Found in a loft....

[krinko]

An action screw that has been staked only once....
I love to see them like that----hope it didn't hurt too much, dismounting for restoration.
-----krinko

[RJW NZ]

This is really great, well done. I really like the perspective of it being a time capsule, and in doing so it really validates all of us enfielders who love to put the accoutrements back on their rifles, such as mag cut offs and etc. I'm really intrigued by so many screws being staked, I guess they didn't expect to dismantle it any time soon.
I wonder it thats spitfire syndrome, ie engine Ist head off maintenance at 600 hrs never expects to get done as the BoB planes lifespan was less than 60 hours.
Nicely cleaned up too, what a great project.
Well done, that man!

[Brit plumber]

Being a 1915, it cold have been made late in the year or assembled early in 1916 as a transitional and may never have been fitted with volley sights.

I'd agree, the stock looks original to the gun, this is a real sleeper and already must have some sentimental value.

[JBS]

What a treasure. Glad you were able to rescue it.

[MVolkJ]

When I saw those first rusty pictures, I shuddered. You did a heck of a job cleaning that rifle up, it looks great now!

-Mark

[jmoore]

That's the beauty of "rust" bluing, if there's no pitting, it just adds to the finish. (Lots of work, though, and slow!)

As an another aside, before I tackle a project like that any more, I give the red rusty bits a steaming until they get hot- it tends to convert the red to blue-black; won't fix "holes" but it really helps, believe it or don't.


ETA: Thanks for your hard work in rescuing it, plus sharing.

[madcratebuilder]

I caught a whiff of turpentine looking at your photo's!

Excellent rifle, congrats on the restoration, well done.

[Surpmil]

Now, what would be interesting to find out who owned/lived in your house during and just after WWI. You might get a pretty clear idea of just who put it away, and perhaps even why. You might even find some very elderly lady who knew her father put his rifle in the loft and why.

[SpikeDD]

Fantastic find and a excellent job on the restoration! Thanks for sharing.

[Peter Laidler]

Good thought SM but in England it wouldn't pay to ask too many questions. The words 'common sense' don't feature in the vocabulary when it comes to weaponry.

I knew of a sten gun found in the old garage pit of a 1920's bungalow. Found under years of old rubble, rubbish etc etc, covered by pit boards and hidden for decades by old linoleum until the new owners found the pit and cleared it in the 90's. The gun fired perfectly after a good wash with the power hose, even using the 1942 winchester ammo found with it. It was eventually disposed of due to several friends having fired it and the new house owner not wanting any comebacks - with the word 'firearm/Sten gun' against his name in police records in the future.........................

Mmmmmm, common sense doesn't feature in the legislators vocabulary here. Let sleeping dogs lie as they say...........