Question on No.4 Mk.1 refurbishing?

[enfieldman]

If you have a No.4Mk.1* in what appears to be its original stock, but that stock has been
severely sanded down to the point where no markings survive, and wood has been made smaller in places such as around the butt plate.
Is it sacriligious to drop the rifle into a stock of same manufacture, but in untouched condition
retaining markings and all? Or should the rifle be kept in its original wood no matter what?
the `new` wood is un-refinished and original.. help please..

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Take a tip from an Armourer Enfieldman, given straight from the heart......... If you want a crap looking rifle, then leave it in the crap fore-end and butt. If you want a good rifle, that looks like it has been stored in the unit Armoury for years and years, then replace the crap with something better. But make sure that it's fitted proiperly. This is what us REAL Armourers did thousands of times during our looooooooong service......., day in and day out. Oh, and in case you're going to ask about originality and all that rubbish, let me mention something else too. Not ONCE during my service did anyone EVER ask me if the rifle that I'd just fixed was any the worse because it wasn't original. Of course I might be wrong, but if I am, then I can't ever remember it being asked. And do you know what else, when it came to active service, they wanted a rifle that was tough, reliable, simple to use and accurate and that's what I tried to give 'em. They only EVER came into the Armourers shop because there was something wrong with 'em!

So the short answer to the question is get rid of the crap and fit a new woodwork BUT MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FITTED PROPERLY. If you do, it'll happily last you for another 75 years

[enfieldman]

Thank you, Peter! It`s what i wanted to hear. The forend fits snuggly, but the buttstock wrist
has to be fitted a bit!! Would you stamp the serial # onto the foreend or leave well enough alone? All manufacturers marks, etc. are intact...

[Peter Laidler]

The Bible says to restamp the number again.

[enfieldman]

Again Peter thanks for the knowledge and help
best
Phil.

[mgarrno4]

Hi I had to replace butt stock and fore end because of it being sanded so badly where does the S/N restamp go does anyone have a picture of one thanks.

[enfieldman]

It`s on the upper forend just below the nosecap. there are lots of pics in the
Knowledge Library above. just click the link and select a country e.g. Canada, United Kingdom,
Australia, etc. and there are lots of Lee Enfields displaying their S/N`s and other markings.