Printable View
Hi everybody,
I've got a bugg. . . Er, a "sportized" Lee Enfield 1940 Lithgow SmLe no.1 mk. 3. I need a new forestock and can't find one. Oh, I can find wood for no. 4s and jungle carbines, just not 1mk3s.
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to substitute in a no. 4 forestock for a no.1? If not, can anyone help point me at a no.1 mk. 3 forestock?
Any help in this regard would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Gumsehwah//
Sorry we took so long to answer...I guess everyone's waiting for someone else to do it...you can't substitute a #4 for a #1 forestock. If you advertise here on the WTB you may have luck with wood. You may have to buy a donor rifle, like a DP or something in rough shape to get your wood. The benefit there is it will all match. There are companies that make furniture...maybe Boyd's has wood for these. Have you tried advertising on CanadianGunNutz for wood? That keeps it in Canada and you don't have to deal with the border?? Aldo, the Chilliwack gun show comes up in early March, there may be some there.
BDL fixed me up with a very nice Beech forstock for a similar project. It does not match the Coachwood forestock exactly but beats a "bobber" or a useless SMLE (sans forestock) waiting on the "holy grail" coachwood forend. Here is a picture on my debubba project early on.
He's got a good point, maybe BDL could sell you all four pieces and then it would be close at least...don't know about getting it across the border though.
I think BDL specializes in import/export. Some of Brian's posts to other threads on the subject leads me to believe he can do it if it can be done.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
Gumsehwah, I would highly recommend you get on your computer and hook into eBay Australia. The Lithgow forestocks and other Aussie made SMLE parts show up there for sale with great regularity. DO NOT buy a DP stock assembly before searching there for a few weeks. Use search terms SMLE, Lee Enfield or 303 British and you'll be surprised what you find. And--these parts travel without restriction by either country custom services. Good luck!
I did try this without much luck (probably lack of $ and paticence). This is a good suggestion as an original Coachwood stock would add to the value. Either way you go hats off for saving another "bobber".Quote:
Originally Posted by barbarossa
I'm really appreciating all this advice!
I'm new to the whole restore thing, and I bought the rifle as a moose gun, but I am also a history teacher by trade and I am a history junkie.
besides, butchering an artifact just doesn't seem "right" to me. :-/
I think the main thing is to not be in a hurry, and keep a lookout for the hardware needed, purchase pieces piece by piece.
I don't think I'm going to make any money on this (I mean, she's going to be a "frankinrifle" with all the different spare parts in her), but I've somehow become a little "obsessed" with seeing her (the rifle) the way she was meant to be.
This one any good?
Lee Enfield No1 MK III Mag Cut-off Forearm NEW | eBay
You would need to follow Peter Ls tutorials on fitting it correctly.
Just added the cutoff and rear sight guide. She already looks better. :-)
Just what IS a "DP"? :-?
Got a walnut forestock from Numerich (pricey to get across the border) and have some more bits and pieces on the way. They tell me that the nose cap may or may not be a "DP" - we'll wait and see. . .
I hear that mounting the forestock is supposed to be rather complicated. . . can anyone talk me through it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gumsehwah
Drill Purpose, i.e. not intended to be used for shooting.
Use the search function to find an article by Peter Laidler about forend fitting. I printed it out and it was invaluable (along with a bit of patcience and luck) in my first attempt at fitting a forend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gumsehwah
So thatwould mean that the part would be off a training "dummy" rifle. :-/
Will that cause problems? :-?
---------- Post added at 06:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:24 PM ----------
Found it.Quote:
Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY
He makes it sound a lot less scary.
I hope to hell that this works out.
I don't care if all parts are original or not, as it is meant to be a shooter, not a museum piece.
It will look great seeing it and shooting it the way it was meant to look and be shot. :-)
Most of the Drill Purpose guns I found have holes drilled through the receiver and barrel chamber, but the wood parts look they could be used.
Attachment 41292
Print a copy and keep it handy. Take your time fitting by trimming in small increments and you will be pleased with the result. If you use a used forend it may be a matter of adding material such as accuraglass or wood to repair the draws which is covered in threads here also.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gumsehwah
EFD Mayfield, East Sussex have all forends for mk3's / mk3 stars look at there web site.