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Enfield restorations,,,,,,,,
Jul 12, 2019 7:13:13 GMT -5
Stump Buster, awp101, and 3 more like this
Post by olskool on Jul 12, 2019 7:13:13 GMT -5
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Enfield restorations,,,,,,,,
Jul 12, 2019 9:46:10 GMT -5
Rimfire69, deaconkc, and 1 more like this
Post by bradshaw on Jul 12, 2019 9:46:10 GMT -5
oldskool..... beautiful job. Killed my first deer with a Short Model Lee Enfield No. 4, which your peep-sight “No. 2” looks like. Please explain difference. These rifle were imported after WW II by the boatload. Mine cost 12 skins, which included delivery by Railway Express. My mother drove me to the station, where it was handed me off a boxcar. Talk about old school!
For the uninitiated, these are turnbolt military rifles with removable 10-round box magazine, normally fed via 5-round stripper clip. Rear locking bolt, well below strength of a Springfield, Mauser, Mosin-Ngant, or Arisaka (Mauser copy). The peep sight ranks at the top with the M1 Garand on battle rifles. Its large aperture makes it superior to the Garand in poor light. Probably the fastest bolt action, as fast in able hands as an 1894 Winchester. Tapered cartridge feeds in anything, despite 19th century rim.
The SMLE safety mounts to the receiver and pivots with ergonomic thumb motion. Pulled back, it cams the cocking piece out of contact with sear, also locking the bolt. Forward to fire, Smooth, quiet, foolproof.
These rifles were built for bayonets and buttstrokes. Nearly indestructible, the SMLE nevertheless is a lousy candidate for sporterizing, grossly inferior to any number of Mausers. So many old World war One & Two battle rifles were ruined with lousy “Sporterizing,” any left intact should be conserved for what they are, instruments of history to be played today.
David Bradshaw
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Post by Encore64 on Jul 12, 2019 9:49:50 GMT -5
Agree, beautiful work. I took a 303 British to Africa in 2018. Used it with 100% one shot success on Blesbok and two large Blue Wildebeest.
It has killed more African game than any cartridge in history.
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Post by olskool on Jul 13, 2019 10:05:37 GMT -5
401 bobcat, what Enfield did you take to Africa and what load did you use? very interesting,,,,,,,,,,,,
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Post by Encore64 on Jul 13, 2019 10:09:05 GMT -5
401 bobcat, what Enfield did you take to Africa and what load did you use? very interesting,,,,,,,,,,,, Well, this is Encore64. I took a Ruger #1 to Africa. Loaded 174 grn ACP Bullets at 2400 fps. Dropped a 750 lb Blue Wildebeest at 202 yards. Critter never took a step. |
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Post by nolongcolt on Jul 13, 2019 11:08:39 GMT -5
174 gr ACP bullets? What are those?
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Post by Encore64 on Jul 13, 2019 11:12:27 GMT -5
Aussie Copper Projectiles...
Simply the best rifle bullets I've ever used.
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Post by nolongcolt on Jul 13, 2019 11:18:07 GMT -5
Here is my lone Enfield, an LSA factory sporter, .303 of course. Lovely ancient rifle.  |
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Post by Longhunter1750 on Jul 13, 2019 16:32:23 GMT -5
They both look great but that first one is outstanding, very nice job.
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rgates
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 48
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Post by rgates on Jul 13, 2019 17:27:17 GMT -5
Mr. Bradshaw the No4 you used to kill your first deer was probably a No4 Mk1 or Mk1*. The difference between it and the No.4 Mk2 is the trigger is attached to the trigger guard on the Mk1 and attached to the receiver in the Mk2. Almost all the other features of the No.4 are the same on both marks. The first No.4 I bought was about $25. Today those same guns range from $500 to over $1000 depending on model and manufacturer and in original unsporterized condition. Still really nice guns to shoot. Very good restorations!
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 13, 2019 21:13:43 GMT -5
Mr. Bradshaw the No4 you used to kill your first deer was probably a No4 Mk1 or Mk1*. The difference between it and the No.4 Mk2 is the trigger is attached to the trigger guard on the Mk1 and attached to the receiver in the Mk2. Almost all the other features of the No.4 are the same on both marks. The first No.4 I bought was about $25. Today those same guns range from $500 to over $1000 depending on model and manufacturer and in original unsporterized condition. Still really nice guns to shoot. Very good restorations! ***** rgates.... thank you. Sounds like maine was a No. 4 Mk1, with trigger fastened to trigger guard. What distinguishes a Mk 1 from a Mk 1*? David Bradshaw |
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rgates
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 48
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Post by rgates on Jul 14, 2019 13:47:24 GMT -5
Mark 1's use a small latch at the rear of the bolt travel to release the bolt head. Press it down and back the bolt to the rear and the bolt head pivots up to let you remove the bolt from the rifle. The Mark 1*'s have a small cutout in the bolt guide toward the front of the receiver to allow the bolt to drawn to the cutout, pivoted up, and then the bolt can be withdrawn from the rifle. No.4 Mk.1*'s were only made by Long Branch in Canada and Savage in the US. Early on both made No.4 Mk.1's but changed to the 1*'s as a cost saving thing. Hope that helps.
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Post by deaconkc on Jul 15, 2019 19:11:22 GMT -5
A couple of other facts about the "Smellie", The rear stock came in three different lengths and could be swapped out to fit the soldier. If you find a S marked 4 it was probably made by Savage here in the US and many are marked Lend Lease, depending on when they were made.
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