Now here's a cuty, a No1 Mk3 in teak furniture

[Bruce_in_Oz]

That teak furniture is made from what appears to be well-seasoned timber. The plant where it is produced also does a lot of teak outdoors furniture (as in the sit-on type furniture) for sale in Europe.

The bigest problem for users is that teak is denser than walnut, thus adding a bit of weight to a completed rifle. For target shooting this is not much of a problem.

I understand that the SMLE stock sets were deliberately made to require final hand fitting. For use with standard weight barrels, the channel needs to be packed at the normal bearing points. This was apparently considered an easier option than supplying two patterns of front wood. Note that the last time I saw them, the stock sets came complete with all the metal buts attached, all you need is the removably bits like nosecap, swivel band etc., including the brass butt plate.


I got the impression that the Oz party would have liked to have done them in walnut, but the economics of labour, material sources and shipping killed that idea.

Making the furniture in the correct timber here in Oz is fraught with problems. I found a source of coachwood and a CNC woodwork shop Then the fun started. this is not a boutique biz. The wood guy talks in tons, the CNC bloke talks in multiples of thousands, and that's before finding a source for all the springs, clips, rivets and caps etc that attach to the wooden bits. I haven't given up yet.

[Bindi2]

Some body close to Lithgow needs to go to the museum and ask about teak furniture and presentation 303 Lithgows.

[Roy]

I believe someone in NZ is making stocks in walnut. Ive seen on a Long Tom a new made stock as well as on a Mk1 a stock which I did not think was from EFD. (they dont have their Mk1 handguards quite right) My friend who now own both rifles asked the seller where the stocks came from but the seller didnt divulge any useful information. The stocks were expertly done and the only way I could tell them as being new is that they were, well, new.

[5thBatt]

Anything like this Roy? 1910 NZ NO1 MK1 303 FULL WOODS | Trade Me

[Roy]

I saw that one go through, unfortunately im overseas at the moment and can not indulge as it were. The forend does not seem like a EFD one, it looks alot more 'full' than the one i have and the hand guard seems to have the correct square step which my EFD one doesnt. I'm developing a dangerous facination with the Mk1.

[RJW NZ]

There's an ad on the front page of enfield resource for NZ wood, I wonder if there's a connection?

...and I totally love my No1, great lookin rifles

[muffett.2008]

Hey rog, what's wrong with your site, less info now than when it started, waiting for updates.
Regards, Kev.

[RJW NZ]

Hi Kev, there's been some significant tech issues that have finally just been solved, I'm finally able to start getting those awesome inages up soon now.

The teak enfield?

.303 Lee Enfield MkIII* Australian SMLE rifle

Winning bid: $1,358.00

wow, I should order some teak wood sets.

[Roy]

Stuart will start making teak wood sets rather than walnut ones!

[RJW NZ]

Ok, its too good, I've brought the photos over here for us to keep and cherish.

I can't help thinking that the look of the teak keeps reminding me of that cheap plastic wood grain paneling on 70's chevy station wagons in the US, lol, or the furniture in those cabin cruisers from Taiwan back in the 80's,
I think its not that it looks bad, it just that it has such a pronounced grain compared to the close grain we usually see on walnut forends.