Where to find SMLE Wood?

Drachenblut

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Hello,

I am in the process of rebuilding a SMLE No.I Mk.III* that I found in a friend's basement, while helping him do some fall cleaning. It was hidden behind an old cabinet in a wall recess in the man's house, from the previous owner. After some convincing and rather too much ale, I took it home for $250.00. Yes, perhaps a sly deal on his part as I probably got ripped off... however. I live to restore old firearms when I can. It is a BSA 1918, with all matching numbers, including the bolt and unmolested barrel. The bore is about 7 out of 10, with a couple rust pits but strong lands and sharp grooves. It is a 5 groove barrel. Serial number is F-6866. When would this have placed it's production in 1918, any ideas? Before the November armistice? The forewood has been cut down, but still has the forward "king screw" and the top wood is missing. I have acquired a proper magazine, nose cap and rear sight protector ears. I am missing the top wood hand guard piece by the rear sight, and would need a new bottom fore wood and front band with sling swivel. I would also need a rear sling swivel for the buttstock.

Where could I find these missing parts? How expensive is the wood, if it is even available? Does anyone have the wood here on CGN? I have heard and seen many gents restoring these fine pieces of history, so it cannot be too difficult!

Any help would be much appreciated! This is my first time trying to restore an Enfield.

Thanks,
Drachenblut
 
It's difficult these days. I am not sure but I think Liberty Tree only ships tiny parts to us in Canada (if I'm wrong, please let me know... :) )

Sarco probably doesn't have No1Mk3 wood in stock but I haven't checked with them in about a couple of months (here again, if I'm wrong......)

I just ordered a forend from Numrich...

Lou
 
ebay has been out of control price wise but some very very nice stuff. I just picked up 2 unnumbered nose caps and 6 sets of rear sight ears. i bid on a foreend complete with un numbered cap, rear sight ears, and an SSA triggerguard. It went for $175. A decent looking front handguard went for $110!
 
liberty tree will ship no 1 stocks but what they have is really crusty India wood, i ordered a set from them and the forestock was soft, had the isapore screw and the butt stock looked like it had been used to beat someone about the head and ears for a extended period. i've gotten my best walnut from ebay but it looks like the seller ran out of stock, I've stopped buying no1's to restore, im not putting 400$ of parts on a 150$ rifle to make it worth 325$
 
If you thought that was bad, I had to restore a NZ carbine that bubba had chopped the forend on. (They only made 1200) Found a guy on your side of the border who could do the work. BUT I had to send him the forend and handguard from my other one for him to copy. If that had been lost in the mail I really would have been SCREWED! Fortunately it all turned out well
The reason I have two? One from each production run
 
It could be worse - I'm looking for wood for a 1918 Lithgow, I think I'm going to end up ordering a set of walnut from EFD in the UK. Expensive, but brand new. I'm pretty sure that finding the proper coachwood stock set is going to be next to impossible. It's not totally wrong for the rifle since it has a second serial number that I assume is from service in England (starts with a K###xx)
 
For those interested

http://www.efdrifles.com/

I have a No1 target rifle that I am wanting to rebuild. Bubba got to it, and sometime since the beltsander, the stock went to complete rat####. I too have been looking for forends and EFD is probably what I am going to end up with. They have No1 MKIII* new old stock for 50GBP, or new made No1 MkIII (with volley sight cutout and cutoff milled out) for 160GBP. Unfortunatly for me, my target rifle has a cutoff.
 
COACHWOOD and QUEENSLAND MAPLE still grow in Australia. Neither has succumbed to extinction despite the depredations of Mankind looking for adequate Stock Woods.

Try one of the Aussie forums; they have original Coachwood stocks from end of production floating about sometimes.
 
Thinking I will be in contact with these guys very soon. Nice stuff and the price makes ebay look sad on most stuff.

There are two volley sight fore ends on ebay right now with some of the hardware as well to someone who needs one.
 
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