1914 SMLE wood colour

[Devils Own]

Hi Everybody

I have just bought a 1914 BSA SMLE with South African markings and butt disc etc. It has the volley sight disc, so must be original wood. BUT the wood is a yellow/honey colour.

What kind of wood could this be? Can walnut be this light? It doesn't look like beech grain and seems too early a rifle.

Thanks

Steve

Information

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[Thunderbox]

Many early Enfields seem to have been stocked in a very pale walnut. Most of these have since turned black with age and oil-staining, but some rifles survive with this colour wood. A lot of recently-released South African rifles have been sanded/ stripped and coated with some modern finish - many of these are a sort of golden yellow colour.

[Devils Own]

Thanks Thunderbox

It does have some kind of varnish on it and the wood looks good beneath. It has been bedded and came with a PH 5A sight. So it looks like it may have been looked after. I didn't realise that walnut came that pale.

Steve

[Devils Own]

I would like to keep the original colour but strip the varnish. How would I go about keeping the colour? Would BLO darken it appreciably? Or is there some other kind of protectant that could be used to keep the colour?

Steve

[bigduke6]

I would like to keep the original colour but strip the varnish. How would I go about keeping the colour? Would BLO darken it appreciably? Or is there some other kind of protectant that could be used to keep the colour?

Steve

Steve,

See pics of my SMLE issued to the South African Police, This had been covered in varnish, i removed the wood and used nitro morse "shelac and varnish remover" and removed all the old varnish,
The next step was to remove some dents etc in the wood, this can be done by using an iron and a damp cloth, not all come out but sometimes will improve the area, basicly you are steaming the dent out which raises the grain, (i do it when the wife is out and use the ironing board to rest the wood on )
Next step is to sand, use different grades and finish with wirewool, for the final finish i used boiled linseed oil (one in pic), some people use both some just raw, have a look at the threads on, "BLO or raw" regarding linseed oil.

If its too light at the end of sanding etc you can add dye to the first and second coat of linseed ( for this i use a mix of raw linseed, thinned with white spirits and the required amount of dye, "WARNING", i strongly recomend trying out it out on scrap wood etc to get the right tint and mix, or it can end in tears)
The colour will darken slightly over time whichever oil is used.

[Tom in GA]

My 1914 LSA No.1 MkIII is all original and has a lighter tone to the walnut stock....although not quite as light as one pictured. I have only place BLO to the stock so if I would clean it, it would probably match the picture. My BSA 1916 No.1 MkIII* is all original and has a slightly darker tone to the walnut stock.