Pawn shop find/Enfield rescue/restoration project

[Sht_LE]

Found an SMLE Mk.I** I.P. (India Pattern) in a pawn shop today, and bought it for $175 out the door. I'm still trying to decide if I over paid, but it was like a sad little kitty at the pound. I just wanted to take it home and make every thing better. Now for the details:
The Bad:
Bubba took a hack saw to the forearm. The forearm has been cut off about half an inch in front of the rear sight. The nosecap, rear band, front hand guard, sight protector, sight protector screw, sight protector nut, inner band, band spring band screw are long gone. It has a U.S. Quarter in the buttstock marking disk hole. (But its NOT drilled and tapped)
The Good:
Rifle is BSA 1906 or 1908 dated (last digit is a little hard to read) and was converted to a Mk.I** I.P. at RFI in 1919 as stamped on the left butt socket. The receiver, bolt, barrel and rear sight are matching numbers. The rear sight is a pinned, windage adjustable sight. The bore is nice, bright with strong rifleing and a good crown. Magazine is nice with no dints/dings and no serial number. Other than the barrel and trigger guard that are RFI and the receiver that was originaly BSA everything appears to be made by Enfield. The buttstock and rear hand guard appear to be usable. The rifle has no import stamps, Just a small ENGLAND export stamp just under the safety spring, and a London Proofing stamp under the rear hand guard.

What do you think? I know I can save her but is it worth doing? And was it worth the price or do you think I paid too much?

Update: tinkering with her and managed to pop the quarter out. It is a 1954 dated silver quarter so gives an idea when she was chopped.

Information

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[Anzac15]

No, I don't think you paid too much at all. I would have grabbed it up myself. I have a 1916 BSA Fianna Fail rifle that Bubba got to at some point, still waiting to find that ideal furniture set for it. But the rifle ITSELF is a beaut. Have to look past what some moron did in the past, and see these rifles for what they are. Sounds like you found a really neat variation, good luck with it!

[Dad]

You are lucky, our local gunshop (robbers that they are) would like some $300 of my hard earned cash for a No1Mk3 in similar condition.....

Check with Springfield Sporters.
http://www.ssporters.com/parts/ENFIELD1.htm
They always seem to have the parts I need....

D.

[Amatikulu]

One of the more pricey restoration parts for your rifle is the fore stock. Before you discard it, look and see if what remains is salvageable. If it's good, grafting a donor piece onto the stock can save you considerable money. A good job will look good and will perform well. Post a picture of it if you can.

[Sht_LE]

Have examined the rifle a little more closely. The forearm I am fairly certain is toast, it has been sanded, cut off about 1/2" infront of the rear sight and the end rounded off (and it has an Ishy screw). Also looks like the rear hand guard has been sanded heavily and would be way to thin to mate up with correct wood. Buttstock is still usable but has been sanded. Another annoying observation, the rear sight U notch has been filed to a V. Fixable but a pain in the you know what.
Over the years I have squirreled away a small cache of parts, so the big question is what would be correct for the rifle. Currently researching to try and find that out. Will definitely need to track down a nose cap. The three I have are all wrong (Ishy with solid piling swivel boss, square Ishy, and a Lithgow with the sight adjusting holes). From what I can tell, when it was converted in 1919, the rifle would have had a marking disk and a cutoff (I think), and the fixed or pinned rear sight is correct and no volley sights obviously. As a standard SMLE Mk.III or Mk.III* forearm will fit, it has the charger bridge, the question is which one do I use? I know were I can get a Mk.III* forearm but I have a Mk.III forearm on hand. It is one I have been saving for a few years waiting on the right project rifle to come along. It is also fitted with a ground volley sight dial plate. I think it would go with a 1919 rebuild with a pinned rear sight, but not entirely sure. Would Ishapore have recycled the older Mk.III furniture onto a "new" Mk.I** I.P. rifle? Going by the number of British made parts on the rifle I think yes, but want to make sure. Does any one out there know if it would be correct for this rifle? Just don't want to stuff the job.

I will confess to being a bit computer illiterate. I have already taken some "before" pictures, will just have to try and figure out how to post them or better yet have one of my computer litterate friends post them.

[RCS]

Attachment 24380Attachment 24381Attachment 24382Attachment 24383Attachment 24384Attachment 24385Attachment 24386Attachment 24387Here are some photos of my Mark 1** I.P. rifles not that difficult to restore yours back to original looking.

[Dad]

Sht LE,
You might what to check out this stock set in eBay. Don't know how high it will go, but it looks nice. I know a good forestock seems to go for $75-$90 all by itself.....

Enfield Rifle Stock Set SMLE No1 MKIII Mk3 .303 | eBay

D.

[Sht_LE]

Ok, pics for your viewing pleasure:



In the photo it looks like a 1908 date to me.


1919 conversion date.

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

This looks like an excellent restoration project and I think you got it for a very good price. We'll be expecting some "after" photos.

[Sht_LE]

I will post some after pics as soon as shes done, and it looks like it won't take too long. A call to Springfield Sporters has me a nose cap on the way, and the stock problem has been solved, did a trade with a friend for a nice used stock. Everything else I have on hand. Did a little work on her today. Fixed the rear sight and I was right it was a pain in the ***. Also installed a new inner band (that went well) and she has a cutoff now. I don't know if anyone else does, but I derive a great deal of enjoyment out of working on these old war horses.


Old sight with filed V notch next to finnished sight.


Fixed sight. I was actually able to recycle the original rivit.


Putting on the inner band.


Installed!


Cutoff, now just to get some furnature on her and see how she shoots