Noob with a Lee Enfield- Help!

[LuvNH]

Stock is off. Bolt was easy to get out and is in great shape! Looks like the wad was the heel of someone’s sock!

[browningautorifle]

Looks like the wad was the heel of someone’s sock

You could wash it and use it as a covid mask...

[LuvNH]

Than you Jim!! Good advice. Just as you said. A bit of cleaning to do...

Both wood and barrel seem to be in good shape too! I thought there was a lot of rust, but a quick wipe reveals much of it is/was brown dirt, oil and who knows what else.

Thanks again!!

[LuvNH]

You seen anything like this? Insulation? Filler? Only on one side.

[browningautorifle]

Don't know what that fibrous crap is from here but the rest is grease. According to our Peter Laidler and several of the other old hands here the grease is to be slathered on under the wood for waterproofing. Guess that would be your call. Definitely a bath in volatile mineral spirits first though. The wood will need some care and there's entire threads here dedicated to care of #4 lee Enfield wood...after bath care... Work slowly and do some reading here...

[LuvNH]

I have and will do more. Treading lightly. Thanks again.

[CINDERS]

What ever you do not I repeat do not use ordinary steel wool on the bluing it will remove it quicker than your money at a bar, the secret is STAINLESS steel wool and WD40 or RP7 not the soap ones either try it on a small out of the way section that has rust or crud it works well. This I have used on my 303's and was told to me by a WWII trained armourer who set up the 6" coastal defence guns on Rottnest Island.

[Singer B]

Looks like a standard Lee Enfield that no one has taken care of for many many years. With a lot of care and effort, you will have a very nice piece of history. Just remember to use raw linseed oil when refinishing the stock. Enjoy the project!

[LuvNH]

So here are the pics after cleaning with a Murphy’s, some hot water (not a bath), a toothbrush, rags, and a small scraper.

I do not want to do the boiling route. I want much of the color it has and am surprised that some spots came out much lighter than others.

Questions for the experts -

What is the best way to clean the green oxidation from the end of the buttstock?
Should I bother cleaning the light spotty rust near the end of the barrel clamp (on either side of the bluing)? I did see Cinder’s comment about the stainless wool. Thanks BTW.

So far I have found two markings, on the inside of the main stock it says 12-23. The bottom of the buttstock has a Z on it in the recess for the rear sling. The upper guards have marks that are less discernible. The rear upper guard has a large squarish O towards the front and a B/72 towards the middle rear. It could be an 8 over a 12. Can’t tell the B or an 8, nor the first digit in the denominator. The second character is a 2.

Honestly, unless you guys steer me differently, I might not go much further with the wood. Hope everything fits snugly when I put it back together. Think the dirt and grease made a custom gasket so to speak.

[browningautorifle]

Looks pretty good now. It'll be a bit easier to assemble without the crud fitting... I wouldn't worry about the verdigris on the butt, doesn't the butt plate cover it? BLO and go...that will also free more crud from the wood.