First Lee-Enfield, some questions.

[balefulglazz]

Hello,

Long time lurker, first post. I bought my first Lee-Enfield from a pawn shop recently and was wondering what I have exactly. I know from looking at the very faint markings on the left side receiver (near where someone drilled and tapped it for a scope mount I presume) that it is a No4 Mk1. I tried to capture all the relevant markings/numbers etc for you guys in the pictures.

It functions and fires fine from the couple shots I put through it, so that is a plus. Otherwise it is in very rough shape. I would be interested in eventually restoring this old rifle. I have restored a handful of milsurp rifles and pistols in the past, as well as modern firearms. I am definitely excited to learn more about these Enfield Rifles!

Anyways, thanks for reading this and responding. I will have to start sharing pics of my other milsurp handguns and rifles later on.

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Information

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[Brian Dick]

Your rifle is a 1943 BSA No.4Mk.1 that was imported to the USA prior to 1968.It sports British commercial proofs on the barrel and is unfortunately butchered into sporter configuration. The holes drilled in the body are especially damaging because the barrel isn't cut and it would otherwise be a good candidate for restoration. I reckon it's worth the sum of the parts if the barrel is good.

[balefulglazz]

Your rifle is a 1943 BSA No.4Mk.1 that was imported to the USA prior to 1968.It sports British commercial proofs on the barrel and is unfortunately butchered into sporter configuration. The holes drilled in the body are especially damaging because the barrel isn't cut and it would otherwise be a good candidate for restoration. I reckon it's worth the sum of the parts if the barrel is good.

Thank you very much for the information! Luckily I only paid 100$ for this out the door due to its condition. Figured I could do much worse at that price. The action is smooth and the barrel has great rifling, so I will probably just keep this as a fun shooter. Maybe throw some bluing or something on the metal to keep the rust at bay!

[browningautorifle]

because the barrel isn't cut and it would otherwise be a good candidate for restoration.

Come now Brian, you've resurrected worse...you can do it! Looks like someone didn't know which scope mount they wanted to use when they drilled the flatside... Is the butt a #1 Mk3 butt? It isn't bottomed out in the socket. The stock disc recess makes me think...

[Brian Dick]

I didn't say it couldn't be restored. It just isn't a great candidate because of what it would cost to do it right with those nasty holes in the body. He'd be in it way more than it's worth. He's better off doing exactly what he's doing with it. If he could find a side mount that it was drilled for, (maybe Weaver?), he'd be in the tall cotton.

[browningautorifle]

I didn't say it couldn't be restored.

I know...just teasing. I'm sure you've sorted much worse. It could be done if it was a cost job and I was doing it myself...

I do think that's a #1 Mk3 buttstock though that hasn't been trimmed around the front.

Anyway, here's a link in case the OP wants to proceed with restoration efforts or do a cost estimate... Parts for the #4 rifle.

https://www.libertytreecollectors.co...?idCategory=63

[balefulglazz]

I know...just teasing. I'm sure you've sorted much worse. It could be done if it was a cost job and I was doing it myself...

I do think that's a #1 Mk3 buttstock though that hasn't been trimmed around the front.

Anyway, here's a link in case the OP wants to proceed with restoration efforts or do a cost estimate... Parts for the #4 rifle.

https://www.libertytreecollectors.co...?idCategory=63

Again thank you both for the information! It has definitely pointed me in the right direction. I will probably just keep an eye out for a cheap decent condition stock, and re-blue it. I will be doing all the work myself so can do it all very cheap. I may actually look for a mount and see what I can make work, mays well since its drilled right? Other than that I will just enjoy shooting and reloading for the .303 and maybe it will push me into collecting some nicer Enfields down the road!

[Brian Dick]

Yep, the buttstock isn't pulled up into the socket. It may well be an SMLE butt.

[Singer B]

You may be able to replace the wood cheaply by purchasing one or two of those Sarco war relics for $49. I picked up a couple and while the metal parts are unusable, the wood is actually in very good shape.

[smle addict]

If you choose to keep it as a sporter and re-mount a scope, you'll have to comb the auction sites for a vintage weaver (or equivalent) side mount. Brownells would be a good place to look for a current weaver produced side mount.

When I was 16, I had a sporterized 30-40 Krag. It was drilled for a weaver side mount that could also be mounted (with drilling) on an SMLE MkIII. The mount base had a round profile to match the curved receivers of the 98 Krag and the SMLE MkIII. As your No4 has a flat side, it should be relatively easy to locate a flat-side mount. A few pics from auctions:
Attachment 105080Attachment 105081
Just remember these two pics were randomly pulled, and are not necessarily the correct ones for the No4. There are several. That might be half the fun in trying to locate the correct one.

Whatever path you choose, have fun, enjoy your rifle, and welcome to the forum.