First Enfield, need help!

Been wanting to add an Enfield to the collection and I know nothing about them. Here is what I've found (local) that hasn't been permanently altered. It has been sportered in the sense that the butt has a rubber one on it, the forend has been cut back, no upper wood and no exterior hardware from the magazine forward. Rear sight and Front sight are intact but from what I can tell I'll need all wood and associated hardware attaching it. Including sling swivel in front of mag on up to the end of the barrel. They want $270 for it as is and the rifling is good but a flat looking finish in the groves (frosty). Might clean up, not worried about that as I've had way worse shoot very well. Anyhow, is this a good price for what I'll have to do to restore it? What is it? what might I expect to pay for the parts I need? I'm not opposed to new reproduction wood.... maybe.
Thanks,

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2LZQxHhm-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...HoX5bU5m-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...qftQZbjl-1.jpg

That’s very far off from a good deal. You’d be looking at about $350 to restore. At least.
Run!
For that price you can find a complete rifle in shootable condition.

I agree with above. Not worth what it would take to restore. A 1943 Ishapore isn't all that special, good quality, but not rare. Keep looking. I will corroborate though, the Enfield rifle is the funnest milsurp bolt gun and a great "rabbit hole." They do multiply!

I'd like to know where you folks are finding full wood un-sporterized No 1 MkIIIs for less than $275 + $350. In Canada, at least I'd be paying $900-1200 for these. Perhaps not "economical" to restore this one, but worthwhile nonetheless, no? Is the market so different in the US?

Sorry, I’m replying on my phone and didn’t see you were in Canada.
I’ll bow out. Apparently, the market is indeed that different!

You can check prices from Liberty Tree Collectors
https://www.libertytreecollectors.co...&idcategory=62
You'll need: Forestock; front handguard; rear handguard; butt
Then you may need some metal bits: early nose piece+ screws; rear sight protector + screw; hinged barrel band + screw; stock screw spring set; buttplate + screws; rear sling swivel + screws; front sling swivel; stock disc+screw.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rcathey

Sorry, I’m replying on my phone and didn’t see you were in Canada.
I’ll bow out. Apparently, the market is indeed that different!

---

Well, I'm in Canada, but I don't know about Randy A. I am genuinely curious about the market and price differences though. :)

I was worried about the end result $$$ too but todays efforts produced a decent dark colored stock set with all hardware except for the upper wood and a barrel band. This rifle has a sling swivel right at the front of the magazine opening? I've seen them with a loop of sorts and thought the band midway up the barrel had a swivel and then a stacking swivel at the muzzle? The stock set I got has a swivel at the end not a stacking swivel. I assume the upper swivel goes on the mid-barrel band, stacking swivel at muzzle but whats up with the one at the front of the magazine, its two lugs threaded for a through bolt/screw?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e9QzoJPl-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...yCFYC1gl-1.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BurtonP

I'd like to know where you folks are finding full wood un-sporterized No 1 MkIIIs for less than $275 + $350. In Canada, at least I'd be paying $900-1200 for these. Perhaps not "economical" to restore this one, but worthwhile nonetheless, no? Is the market so different in the US?

---

I too don't realize this was Canada. I got an all matching 1943 Lithgow for $220 a couple years ago, sold for $500 a couple months ago. Right now, barring any unique / rare factors you can get an SMLE in the $400~$500 range. Prices jumped when Dunkirk came out. Just my experience.

Randy A, I restore old sporters for fun, and it is seldom going to make me much money if I resell. However, the process is extremely enjoyable and worthwhile for other reasons IMO.
The only sling swivels in front of the mag I know are on the No4 T where a third swivel is sometimes used. Perhaps the previous owner used the sling to steady his shooting and added one.

I'll pick it up since I should be able to get it together for reasonable $. Looks like I need a darker set of upper wood, a stacking swivel and the mid-forearm barrel band with swivel screw.

I just finished restoring a 1945 Long Branch No 4 Mk 1* last week. The only reason I bought it was I thought I had a complete stock set at home. I was mistaken as I was missing a good forend so I ended up buying a complete stock set that I did get a very good deal on. Counting everything I have $350.00 in the rifle. Most SMLE's in my area go for $350.00 to $400.00 for a complete one so I ended up being ok on this one.

