No1 MkV update

[bigduke6]

Couldnt bear it any longer so started the strip down, (i have posted the thread here but the whole restore will be in the restoration part of milsurps just hoping for any more info on the No1 MkV) these are the original bits which will go again apart from barrel,

The barrel came off like it was just put on yesterday, my main concern on this was that bubba had drilled and tapped a hole in the reciever and i didnt know if it had gone through in to the barrel. It had but it looks like someone had removed the original grub screw or it was too short ? you can see (just visable) in the pic below at the top of the inner shoulder where the drill had passed


I had to clean up the top of the action, as the original flat bubba had produced was an eye sore the only way to partially correct this was to build up a radius at the flat this involved removing a few thou either side of the flat to reduce the width and trying to contour to the original i got it as far as i was willing to go ( just in case anyone has a vision of me with a grinder and a cowboy hat on, rest assured, it was done with a needle file and emery paper) with the original damage to this and the fact bubba had drilled a hole i am still in two minds on the future calibre, i,ve seen No4 actions with holes everywhere but this is still a No1 action and at the end of the day safety is paramount, and i like to sleep at night.
If it failed proof and the failure was due to the action (you never know what else Bubba has done that you cant see) then this would be scrapped or deactivated, to my mind it is lost, if it was rebuilt as .22rf we still have a working part of history. only change here is the bolt head (which i have and a .22 barrel) the bolt head needs to be replaced as bubba had put a flat on this, so the bolt could be withdrawn without taking the homemade sight off.
All coments or thoughts on the above wanted.

The action after cosmetic improvments on bubba,s work and ready for bluing also the charging bridge cleaned up.

i Have put these pics for information regarding barrels and woodwork, below show the barrels, the one that came off compared to an old scrap No4 sporter, if you take a close look at the threads and the vernier, you will see the same measurement from the knox, the blade sits on the pitch of the thread on the old barrel, but sits in the middle of the thread root on the No4 barrel, i tried the action on another no4 barrel and at hand tight it was justover 190 degree,s out. You learn something new every day, i never new the thread start was different on the No4 barrels and SMLE barrels. i may be wrong but it didnt look like bubba had worked on the shoulder of the action or the barrel.



This shows the original forestock and the replacement No1 Mk111, also the action fitted in the donor stock to show the relief for the mag cutoff.


Last two pics showing the letter "P" what is on the action and the stock, does anyone have any idea about this or why it was there, any educated guess welcome.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Alan de Enfield]

There was a question some time ago (on the old Jouster Forum) as to whether the barrels were interchangable.
If I remember correctly - The answer was yes albeit that the Extractor slot would be 180 degrees out, The flat on the Knox form would be on the underside, the front sight would be on the bottom of the barrel and that the No4s used breeching rings to get the correct spacing, otherwise - perfectly interchangable.

[Peter Laidler]

Dear Big Duke, before you go much further, might I be so bold as to suggest that you ought to make a visit to Warminster, and bring your bits with you. We have a few Mk5's, untouched since 1922. I say no more except that you'll learn more from seeing and doing than by reading and doing

[bigduke6]

Thanks Peter, have sent PM.

[louthepou]

I wish I could visit too. Maybe when the kids are older and I can affoard a plane ticket...

Lou

[JB White]

Seeing is believing and pay close attention to the subtlties such as manufacturers markings etc. Photo's are a great help and can even create more questions than they can answer. That's a good thing because then you know what to look for with an unbuggered one in hand.

I used photos from many different collectors and was fortunate enough to be able to use an unbuggered example as a model.

I started with this......



I dumped the later superimposed ED Enfield buttstock as well as the RFI trigger and triggerguard. Replaced them with proper EFD marked bits including a properly modified guard.

Ended up with one unbubba'd shown here with one unbuggered.....




Keep the faith and stay on the hunt because it can be done. Then again, a 22 Hornet might be an option for a sleeved barrel. Just a thought. I'm still kicking around the idea of a 22 WMR.

[Badger]

I don't know if the 117 pic virtual tour Knowledge Library entry we have on the MkV will help you or not, but I thought I'd post this just in case....

A while ago, we updated the "Collector Comments and Feedback" section (Note #2) of the 1924 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) No.1 MkV Rifle (click here) in the England - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here)

Advisory Panel member "Terry Hawker" added an interesting series of photographs of a No. 1 Mk V Lee-Enfield "Trials" Rifle showing the evolution of this particular Enfield model.

Regards,
Badger

[bigduke6]

JB White and Badger, Thanks for the info, JB "nice pair" , can i just ask how long did it take you to find the furniture? and the rear sight?
I am lucky in the respect of the metal work on the rifle is all matching bar the barrel, the condition is excellent, the damage that bubba did i had to clean up and have started to rust blue these areas this was priority, (to preserve) the exposed bits. Had a second opinion from an old armourer & gunsmith regarding the barrel option, and was in the same opinion as myself quote
" the amount of metal removed on the action would not be a major concern as there is still enough "meat", but the fact the action had been drilled through to the barrel, and inner shoulder, plus the the size of the whole, i would sleeve a .303 barrel to .22rf, and be the owner of a converted MkV, what ever happens in the future no one is going to damage it or themselves or somebody, using shelf .22rf ammo" "if they decide to convert back to .303 thats there choice"
As for the furniture, i will hold out for the originals for as long as i can, anybody reading this and has the slightest sniff of any MkV furniture please contact me. international (0044)and delete the (0)7966493625 just send a text i will call you back.
Have uncovered some pics ( a picture can tell a thousand words) on the web and info, am trying to get them in some order and will upload to the Knowledge Library but will many weeks , Plan on getting to waminster at some point and meet up with Peter Laidler.
Can anyone give an idea on serial numbers, this is 5006 has an A above, was this the 5006 th rifle produced....
Also on the prototypes, would these have been the first serial numbers or when all trials etc completed would the serial numbers start then?

[bigduke6]

Must correct myself again, serial number is 5009 and not 5006

[5thBatt]

Must correct myself again, serial number is 5009 and not 5006

The years of production for the MkV are 1922/23/24
Going by the s/n range from a MkV survivor thread on another forum, about 6,000 are 1922 dated, 2,000 dated 1923 and the balance of about 12,000 dated 1924.
The s/n range started with no letter prefix followed by A, this would make your rifle a 1924 MkV number 15,009.

As always with the Lee Enfields there are exceptions to this.