Need help identifying and referbishing

[Rollo]

I got a Lee Enfield No4 Mk I/3*(F) FTR nearly a year ago. It was originally built in 1943 in Longbranch, but over the years has been heavily modified in some unfortunate ways. It appears that the front sight was replaced as well as the front stock. The result is my gun firing about 1 foot to the left and a meter high. Other than these modifications, and the post war trigger mod, it seems original. I have also picked out a faint marking that looks like part of a Maltese cross on the top of the sight.

Where I need help is figuring out some history, exactly what has been done with this Enfield, and how I can get it back into shape. I would also like to find a way to fit a scope on this rifle as I bought this originally for hunting. It seems like a side mounted scope might work using the holes on the side of the action, although now that I look at pictures it seems like one of those holes is supposed to have a bolt in it, and the other I'm not sure what its for.

I have posted a simple album with pictures of the riflehttps://www.milsurps.com/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=68

Information

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[AndyGC123]

Hello,

Your barrel has been replaced, if you want to return to orriginal you will need to change it back to an orriginal one with a bayonet lug.

You can purchase ATI scope mount that you can remove again at a later date if you want too.

Andy

[Rollo]

So now that I know I need to replace the barrel brings up the question of where to get the barrel. (The previous barrel was actually in terrible shape and I could never get it fully cleaned no matter how many times I tried, so its nice to have a reason to get rid of it).

Where I live I do not believe there are many gun shows. There are a couple nice little gun shops, but I do not think they would stock any enfield barrels, although perhaps i could order one through them. Does anyone know of a good, reliable online store I could get an original barrel for a good price that is in top condition?

[Buzzard]

The ejector screw is also missing. It goes in the threaded hole on the left side of the reciever.
Buzzard

[bearhunter]

Get rid of it and buy a complete rifle that's in very good condition. It will be a lot cheaper and less aggravating in the end and it will also have some collector value, as long as you are careful enough to by a decent FTR or original.

[Buzzard]

Does it have a flatplate covering the magazine well.

[Rollo]

Does it have a flatplate covering the magazine well.

Yes it does have a flatplate, I am also wondering what would happen if I inserted an ejector screw as currently it seems to operate just fine? Also, I am wondering if it is worth bringing it to the shop I bought it and telling them they sold me a rifle missing parts with a bad barrel, is there anything else I should specifically notify them of, and hopefully they can help me out since I got this rifle for my Birthday and would hate to discard it.

[Buzzard]

That fore sight looks remarkably like a Mauser sight to me. Getting it back to standard spec will cost a lot of time and effort, and it still won't be "original". Why not keep it as is and use it as a hunting piece, as you originally intended. If you fit a scope it should cure the High/Left syndrome. There are a number of no gunsmithing scope mounts out there. If it shoots half way resonably what more can you ask of a hunter. Then, with the money you save NOT buying bits, you can buy an original original Lee Enfield.
Then you can enjoy yourself twice as much.
Buzzard

[louthepou]

Rollo, I don't know where you live. I'm in Canada; here, if someone had a rifle like that one, my advice would be:

Don't bother. Too much money would be needed to bring it back to its original configuration. Finding a good barrel usually means finding another sporterized Lee Enfield and take the barrel from it. So you'd get another rifle anyways... Many more sporterized Lee Enfields are out there in "less butchered" state, much better to get busy with a refurb job.

The front sight base, as Buzzard mentions, is from something else. If the rifle shoots a meter high (at 100m distance?) the front sight would need to be a lot taller... I wonder if that can be reasonably fixed. I wonder also if the barrel being shorter by many inches could be the source of that problem.

Now if the rifle you have already shoots and works, and if it can get more accurate (or shoot where you aim), over here I'd sell it close to hunting season and someone looking for a cheap deer rifle would take it quickly. Or return it to the place where it was bought. Or keep it for parts for other Lee Enfields you'll end up acquiring

Lou