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1,202 Posts
Thought that I would show off again with another of my projects that is close to completion.
I bought a short barreled Lee Enfield many years ago, found it on the 'trade in' rack in the sports department of a local Canadian Tire store. Picked it up for $80. I used it as a truck gun for many years and it came with me everytime I went into the bush as it was light and very handy.
As I got into the hobby of collecting Enfields, my research showed that my truck gun was once an 1893 Mk.II Lee Metford. By this time, I had a couple of full length Magazine Lee Enfields and was looking for an original Lee Metford to add to my collection, but never found one. I always had in the back of my mind, the idea of restoring my Mk.II
Then I did some horsetrading with another collector, he had a worn out full length Enfield barrel and other parts stripped off of a rifle. We made our deal for the parts and I got the barrel thrown in. Good deal, especialy when I discovered that the shot out bore was actualy bright and shiney Metford rifling in excellent condition.
Right place at the right time. I had only one Metford that I could put this nice barrel on, my truck gun.
Bubba had worked long hours, almost everything was modified. The barrel was cut back to 18 inches, the forearm was bobbed, the butt stock was shaved, the mag had been shortened. So I stripped everything down to components and started from the receiver up.
I replaced the barrel, adjusted the headspacing, changed the woodset, added the nosecap, barrel bands, cut off and volley sights, switched out the magazine.
The replacement woodset needed a few repairs and then was stripped and redone with many, many coats of hand rubbed BLO, burnished and boned. The finish on the wood looks old, worn and feels great in the hands.
The metal parts were carefully selected for markings and matching patina to the reciever group and were gently cleaned using only gun oil and fine steel wool. Most of the screws and pins are handmade replacements.
So not much left of the original rifle, however, the numbers on the bolt and the rear sight do match those on the receiver. All the rifle's component parts are correct for that year, Enfield inspector marked and have WD broad arrow acceptance stamps.
All correct factory parts, all matching except for the barrel. At quick first inspection you couldn't tell that the rifle is not an original. So I got a pencil and described what I had done on a small slip of paper signed it, dated it and hid it underneath the buttplate
The action is slick and it shoots like a charm. It is now one of my favourites and the current example of a MLM in my collection. The time to find the parts and restore it? This one was quick, it took only about three years. The cost involved to do it? Probably more than the assembled rifle is worth. But well worth the effort.
I bought a short barreled Lee Enfield many years ago, found it on the 'trade in' rack in the sports department of a local Canadian Tire store. Picked it up for $80. I used it as a truck gun for many years and it came with me everytime I went into the bush as it was light and very handy.
As I got into the hobby of collecting Enfields, my research showed that my truck gun was once an 1893 Mk.II Lee Metford. By this time, I had a couple of full length Magazine Lee Enfields and was looking for an original Lee Metford to add to my collection, but never found one. I always had in the back of my mind, the idea of restoring my Mk.II
Then I did some horsetrading with another collector, he had a worn out full length Enfield barrel and other parts stripped off of a rifle. We made our deal for the parts and I got the barrel thrown in. Good deal, especialy when I discovered that the shot out bore was actualy bright and shiney Metford rifling in excellent condition.
Right place at the right time. I had only one Metford that I could put this nice barrel on, my truck gun.
Bubba had worked long hours, almost everything was modified. The barrel was cut back to 18 inches, the forearm was bobbed, the butt stock was shaved, the mag had been shortened. So I stripped everything down to components and started from the receiver up.
I replaced the barrel, adjusted the headspacing, changed the woodset, added the nosecap, barrel bands, cut off and volley sights, switched out the magazine.
The replacement woodset needed a few repairs and then was stripped and redone with many, many coats of hand rubbed BLO, burnished and boned. The finish on the wood looks old, worn and feels great in the hands.
The metal parts were carefully selected for markings and matching patina to the reciever group and were gently cleaned using only gun oil and fine steel wool. Most of the screws and pins are handmade replacements.
So not much left of the original rifle, however, the numbers on the bolt and the rear sight do match those on the receiver. All the rifle's component parts are correct for that year, Enfield inspector marked and have WD broad arrow acceptance stamps.
All correct factory parts, all matching except for the barrel. At quick first inspection you couldn't tell that the rifle is not an original. So I got a pencil and described what I had done on a small slip of paper signed it, dated it and hid it underneath the buttplate
The action is slick and it shoots like a charm. It is now one of my favourites and the current example of a MLM in my collection. The time to find the parts and restore it? This one was quick, it took only about three years. The cost involved to do it? Probably more than the assembled rifle is worth. But well worth the effort.
