In the mean time ... RIC

Since i was about to do the final finish on my P13 i figured i might as well finish the wood on one of my other project. A RIC that's been on the bench for almost as long.

I had purchased this from someone that had started to finish it as a regular Carbine but never finished it.
After talking with a few people, the consensus was that this carbine had indeed been turned into a RIC at some point in time.
So that was the direction i was going to take.

I already had a few parts and a modified SMLE stock from a previous project that never materialized.
Only the barrel busing was really missing so i had that fabricated.

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Like i mentioned the SMLE stock was modified years ago (when they were easy to find and dirt cheap) and was going to restore a chopped up MLE. Turning it into a carbine clone.
Now the stock ended up a bit too short but since real RIC carbines have the nose cap section spliced on, i just cut the tip and made a new splice.
All the pictures i saw showed that this splice was not matching so i made sure to do it like that, to had realism.

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The butt stock i had was a heavily sanded MLE with the cut out for the butt plate tang.
I filled that in, simulating a repair we often see on Lee Enfields butt stocks.

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Fast forward to the recent days i needed to take care of a few small details and some mishaps that happened over the years this stock was moved around.
Filled in a small chip that i made (and lost) on the butt stock.

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I glued some veneer to the butt socket section to make it nice and tight.

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I riveted spring clips to the handguard.
And i just noticed as i was posting these pics a cracks appears on the inside so i guest that will need a bit of glue....

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Since this was initially a SMLE fore end, it was missing the two Brass washers surounding the retaining pin.
I made the washers, made a small punch out tool and slowly carved out the wood around the pins and filed them flush.
The washers are quite snug and glued... they dont look like they are coming out.

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A few small repairs here and there, around the trigger guard and nose cap and the wood is done.
One last wash and it's ready for finishing.
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Once it's stained up, it'll be prefect...again.

Beautiful work!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by smle addict

Beautiful work!

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Thank you
My thumb still hurts pretty bad btw :thdown:

2 coats of Fiebings dark brown and the repairs are fading away.
I used a different dye on the nose cap tip, will see how different it ends up.
Let's hope it stays that way once i start oiling.

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Looks good.

This one too has 6 coats of Fiebings dark brown dye.
The fore end tip also has 6 coats but from the other alcohol stain. Dark brown too.
It's quite different looking so i'm very curious to see how it turns out.

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And while i wait for the dyes to dry i figured i would strip down the carbine and give it a deep clean.
Some will advise againts this for most people, that you risk breaking something.
While i generaly agree, this is not my first and i prefer doing it this way.
And you often find an unpleasant surprise... better at this stage than on the range though.
Of course this time was no exception...
The stricker keeper screw almost fell out by itself.
After a closer look it turns out the screw has been replaced by one with a bigger shaft, effectively cancelling any chances of installing an original one.
I will either need to use another cocking piece or get a custom made made.

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Very nice woodwork. Going to look great.

5 coats of oil on so now its time to work the wood a bit to make it smoother and also lighten up that color a bit.
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Done... Another one for the books.

I didn't have a carbine buttplate so i converted a commercial MLE one i had.
Well to be honest i do have one but i'm keeping it for a LMC that needs it.
I hate scrapping old parts like this but it was for a good cause.

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The finish product.

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And a before & after comparaison

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by tatou

I hate scrapping old parts

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That's not really scrapping something. It was a needful conversion. Imagine an armorer in an outpost would do the same work.

Magnifico! Wunderbar!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

That's not really scrapping something. It was a needful conversion. Imagine an armorer in an outpost would do the same work.

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That's one positive way of looking at it, i like it ;)

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It turned out about perfect.