Looking to restore 1942 no. 4 mk1* long branch please help

As you can see, the gun was stripped down to just the hardware when i came across this. I'm interested in refinishing the gun, but i do not know where to start. I'm looking to make this gun look original, while not hurting the value. I've read that the original gun was either painted, blued, or parkerized. I do not know which one to do. Everything mechanical seems to be here and working. But i will need to buy the stock and foregrip. Also, if anyone knows a ballpark value of the gun, please help me out. In need of your help!

Oh my.
When/if you get done, the sum will be well in excess of its value, given all that you need, backsight, butt, forestock, handguards, bands, butt plate. But then, labors of love seldom stand the balance sheet test.
There may be more value in parting out the parts you have than restoring it. It looks to have some rust, so it will have the "refinished" moniker.
You might want to get a total price on the parts you need before you start. Best of luck.

The bits and pieces are probably available from the guys right here if you dig. But like he said, it is going to cost a bit...

I too am in the process of rebuilding my first military surplus rifle. It is also Long Branch. I'm basically in the same boat as you because some one decided to mutilate the stock and forearm as well as lose all the parts associated with the front and rear sights, most all the small parts and the hand guards. I'm finding the search for parts to be quite entertaining to say the least. Springfield Sporters, eBay and Numrich have been very productive so far. As for the worth of the rifle when finished I really haven't given it much thought. I'm doing it because I like bolt action rifles in general and Enfields in particular and I like to tinker with mechanical things. I will most likely never sell it.

Fellows: I purchased a LB back in the late 70's from a neighbor who had it. The stock had been chopped up but all the metal was there and everything matched...including the magazine. Not knowing a thing about the Enfields I cleaned it up installed a new stock and shot it. Dont remember how it shot but I got the usual case bulges which resulted in very short case life as I reloaded for the gun. Anyways I decided to "repark" it myself and after tearing down EVERY screw, spring, etc, I reparked it myself. It came out a nice green park color. Wheither or not it matched the original I didnt know. While putting it together I decided to set the barrel back 1 turn and recut the oversized chamber to something smaller using a Clymer finishing reamer. I got everything back together and found the headspace at Max (.074ish). Project stopped and the gun was put into the back of the closet.....

UNTIL I head about the Vintage Sniper Rifle Matches that the CMP is now conducting.....

Well out came the Enfield...Ihavent slugged the bore but the 2 rifle bore looks good. I just have to do something about the HS. Im temeped to get a shim silver soldered on to the bolt face BUT then I have the issue of firing pin protrutuion AND ensureing that the bolt head "clocks" to the body properly.

The guns back in the closet.

If your interest in reparking I maybe able to help you out although its been 30 years since I did mine.

In the mean time I'll keep thinking about a Vintage Sniper Rifle...I got a M96 I could also use.

Here is a full restore I did for a customer. 1942 Lend Lease. Take your time, :thup:

No4 MkI Recovery / Refurbish

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Originally Posted by ptf18

Fellows: I purchased a LB back in the late 70's from a neighbor who had it. The stock had been chopped up but all the metal was there and everything matched...including the magazine. Not knowing a thing about the Enfields I cleaned it up installed a new stock and shot it. Dont remember how it shot but I got the usual case bulges which resulted in very short case life as I reloaded for the gun. Anyways I decided to "repark" it myself and after tearing down EVERY screw, spring, etc, I reparked it myself. It came out a nice green park color. Wheither or not it matched the original I didnt know. While putting it together I decided to set the barrel back 1 turn and recut the oversized chamber to something smaller using a Clymer finishing reamer. I got everything back together and found the headspace at Max (.074ish). Project stopped and the gun was put into the back of the closet.....

UNTIL I head about the Vintage Sniper Rifle Matches that the CMP is now conducting.....

Well out came the Enfield...Ihavent slugged the bore but the 2 rifle bore looks good. I just have to do something about the HS. Im temeped to get a shim silver soldered on to the bolt face BUT then I have the issue of firing pin protrutuion AND ensureing that the bolt head "clocks" to the body properly.

The guns back in the closet.

If your interest in reparking I maybe able to help you out although its been 30 years since I did mine.

In the mean time I'll keep thinking about a Vintage Sniper Rifle...I got a M96 I could also use.

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Use the "O" ring method of fire forming new brass and you will not need to worry about long head space with the 303. Just do a search on O ring fire form on this forum, then neck size to reload. You may also have to use a cast bullet as a lot of the 2 grove barrels will go .317 to .320 in the groove. It is called a Christmas Tree bullet as the driving bands in the mold get bigger with each band. You can also use a thin jacket 180 grain round nose bullet. give it a full load to upset it in the bore for a good fit.

