Unsporterize an Enfield No.4 Mk.1

[MasterChief]

Have posted this before:

I bought this LB No4 about 15 years ago in sporterized condition: forend cut down, bands, bits and top wood missing but otherside in good shape. Paid $95 at that time. I added a NOS stock set, bands and bits from Springfield Sporters and voila! I remember calculating about $200 total in the finished project, including the original price of the rifle. Non-import marked, FTR '48, all matching metal including EP'd magazine.




Of course, the repair parts are harder to find now and likely more expensive. A little internet search should give you a good estimate of what yours will cost to overhaul.

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[Tswancoat]

I bought this LB No4 about 15 years ago in sporterized condition: forend cut down, bands, bits and top wood missing but otherside in good shape. Paid $95 at that time. I added a NOS stock set, bands and bits from Springfield Sporters and voila! I remember calculating about $200 total in the finished project, including the original price of the rifle. Non-import marked, FTR '48, all matching metal including EP'd magazine.

Looks really nice. Love the look of the wood. If I'm not mistaken it should have a zamac alloy buttplate on that Canadian beauty. PM me if you need one, I have a couple in the parts bin.

Tyson

[AFlyinfr1dge]

This is my first time posting pictures so im unsure how well itll work.
Soo a few things caught my eye.
1) Its shorter than pictures ive seen
and 2) The front sight is tottally different and the back sight flips but has no tall sight (Im not sure what its called)

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Any help would be awesome!

[Seaspriter]

1) Its shorter than pictures ive seen
and 2) The front sight is tottally different and the back sight flips but has no tall sight (Im not sure what its called)

Here are some things that are for sure:
1) the muzzle has been nipped -- meaning the barrel is 2-3 inches shorter than normal. You can have a new nose put on (costly) or replace the barrel (costly)
2) the front sight and the overstamping on the receiver seem to indicate a Parker Hale sporter. If you look carefully, you will most likely see Parker Hale stamped on the left side of the foresight. On the receiver you can see the FTR (Factory Thorough Repair) engraving, meaning the gun was reconditioned after the war. It means it was a high quality gun when sporterized.

The restoration is problematic because of the work needed on the barrel -- either replace it (a good gunsmith with the right tools -- like Brian Dick or Robert Snyder -- is best because it's not an amateur job), or elongate it (again this needs a machine shop).

The mag is a 5 round civilian version that you could trade even for a 10 round mag.

On the positive side, it's a Canadian Long Branch, which is one of the most sought after, highest quality Enfields.

You are probably looking at putting another $250 into the gun to bring it back to original. If you do, it's because its a labour of love, not because you will make money on it (unless you wait 5-10 years for prices to rise to compensate for the costs of restoration.)

[AFlyinfr1dge]

you will most likely see Parker Hale stamped on the left side of the foresight.

You called that! I appreciate the help! Im going to keep it as is and find a Not-screwed-with Lee-enfeild. I find it a shame that people could deface such relics! Thanks again folks!

[Seaspriter]

You are making a wise decision for now. You can still restore the gun at a later date. You still have a fine gun.

I find it a shame that people could deface such relics!

While this comment is quite logical in 2015, you have to understand the conditions of the early 1950s when these surplus rifles first were released -- flooding the market. You could buy an Enfield for $12.95 out of a barrel at your local sporting goods store (no license required). My father bought me one along with a baseball glove in 1958.

In order to sell these guns, Parker Hale, that had special wartime contracts with the British Government, got the "pick of the litter," finding that they could sell a lighter weight Sporterized hunting version for twice the price of a military standard issue. And, in those days, ex GIs were looking for hunting versions -- they had their fill of heavy military guns.

This is similar to GIs who bought 1932 Ford Deuce Coupes and made them into hot rods after the war. In retrospect some of us might say "what a shame to screw up an old car." But had this not happened, and had the Sporterized versions not come into the market, you can be assured of thousands of old cars and military surplus guns would have been scrapped because they were considered obsolete and worthless. At the time, the Sporterized Enfields were considered the "hot rods" of the day.

[browningautorifle]

While this comment is quite logical in 2015, you have to understand the conditions of the early 1950s when these surplus rifles first were released

Agreed, agreed...there were millions available. Parker Hale and many others cherry picked the very best and made hunting rifle. A great deal at the time when service rifles were not only still in use, but available at a minimum.