A hopeless case?

[browningautorifle]

Nothing like it to bring out real talent... Well again someone hands me something they didn't want. I never refuse, sometimes it yeilds something wonderful. Not this time. A poor #5 that needs everything. It has a 5 rd mag marked "Made in England" and not much else. No provision for sights, so it gets Remington sights I guess. The bore is about perfect after some scrubbing...I need wood, maybe just some from our next gunshow...and ejector screw...the bolt matches the body for number. M47C...Shirley? Here's pics.

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.

[Peter Laidler]

Makes you wonder what they're thinking about - or what planetary orbit they're on when they set about doing this. They should be banned from owning sharp tools, crayons and scissors for 10 years. I wonder how many perfectly good restorable VW Beetles were chopped like this - and then abandoned - on the way to becoming beach buggies!

[WNO1958]

At first, I thought you were saying that it was hopeless to restore to original configuration.

I was then going to recommend you finish it as a hunting rifle:

1. Remove the remainder of the flash hider.
2. Buy a nice stock set from Boyds for $100-130. Bed it correctly.
3. Buy SK no gunsmith scope mount to mount in place of the ladder rear sight. Then I saw that they had butchered the rear sight mount. So now you would have to drill and tap for a side mount.

If you have to drill and tap, I would "just say no". It ain't worth it - Use wat you got for spare parts instead.

My eyes are hurting just looking at it.

Walter

[CINDERS]

As I am an ignorant Colonial do the No.1 Mk III barrels fit the No.5 receiver that way at least you will have a rear sight just a thought......

[Bindi2]

Makes you wonder what they're thinking about - or what planetary orbit they're on when they set about doing this. They should be banned from owning sharp tools, crayons and scissors for 10 years. I wonder how many perfectly good restorable VW Beetles were chopped like this - and then abandoned - on the way to becoming beach buggies!

The VW wagons made very good shooting buggies the beetle was really to small though they did get used. Never passed a wreck without looking for parts. We didn't have access to many little US jeeps and the Landie was too heavy the Austin champ was crap. The air cooled motors are still being used in purpose built buggies. Those WW2 German staff cars would have been ideal only requiring wider rear wheels. Rebuilt for another use Peter because nobody wanted them back then which has increased the value of those still about with a running gear part supply still out there.

[Surpmil]

Parker Hale "Made in Japan" 5 round mag by the look of it. Bolt looks Belgian so I assume it's not matching. If time and trouble were no object and the hack job on the receiver was finished off properly it could make a decent sporter action. Fit a Redfield peep sight or something. Find a lathe with a short headstock, chuck it up, turn the hacked off areas of the flash-hider true to the barrel profile and mount foresight of your choice.

Barrel would be better used to restore another No.5 of course.

[browningautorifle]

So, once again...I agree about the butcher job. It's going to have a set of Remington sights installed. The bolt matches numbers(I even said that) and the remaining parts function. Yes, the mag is marked "Made in England". The FH is coming off and the barrel will remain as is. I'm going to find a set of sporterized wood at our Halloween show here and stock it that way. No scope, no bedding or fancies. Blue it up by hand I guess...it'll shoot again as a truck gun. I'll show you when it's done.

[Father Ted]

I'm sure someone over in the Khyber Pass region could restore it fore you

[browningautorifle]

That's pretty good... I'll get it back to shooting status though. It just won't look like a #5 any more. Kind of like now...

[Sentryduty]

it'll shoot again as a truck gun.

Sometimes that's all you can do. I have seen a couple that have been so chopped that there is no going back to anything but a hunter/sporter. Some are very nicely and professionally crafted but are barely a Lee- Enfield any longer.