Hello

Two of my three Lee-Enfield Rifles were originally gotten by me in a "sporterised" condition. My first is a 1942 Savage No.4 Mk.I* that I bought for $100 in Anchorage. I know I spent at least that much getting it back together. My next was my 1940 Birmingham Small Arms No.1 Mk.III that I got for $70 and spent at least twice that finding all the odds and sods to piece it together.

Are they original and worth much?...of course not, but I had fun "salvaging" them. They are perfect for using for reenacting and shooting without worrying.
Thanks
Mark

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ptf18

Fellows: I purchased a LB back in the late 70's from a neighbor who had it. The stock had been chopped up but all the metal was there and everything matched...including the magazine. Not knowing a thing about the Enfields I cleaned it up installed a new stock and shot it. Dont remember how it shot but I got the usual case bulges which resulted in very short case life as I reloaded for the gun. Anyways I decided to "repark" it myself and after tearing down EVERY screw, spring, etc, I reparked it myself. It came out a nice green park color. Wheither or not it matched the original I didnt know. While putting it together I decided to set the barrel back 1 turn and recut the oversized chamber to something smaller using a Clymer finishing reamer. I got everything back together and found the headspace at Max (.074ish). Project stopped and the gun was put into the back of the closet.....

UNTIL I head about the Vintage Sniper Rifle Matches that the CMP is now conducting.....

Well out came the Enfield...Ihavent slugged the bore but the 2 rifle bore looks good. I just have to do something about the HS. Im temeped to get a shim silver soldered on to the bolt face BUT then I have the issue of firing pin protrutuion AND ensureing that the bolt head "clocks" to the body properly.

The guns back in the closet.

If your interest in reparking I maybe able to help you out although its been 30 years since I did mine.

In the mean time I'll keep thinking about a Vintage Sniper Rifle...I got a M96 I could also use.

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I'm not very familiar with the process of "reparkering" it. I have a very faint idea. Could you tell me a little bit about this process.. That may be the direction that i choose.

If I was you Waldon. I'd send the steelwork that you have to a well known and good dealer and have him bead blast and phosphate it all. At that stage you can have it painted in the (UK/British spec)satin black paint or left phosphated - it's up to you.

At that point you can ask the dealer to quote you for JUST the remaining parts you need to complete it so that YOU can do the rest of the work. Or as him to supply and fit so that you get the complete rifle back, as Factory Thorough Repaired 'new'. Maybe BDL in SC could comment here. He has those facilities.

I wouldn't worry too much about the slight rust and pitting. We had thousands like that but once they'd been through 'the system' they'd last out your lifetime

I'm wondering if it wouldn't just be worth a bit of elbow grease to see if the exposed areas will clean up acceptably without a refinish.
Much of the worst areas will be covered when the rifle is reassembled. Often light rust can be made to blend in with some 0000 steel wool. (And a steam bath, at times.)

It depends on whether you mind a bit of an "experienced" air or if you want something more "factory fresh". Some of my favorite rifles LOOK rather tired, but they are really outstanding shooters.
Refinished weapons just don't seem to linger in my collection! Just never quite satisfactory, somehow.

What number bolt head do you have? Unless you are on, I believe, a number three already you can simply get a thicker bolt head to modify the headspace. As to the other rebuild questions, I have completed 5 so far. The previous poster was correct about Springfield Sporters. They used to offer DP stamped wood that came complete with metal, some of which was also stamped DP:(. The stamps in the wood could be steamed out and all of the stocks I got turned out very nice after getting all the preservative out of the wood. There are numerous ways to do that, there probably is a sticky on it here. I haven't looked. The Enfields are some smooth bolt actions and usually accurate as well. As to value, I just ordered a good to very good from SOG for $179 with handpick. So it will be easy to get more into the restoration than it is worth commercially. On the other hand you will have the satisfaction of having restored the old rifle to it's original configuration. BTW, in looking at your action I didn't see the buttstock bolt spring, washer and oil washer (most of mine were leather and you could make your own). I have heard different stories about the leather washer, it was to help prevent rust, it was to help absorb shock. I don't know what the real story is. Just, when you assemble the buttstock onto the action make sure the bolt does not protrude to far through the socket and interfere with the action or touch the wood. It can actually split your stock if it does. Hope this helps and I will be glad to provide what assistance my experience will allow if you proceed with the build. If you choose not too I might consider tackling another as I still have some spare parts around here somewhere. Bill aka Sarge.

Aren't milsurps people great!! thanks sarge from a former sarge.

I checked the reich site today and he is showing both MkI and MkII stock sets if that helps anybody.

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Originally Posted by SGTHurley

I checked the reich site today and he is showing both MkI and MkII stock sets if that helps anybody.

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What's the address of this site?

Reich Sorry, I should have not assumed it was known. The postings may be outdated and the only way to know is to email him I guess. The parts (restoring, bolts, stocks, etc.) are near the bottom. Good luck. Sarge.