Forends

I just picked up a No1 MkI*** on gunbroker. It's a 1903 upgraded to Irish CR, but the lined through serial number is 401 with no prefix. I haven't seen it in the flesh yet but if the receiver is still up to snuff I'll do her up with MkIII parts. I've got everything but a forend, and sad to see that Numrich is finally sold out. There's DP sets at springfield sporters but they look a bit manky and you have to buy the whole set. I renovated a similar rifle earlier this year and got the last forend EFD had, their wood guy had to retire due to his health, I think he was about 90. Anyone have any leads on newish looking forends?

You really want a grungy forend. The Irish rifles were pretty well used and the indicating are that no SMLE MK I forends were ever sourced as replacement parts, though the handguards were. As such a rather will used forend will look better for a restoration.

In the area I live in the only forends available are Indian ones with the No4 pattern blackstrap. Cost for a set of wood (all 4 bits) is around 75 dollars, when you see it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Frederick303

You really want a grungy forend. The Irish rifles were pretty well used and the indicating are that no SMLE MK I forends were ever sourced as replacement parts, though the handguards were. As such a rather will used forend will look better for a restoration.

In the area I live in the only forends available are Indian ones with the No4 pattern blackstrap. Cost for a set of wood (all 4 bits) is around 75 dollars, when you see it.

---

I agree the only reason I was looking for newish is the rest of the spare wood I have is newish looking. I suppose the best thing would be the sets springfield sporters have and the backstraps wouldnt really be out of place. It doesnt have a bolt so this is going to be a long rebuild waiting around for the right parts anyway.

The backstraps would be out of place. However, having a stock that has an obvious Indian post 42 trait does have the advantage and it will not contribute to the illusion that some Irish SMLE MK I*** rifles used MK 3 stocks for rebuild, as many of the sported rifles have been rebuilt in America with MKIII/MKIII* stocks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Frederick303

The backstraps would be out of place. However, having a stock that has an obvious Indian post 42 trait does have the advantage and it will not contribute to the illusion that some Irish SMLE MK I*** rifles used MK 3 stocks for rebuild, as many of the sported rifles have been rebuilt in America with MKIII/MKIII* stocks.

---

Thanks for the input. I also have spare forend piece from the outer band to the nosecap so I could wait around for a cut down piece of wood. I'm guilty of restocking a 1905 with a mkiii forend but it looks a lot better than the state I got it in. Out of the 5 MkIs I have only 1 is all original and theres a huge gouge on the forend about 2 inches in front of the cut off. Its been there a long time because it has smoothed out. The only reason I bought this rifle is that its number 401, after it's stocked it'll just look like CR3885.

The Mk III forends are a bear to find, I've been looking for one for a while for a 1912 ShtLE I've been restoring from a sported stock.

I got one from Springfield Sporters and it was caked with cosmoline. Took me several sessions in an old turkey fryer with Dawn and water to get it boiled out. After that it wasn't too bad of shape. I had a couple of splits, but they fixed right up with a bit of glue.

My problem is my inner perfectionist is kicking in and I'm wanting to find a fore end or stock set without the Ishapore screw in it. Hard to find for under $100+.

This is a good example of how the large surplus warehouses, like Numrich, have had their inventories depleted. Often their stock has been bought by small entrepreneurs who found a favorable spread between the buy and sell prices; they've bought the old stock and are parceling it out at places like eBay. Enfield magazines are a good example -- hard to find one under $50 anymore. If you are looking for a Mk III, send a PM to the eBay sellers who are peddling other stock parts like butts and hand guards -- one might show up.

It's getting to be time for someone with the proper machinery to start turning out fore-ends; seems there is a profit to be made based on supply and demand.

---------------
Just checked. Liberty Tree has them in inventory for $65
https://www.libertytreecollectors.co...&idcategory=62

The era of restoring Enfields to get a complete example of a rifle for a very low cost is pretty much over. There was a time when the surplus from Springfield Sporters was cheap and plentiful. Not so any more. In most cases now the cost to get parts reasonably close to those you need will exceed the price of buying a complete correct gun, one you need a forend, bands and correct sight parts.

Sad but true. I recall in the early 1980s the Civil war collectors telling me how the large surplus part dealers of the civil war era had lots of excellent parts in the 1950s to around the early 1960s,, but by the end of the centennial civil war gun parts were very dear (by the expectations of the era). They predicted that the same would be true for WWII guns no later than the centennial of WWII. Seems it has come 25 years early.[COLOR="black"]

This is when rifles increase in value and the value will depend on originality, correctness, and provenance. Just like it does now, but it will get more serious. More than likely decent rifles will get scavenged for parts more and more again driving prices up and up. I've started documenting all my enfields, the parts I switched, the ones I' ve restored etc., because as price goes up there will be an increase in knock offs and fakes. Just like the antique market- buyer beware!
I'm glad I got the tail end of availability and affordability it's been a fun hobby, but now the rifles I would like are in the thousands of dollars and my tastes have out paced my income. I agree now is the time for repro furniture just like there's a demand for barrels, but if anyone starts it up I hope they lmake the early Mks too. I got the last EFD stock in the States, their guy Chris Moon died so unless anyone steps up that's it. For my latest restoration project My best option is to build from scratch. Walnut blanks $50, because of that awesome enfield design I don't need the whole tree.

Or do you mean Colin Moon? His pantograph stock making machinery is now elsewhere with an up and coming stock maker. Let's see how his work pans out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Or do you mean Colin Moon? His pantograph stock making machinery is now elsewhere with an up and coming stock maker. Let's see how his work pans out.

---

Anyone we know?

Yes Colin Moon, and that sounds like good news that EFD have a new joiner. Now I can shelve my ideas of advanced whittling my own stock and start saving money.

I have to admit that the only reason I bought this barreled receiver was the year and number, for me that gives it value. Not monetary value, but the idea that I'm holding the 401st Sht Lee produced out of how many millions gives me some kind of thrill and a feeling that it deserves to be restored. Over the years I've cobbled together several early marks restored to the best of my knowledge and without breaking up any other rifle but they'll only ever be "post military repairs." They are very much my rifles though and I wonder if in future they will be judged as harshly as we judge Bubba's guns. Maybe in future people will be sawing the ends off of repro forends to give rifles that authentic retro hunting rifle look.

Could you send me the data on your rifle? I maintain a database on these Irish rifles and would appreciate another data point.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smellymarkfive

restored to the best of my knowledge and without breaking up any other rifle but they'll only ever be "post military repairs." They are very much my rifles though and I wonder if in future they will be judged as harshly as we judge Bubba's guns.

---

Don't worry about posterity labeling you a "Bubba!" Just be as accurate as you can, do quality work, follow the Armourer's guidelines, then document your work so it won't look like a fake in the future, then roll up the document tightly into a scroll and insert it into the buttstock hole for posterity. Someone in a future generation will bless you for providing Provenance!