The donor rifle (actually a .410 shotty) i bought online off pictures. Its a 1938 Indian conversion of a 1917 Enfield No1Mk3 from .303 to .410 with its usual wooden plug in the magazine well.



Knowing the metalwork was cactus, the images of the timber looked really good. It was dark and almost semi gloss, like English Wallnut goes when its oil soaked, and the shop i bought it off was sure it was Wallnut as well. It also had no Ishy screw, so my chances were good for it being english, along with the action

Alas, when i got the damn thing, it was not english, it was in fact an ishy stock, pre-ishy screw. And yes the wood was dark but that's only because it had been coated with something that stinks of motor oil and creosote mix used on old fence posts to stop the termites getting into the woodwork.

When i destocked the thing the rear handguard snapped in two with some dry rot. It must have been stored at the bottom of the Ganges as there was mud underneath the barrel and in the trigger mechanism.


The rest of the wood was structurally very good, but i could not get the oily mess off the timber with acetone or lacquer thinner until i scuffed the surface with 180 grit sandpaper to break the grand of the wood, then the acetone would penetrate. its been 4 days now of wiping it over with lacquer thinner. Each day it looks good in the afternoon, then the next afternoon its got black junk seeping from it again so outcomes the lacquer thinner

Metalwork wise, i was able to save the trigger guard, safety assembly, butt plate, stock bolt, trigger guard screws and the entire nose cap assembly. I didn't bother with the sights as they are pinned at 200 meters for the .410 cartridges. All of the parts show Ishy marks on them, so i have ended up with most of the furniture for an ishy rifle, which is kinda neat.


Ill spend a few days working on this timber, the contract rifle should be here next week