Well thats a surprise....

[newcastle]

I was in a hurry to get to the range this weekend and by mistake took the wrong rifle from the safe. Got to the range and had with me an old No.1 Mk 3 i hadn't really looked at before. It's been sitting for three odd years, 1915 NO.1 Mk3 which i bought for a pittance as a project gun. The wood has been horribly and roughly sanded and is dinged all to crap, ears on upper furniture ripped off, bore dark and seweresque. Figured that as I had it there I may as well shoot the thing. So I fired a couple of quick groups without really bothering much to roughly zero. not bad and i noted that the action was super stiff. So I took some time over the third group. See results here (100 yards greek HXP ammo). Afterwards i looked at the rifle closely t the bluing was all intact on the bolt and the lockings lugs. it really looks like absolutely minimal use from the metalwork but the wood has been through two worlds wars and someones sanding machine. Happy but confused. Best shooting No.1 I have apparently but looks like crap. I want to clean her up and remediate the sanded look but don't want to monkey with the bedding AT ALL. What do i do?
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[newcastle]

Additional - 6 inch black. The covered holes are holes from AR15 wielding buffoon on next bench who shot at my target.

[ssj]

What bedding does it have? "non-standard"?

[WarPig1976]

I want to clean her up and remediate the sanded look but don't want to monkey with the bedding AT ALL. What do i do?

Don't ask just trust me on this....DO NOTHING!!

[Peter Laidler]

One thing you COULD do is ask the bloke with the mis directed AR15 on the next firing point to bend over and pick up some brass. While he does so, you bury the muzzle end of his rifle somewhere the sun don't shine!

[jmoore]

I vote for "do nothing!" as well. There's a ratty No.4 Mk.1 in the collection with bad bore and mismatched bolt that shoots beautifully. It also doesn't mind how chargers are loaded one bit. Used it for CQB matches for some time and beat it up some more, but it's still good. Probably hasn't been disassembled beyond bolt removal in years and years.

[browningautorifle]

you bury the muzzle end of his rifle somewhere the sun don't shine!

So unforgiving Peter...remember how many times you saw a recruit do this very thing? Remember how understanding you were then?

[newcastle]

I shall follow advice and do noting EXCEPT........ i shall swap in an available windage adjustable rear sight blade i have lurking around. then I shall shoot. Really quite weird this.

[jmoore]

I have a Spanish Mauser that shot quite well even though it had no action bedding. As in squat. After sorting it out and getting good contact with the "proper" bedding areas it is mediocre or maybe so-so. But I was afraid it would split the stock wide open as the tang was coming rearward.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Actually, there is something you should do - get as much of that ammo as you can!