No1Mk3 SMLE full restoration - from scratch

[Peter Laidler]

Can I be a bit more brutal - and realistic than most of the forumers so far, in a most respectful way.............? Looking at what you've been lumbered with I'd say that the very FIRST thing you need to do before youy even think about starting the de-rusting treatment is this. Scrub the bore like it's going out of fashion. If it's crap at the last 6" of muzzle then don't bother flogging this dead horse.

If the bore is OK, then listen to this. ALL RUST IS SURFACE RUST. There ain't no other sort! Take the bull by the horns and accept that this isn't an all singing and dancing £20,000 Purdy work of art but a 1926 ex Military battle rifle. It will NEVER be anything else!. Now strip it using the best technique you have and have the whole lot totally fine grain bead blasted. It'll leave a slightly matt but pitted surface but no rust. Then take it to a local agricultural implement repairer/manufacturer and get him to phosphate it in the phosphate tank. That will a) get rid of the rust and b) chemically seal the steel surface. Then paint it with a hard bake paint. That is just what the military have been doing since 1944 and still doing it to this day. You could leave it a dull grey phosphate finish but if you do, just keep it oiled.