The process of restoring a SMLE No1 MkV .....

[Badger]

In case some of you guys haven't seen it, there's an outstanding article in the form of a "stickied thread" located in Restorer's Corner Forum (click here).

It's an on-going thread with a detailed description including excellent pics of a complete restoration of a previously sporotortized SMLE No1 MkV, started last June 2010 by member bigduke6. Geoff has done an awesome job with this old girl and for any of you thinking about performing any restorations or rebuilds yourselves, it would make for a really interesting read to follow along through to its completion.

SMLE No1 MkV Restoration (click here)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Thanks for sharing the journey and the process with us Geoff… well done …

Regards,
Doug

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[bigduke6]

Thanks to Doug for putting all the posts together, as I said to Doug in a PM the restoration in the title should realy be "budget build" (probably change this later) as Ive used most of the parts I had on hand, the idea of leaving this in a cabinet until the original parts appeared could of been a very long time, so this is why I started with what I had and reduced the calibre more for a safety issue due to the previous owners gunsmithing skills.
If I ever get the original parts then I wouldnt hesitate to replace the barrel with an original .303 one with a .22 liner.

I know we all cringe when we see a bubba based milsurp but, we have to step back and look at the days when these were sold off for peanuts, and in them days the people buying them and converting them were probably more concerned at putting meat on the table rather than thinking of the future price if it remained untouched.

Slightly off the subject regarding the "remained untouched" and I dont want to offend anyone here, but with the influx of repro No32 scopes, I only ask anyone who is thinking of making a replica No4 T please dont use a good condition, untouched No4 rifle.

There are hundreds of No4 rifles out there which have been sporterized etc that would make a perfect starting point. My own No4 had been in the hands of bubba at some point and he had started to drill the action, so I went about converting his work in to a No 4 T repro, again if it had been untouched then it would of stayed that way, plus the fact it would of saved me £600 I spent on the original scope.