Noob with a Lee Enfield- Help!

[LuvNH]

Oh I see what you are talking about now. I missed the line in your picture. I looked several other images from others and yes there is some material missing. It’s nicely rounded and smooth, so it appears intentional. What are the chances it was just a “B” grade hand guard? Short supply perhaps?

As far as the bolt goes, this one came out of Ethiopia. It wasn’t a close personal sale. Do people have any similar success? Seems like a huge stretch this many years later. I’m not even sure what number to match it to. When I get it disassembled we’ll see if the barrel can shed any light.

Many thanks!

[ActionYobbo]

the * on top of the receiver indicates rusting in the bore

[Alan de Enfield]

I don't know off hand what serial number block Savage was on when they changed to the MkI*

Change over from Mk1 to Mk1* was 'around' the 12C to 15C prefix numbers. 120,000th to 150,000th rifle between those numbers examples of both have been found, and even a very very few occasional Mk1's after 15C. One can only speculate that they were 'lost' at the bottom of the stillage and were eventually picked up and used.


I asked about the cross-bolt thinking it may have been scrubbed in India, the OP answers there isn't one, but I think you may be thinking of THE 'bolt' of which there are pictures

[Roger Payne]

I would imagine that there were several production lines running at the same time, consequently there is a slightly 'blurred' range over which the transition from Mk1 to Mk1* rifles occurred. It was also a few of these early (approx 12 to 15C) Mk1* rifles that were selected for conversion to No4 sniper's rifles following their arrival in the UK.

[LuvNH]

So I got around to cleaning with some Murphy’s and scrubbing with rag. Making a difference. Still a lot of dirt and junk in the wood. I was hesitant to to start really taking it apart, but finally realized it couldn’t be avoided.

I put a few drops of oil on all screws and let it sit for a while. That worked, or it wasn’t even necessary, as all came out surprisingly easily. I have removed the upper and lower bands, front and rear hand guards, the trigger and guard, butt plate on the stock. I was going to take the stock off, but there was something plugging the hole. Took a picture and it looks like a rag. Haven’t done anything more yet, bc I am also stuck on removing the barrel from the lower fore end stock. I did some looking around and apparently that is a rivet holding the rear end to the receiver? Tie plate and rivet. What do I do here?

Any help on the stamps would be wonderful.

Attached some pics for reference.

Thanks!!

[browningautorifle]

If you have all the bands off(2) then the lower wood should come off with some gentle persuasion. Lay it on a table sights down and work both ends of the wood until it lets go. The rag in the butt isn't supposed to be there so pull it out and there's a BFS inside that needs a flat blade to unscrew. Then the butt will come off. The rear tie plate stays put.

[LuvNH]

No need to mess with that tie plate? I saw some other versions that had a screw. I’ll try it, but worried about cracking the wood.

[browningautorifle]

I saw some other versions that had a screw.

Yes they do, don't worry about that. Sights down and a bit of tapping at the ends and rocking it back and forth. It SHOULD come free.

[LuvNH]

Will do. Glad I don’t have to mess with the rivet. Here goes.

[browningautorifle]

Here goes.

K, let us know...pics after.