Enfield question

[jwtietz]

Ok, 40 years ago a friend gives me an enfield that he got to shoot. He had lightly sanded it and did put some sort of finish on it. Doesn't look too bad but i think i have to strip it and linseed oil it. I just thought it was a standard enfield (not much interest in military then) so it gets thrown in the safe and sits in the back for 40 years. Well i am going through all the guns to get them in some sort of shape and i pull this out. I figured I better look it up now that there is the internet to check it out. Seems it is a 1933 no.4 mki sn-a0475. It has the scope pads and peep sight and all #match. There is a scope # on the tang=1180 and i can still read most of the #'s on the stock. Seems it all matches. Looks to be a good gun, it did shoot well. The finish on the stock is not good with the stuff that is on it. I am figuring on stripping it and re-oiling it with boiled linseed oil. It has been sanded. I have to find the cheek piece, we took that off because he couldn't shoot it with it. It is in the cellar somewhere under 25 years of junk. To the point, I have 2 Questions- Should i strip the stock and what should i use- I did see a good thread on stock refinishing and staining. I don't want to sand it any more and i don't think I should replace it. And second How come There is no T after the Serial number? I thought these had a t? thanks.

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[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Sounds like you've got a good one. Check out this link for more info.

1933 No.4 Mk1(T) Sniper - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

I think you're on the right track with the stock. Don't replace it or sand it any more. I'd use paint stripper and fine steel wool to remove the varnish or whatever and then treat it with BLO. It's common for earlier rifles to lack the "T" mark. Now get down to the cellar and don't come back without that cheek piece!

[limpetmine]

Steve speaks the truth. You have a rare rifle there. Don't booger it up anymore, find the cheek piece, and ask for help along the way. Pictures!! NEED PICTURES!!!
No sandpaper!!!!

[RJW NZ]

Thats a rare and early enfield, set up for being a sniper rifle = valuable. Its crucial that its not messed with anymore, any steps that are a poor restoration will see its value drop, at the same speed you think you're 'improving' it.
Pics please? very few enfields in the early 30's exist at all, let alone ones that were converted for sniping.
Good find. That 40 years in the back of the safe away from twitching fingers may have been the saving of it.

[jwtietz]

Ok, I'll get the camera and post some pics. I think the finish is like the birchwood casey truoil. My son took the camera to school so as soon as i get it and i will hold off on the stripper. Went to the HD and got some mild stuff.

[Sht_LE]

Definitely a junker and not worth anything.... I would be happy to take it off your hands so you don't have to fool with it....

All kidding aside..... NICE!

I would do what Steve says, but substitute 0000 Bronze wool for the steel wool. It would be a touch gentler than the steel and you can always up gun to 0000 steel wool if the Bronze wool does not hack it. I would also recommended trying Turpentine first, if it does not work Acetone, then paint stripper/varnish remover. Just take it slow and steady, cause it is really hard to grow wood back. Hope you get lucky and it comes of easy. Good luck!

[jwtietz]

Ok got the camera and uploaded the pics to photobucket. Hope this works and it is readable. thanks

[Brian B]

That is one rare and nice rifle. I have a Trials "T" with matching mount and scope, but it was FTRd in it's lifetime. If you could find the matching scope and mount, I think you would be surprised at how much it would be worth. As is there are many, including me, that would love to own it.

Thank you for sharing!!

Brian

[jmoore]

If in doubt, don't do anything that you can't take back.

Please note that there are variations in these rifles, and the more detailed pictures you can contribute will help nail down some of the finer aspects of these rifles.

I'd get more involved, but right now i'm eyeballs deep in work- 12hrs a day (5 days) and 8hrs the other two...

[RJW NZ]

lol, its like scrolling thru a strip tease, all the pics are good and theres always better pics coming, lol..
Awesome rifle, truly a great discovery.
I'd say, for now do not work on the wood,not at all. Wait for all this info to sink in properly. You have a rifle with museum type value of which there are very very few left in existence, this is partially because there were few to start with, and they were put to work early in the war hence a goodly number were probably consumed in various ways by the conflict.

Thats a bit of a heart palpitating discovery, phew!