Restoring an Enfield

[Wolfhound]

I purchased this rifle from another INGO member for the purpose of restoring it to original condition. It is a 1918 SHTLE No 1 Mk 111* LSA which was sporterized at some point. I am not an expert on Enfield rifles but I thought I would share the before and after pictures. The rifle still lacks the rear sight protector and upper rear hand guard which I have ordered from Numrich gun parts. I borrowed the before picture from the sellers ad. I hope that's ok.

The rifle is a good shooter and has a nice shiny bore. The new (used) military stock is less than perfect like most old Enfield stocks.

 

[Gary119]

Very nice. Gotta love the old military surplus.

 

[Carey]

You did a great job on this. I recently tried to blue a old side by side shot gun. Turned out not to bad but I not that happy with it.

 

[BogWalker]

Very nicely put together.

 

[TheBoss930]

 

[rob63]

Looks good!

 

[Denny347]

Very nice. Gotta love the old military surplus.

My favorite kind of firearms.

 

[AmmoManAaron]

Impressive work! I hope you can keep saving and restoring these old treasures. I bit off more than I could chew a few years ago with an M71 Mauser (not 71/84) and have one key part I can't find - the front barrel band/nose cap, also not sure that I have the correct middle and rear barrel bands.

 

[indiucky]

Well done...

 

[Thor]

Big improvement!

 

[Wolfhound]

Thanks for all the kind words. When I get the 1918 completed I have a 1916 to start on. It's not as much of an ugly duckling like the first one but it needs to be restored. It is kind of satisfying to take a surplus rifle that has been sporterized and make it similar to it's original military condition.

 

[BogWalker]

A shame the Enfield stock sets have gotten so pricey.

 

[Wolfhound]

A shame the Enfield stock sets have gotten so pricey.

They are expensive. I have been getting my parts from Liberty Tree Collectors and Numrich gun parts. The stocks from Liberty Tree appear to be from old drill rifles and require some work to clean them up and remove some paint but they work well and don't break the bank. The first rifle I restored I will have about 160.00 in the rifle and about that much in the parts. So around 320.00 for a decent looking and shooting Enfield No 1 MkIII*.

 

[Gary119]

My favorite kind of firearms.

Tell us more....or better yet show us. I thought I was the only one.

 

[Speedybruin4]

What is the quarter for? My Enfield has a quarter in the exact same spot. Looking online some have holes in the stock there and others don't. Did they use the quarters to adjust something on the gun?

 

[Wolfhound]

What is the quarter for? My Enfield has a quarter in the exact same spot. Looking online some have holes in the stock there and others don't. Did they use the quarters to adjust something on the gun?

Some of the Enfields had a brass disc in the stock that had the unit or Regiment number on it. I think the quarters were just a way to cover the disc notch. Or perhaps putting George Washington on one of the Kings rifles was a sort of finger in the eye to England.

 

[BogWalker]

What is the quarter for? My Enfield has a quarter in the exact same spot. Looking online some have holes in the stock there and others don't. Did they use the quarters to adjust something on the gun?

They used to have a brass disc there that had information on what unit the rifle was assigned to. This was done away with during the First World War. On many rifles they removed the disc for scrap but left the inletting, on other the inletting was filled on.

EDIT: scooped by Wolfhound

 

[Speedybruin4]

Awesome thanks for the info guys!

 

[roscott]

I purchased this rifle from another INGO member for the purpose of restoring it to original condition. It is a 1918 SHTLE No 1 Mk 111* LSA which was sporterized at some point. I am not an expert on Enfield rifles but I thought I would share the before and after pictures. The rifle still lacks the rear sight protector and upper rear hand guard which I have ordered from Numrich gun parts. I borrowed the before picture from the sellers ad. I hope that's ok.

The rifle is a good shooter and has a nice shiny bore. The new (used) military stock is less than perfect like most old Enfield stocks.

Wolfhound that rifle looks strangely familiar... Did you get that one from me? If so, it's a humorous story about how that rifle came down the line to me!

 

[Wolfhound]

I purchased both of the Enfield's from DarkRose. It is possible that he got the 1918 from you but I am not sure.