I'm like BurtonP. I like to restore old sporters but the milsurp parts market has fallen on it's face in the states. Those that do have the parts want an exorbitant amount for them now though. I enjoyed restoring the Long Branch. I have a line on a few more sportered No 4 Mk 1 Enfields but with the stock sets (especially No 4 Mk 1 forends) availability dried up it's just not worth it for me to have more project lying around hoping for parts to become available again.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7YhQtepl-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...bz2vSF9l-1.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Randy A

I'll pick it up since I should be able to get it together for reasonable $. Looks like I need a darker set of upper wood, a stacking swivel and the mid-forearm barrel band with swivel screw.

---

A stacking swivel on a 1943 rifle is incorrect. The swivel in front of the Magazine is an addition for prone target rifle shooting. That rifle is an Indian built one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Randy A

I was worried about the end result $$$ too but todays efforts produced a decent dark colored stock set with all hardware except for the upper wood and a barrel band. This rifle has a sling swivel right at the front of the magazine opening? I've seen them with a loop of sorts and thought the band midway up the barrel had a swivel and then a stacking swivel at the muzzle? The stock set I got has a swivel at the end not a stacking swivel. I assume the upper swivel goes on the mid-barrel band, stacking swivel at muzzle but whats up with the one at the front of the magazine, its two lugs threaded for a through bolt/screw?

---

Just be aware that these rifles are the last of the breed that were 'hand made' & 'hand fitted'.

'Fitting' new wood means exactly that - it will require some FITTING, they are not 'plug and play' so be prepared to do some minor surgery.

I spent hours and hours trying to fit a 'pre-used' forend to a barrelled action I had and just could not get it working, the bolt would not cock.
I removed the forend from another rifle and tried that on the Barrelled action and it worked OK, I then tried the original forend on the rifle from which I had just removed the forend to go onto the barrelled action, and, with a slight shaving it fitted and worked perfectly.

Every No1 MkIII is different.

^^^^ Wise words^^^^

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alan de Enfield

Just be aware that these rifles are the last of the breed that were 'hand made' & 'hand fitted'.

'Fitting' new wood means exactly that - it will require some FITTING, they are not 'plug and play' so be prepared to do some minor surgery.

I spent hours and hours trying to fit a 'pre-used' forend to a barrelled action I had and just could not get it working, the bolt would not cock.
I removed the forend from another rifle and tried that on the Barrelled action and it worked OK, I then tried the original forend on the rifle from which I had just removed the forend to go onto the barrelled action, and, with a slight shaving it fitted and worked perfectly.

Every No1 MkIII is different.

---

Alan de Enfield is correct. Fitting is slow and tedious work but the satisfaction of a job well done is worth it.

Also bear in mind that these days the cost of the rifle will likely be be less than a few hundred rounds of store-bought ammo.
303 British Ammo For Sale - 174 gr FMJBT Ammunition In Stock by Prvi Partizan
Even if you reload, the rifle will probably cost less than a thousand rounds of ammunition.
So if you shoot regularly, the cost of the rifle will soon be forgotten once the cost of feeding it begins to attract your attention...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Randy A

I'll pick it up since I should be able to get it together for reasonable $. Looks like I need a darker set of upper wood, a stacking swivel and the mid-forearm barrel band with swivel screw.

---

I've had good success with leather dyes to match wood sets lately. Having said that, the dyes will cost you more than the wood uppers, so unless you intend to restore a few sporters...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by artyldr01

Prices jumped when Dunkirk came out.

---

Funny how history repeats itself. ;)

"...(frosty)..." That's the beginning of rust. Isn't terminal though. Isn't unsafe for shooting either.
"...all wood and associated hardware..." That'll cost a big pile of money. And it can take years to find these days. There are no more stock sets, but it's mostly the small metal bits that cost a bunch.
Anyway, Elwood Epp's, in Orillia, Ontario, lists most No. 1 Mk III parts, but cheap they ain't. The front and rear hand guards will run you $108Cdn plus shipping. An outer band with its screw is $23.99. Adds up quickly. And you will never get that money back if you ever decide to sell it.
The advantage to Epp's is that they have stuff and they know what they're talking about.
Firearm Parts - Hunting
"...Prices jumped when Dunkirk came out...." Movies will do that. Sales of Smith M29's go up every time a Dirty Harry movies is run on TV too.

Thanks all for the help, did some reading and got it figured out. Will post range report when I get it tuned up.