As far as a little rust goes, well, if your rifle has the proper Suncorite finish, I wouldn't start going at it with steel wool or anything abrasive. Maybe a tooth brush and some CLP to clean it up and then just keep the rusty spots oiled.
Thanks guys, will do this weekend. Here's hoping she's ok under there. It's funny, I strip all my other toys down regularly, just avoided this one. Silly me. 
The milsurp gods will not be pleased, I may have to sacrifice a modern rifle to appease them...
The milsurp gods will not be pleased, I may have to sacrifice a modern rifle to appease them...Done. I can't believe how easy it was to break down! Easiest I've got. Everything looked great underneath the stock. Slight rust on the front ring but no wear else, so I used a chopstick, toothbrush, oil, and a rag to get her perfect. That bamboo chopstick is my favorite cleaning tool! seriously, try it. Hard enough to scrape off rust/grime without harming any good steel, pointy on one end, squared off on the other- perfect! I took the other one apart, and found it was perfect, time machine stuff! I just oiled it and put it back together- love that rifle.
- Location
- Pile of Bones, SK
Done. I can't believe how easy it was to break down! Easiest I've got. Everything looked great underneath the stock. Slight rust on the front ring but no wear else, so I used a chopstick, toothbrush, oil, and a rag to get her perfect. That bamboo chopstick is my favorite cleaning tool! seriously, try it. Hard enough to scrape off rust/grime without harming any good steel, pointy on one end, squared off on the other- perfect! I took the other one apart, and found it was perfect, time machine stuff! I just oiled it and put it back together- love that rifle.
Glad it all worked out.
Did you Really take it apart, safety, bolt catch, sear and magazine catch too?
I only recently did a total takedown of my #5 and it was a real eye opener to the engineering genius of the LE.
Didn't disassemble the the bolt beyond the head though, I don't have the firing pin tool.
I only recently did a total takedown of my #5 and it was a real eye opener to the engineering genius of the LE.
Didn't disassemble the the bolt beyond the head though, I don't have the firing pin tool.
Did you Really take it apart, safety, bolt catch, sear and magazine catch too?
I only recently did a total takedown of my #5 and it was a real eye opener to the engineering genius of the LE.
Didn't disassemble the the bolt beyond the head though, I don't have the firing pin tool.
Ditto. I think a major part of liking guns , car , bikes etc. is appreciating the engineering. You get a whole new appreciation when take it all apart. Some of my guns are my favorites because of the way necesity begets solutions that are often simple, yet brilliant. Particularily guns designed during war. There is an urgency that forces practical solutions, that often remain in service for extended periods of relative peace, until the next crisis acts as a creative crucible. There's a hands-on practicality in a gun made by a man who plans a carrying it. I have no idea why I've left these un-explored for so long, I know most of my other guns inside and out.
