SMLE Disassembly, Cleaning, and Conditioning

[Dknight]

Hey guys. I recently acquired a 1918 Lithgow SMLE Mk3*. I plan on taking her apart later and scrubbing away some of the grime. My question is, are there any online resources for disassembling a SMLE, cleaning it, and then conditioning the parts before reassembly? I plan on using Simple Green on the metal parts and Murphy’s Oil Soap on the stock. I believe I smell cosmoline in the stock. Is that possible? If so, I may want to try to clean some of that off (it was oozing out under the warm sun earlier). Should I spread Vaseline or silicone grease between the barrel and the stock during reassembly? Any advice would be appreciated.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[AFJon]

Here's a link to dropbox on the No1 mk3 disassembly and reassembly.

If you have cosmoline in the stock wrap in paper towel, stick in a black trash bag and leave on the dashboard on a sunny day and let the heat do the work for you. use linseed oil on the stock to condition it.

Dropbox - Enfield No. 1 MkIII - Simplify your life

[CINDERS]

Welcome to Milsurps a simple search on this web top Rt will yield all the info and more from the right people giving it trained and experienced but what ever you do never ever try to remove the butt before taking all the fore wood furniture off first otherwise you will split the bottom wood like the grand canyon and then my friend your in the sh*t...........Enjoy you wont stop at one allot of us here are aflicted with Enfielditis not a bad affliction but.

[mrclark303]

Welcome to Milsurps a simple search on this web top Rt will yield all the info and more from the right people giving it trained and experienced but what ever you do never ever try to remove the butt before taking all the fore wood furniture off first otherwise you will split the bottom wood like the grand canyon and then my friend your in the sh*t...........Enjoy you wont stop at one allot of us here are aflicted with Enfielditis not a bad affliction but.

I concur with Rons sage advice, more Enfield information here than you could digest in a lifetime and some of the most knowledgeable Enfield experts you could hope to meet in residence.

To add to Rons forend comment, Lithgow's are stocked with coachwood that tends to be softer than European/American walnut.

Add decades of age and use into the equation and the reason for great care in disassembly becomes obvious.

Never try to remove the forend by pulling/ levering at the muzzle, you need ensure you don't damage the draws, gentle tapping with a rubber wedge or hammer at the top rear (either side) after component disassembly will shift it down and off.

It might be very tight if it's been in place for years and great care needs to be taken not to cause damage.

[Homer]

A 1918 Lithgow almost certainly would have been stocked with Qld maple originally, although it could be coachwood now. Same rules apply though.

[Bindi2]

The best tool for removing the forend is a block of wood with a U shaped piece cut out that closely fits over the rear of the action on the furniture that can be hit with a hammer pushing the forend down allowing it to move forward as it moves. This is how the armourers did it, the block was standard in Aussie tool kits.

[Roy]

Skennertons "Small Arms Identification" booklet on the SMLE is inexpensive and includes the armourers method of disassembly. It also has a history guide and parts identification.

[CINDERS]

This is the book you need that Roy was talking about give directions begining on Pg 42 onwards plus other very useful information within.
BDL or Brian Dick should have some on his shelves they are not expensive and a must have.

[Dknight]

Thanks for all of the great advice!