+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 33

Thread: Lee metford/Enfield cavalry carbine restoration

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #11
    Deceased August 31st, 2020 englishman_ca's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last On
    08-15-2020 @ 07:19 AM
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    378
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:42 AM
    Thread Starter
    Dyed the wood, now going at it with BLOicon.

    1895 LMC Mk.I, matching bolt, bright bore, D-ring intact.

    Hey, this is my 100th post!
    Last edited by englishman_ca; 07-09-2016 at 01:52 PM. Reason: Showing off!

  2. Thank You to englishman_ca For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #12
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:05 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,836
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:42 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by englishman_ca View Post
    Hey, this is my 100th post!
    Congrat on that too...!
    Regards, Jim

  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #13
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:42 PM
    You mention oil blacking in an earlier thread. As apprentices, we were taught the ins and outs and technicalities of that process in our 2nd year. It really is a tough old finish and all of our tools were oil blacked that way. We used to do all of the smaller parts using gas fired blow-lamps and you can get the exact finish you want too and it doesn't (?) affect the hardening of the steel if done sensibly - as we did bayonet handles too.

    There was another process I learned from one of the old Sgts in New Zealandicon, and that was 'blanket-blacking'. You got the material deep red and wiped it over with an old wool blanket that left it with a hard black carbon surface. Maybe someone can elaborate on that process a bit more as I only did it a few times on Sten gun parts that were going back into Ordnance stocks

  7. The Following 4 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  8. #14
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:05 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,836
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:42 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    'blanket-blacking
    I heard about one here that would be about the same but apparently wasn't...wool sock. I tried it and the finish came out a grey instead...I like the oil blackening instead.
    Regards, Jim

  9. #15
    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 04:54 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    2,237
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:42 PM
    I suspect the key to this "blacking" caper is the base material of the components in question.

    ALMOST all of the "fiddly bits" on Lee Enfields (pre No4) were made of various grades of "malleable cast iron".

    There was usually a "forging" phase in the formation of the component.

    Oil blacking works fine with these materials. One thing is the part of the operation called "blazing off". As near as I can make it out, this involves actually letting the oil burn off the component after it has been heated to "cherry red" or whatever, and then briefly dipped in the oil pan.

    Oils? Given the times when all of this was going on, I would not be surprised if large marine mammals were involved, if involuntarily. There was not a lot of "mineral" or "synthetic" oil around during the 17th through 19th centuries.

    Not a lot of exotic “alloy” steels in use, either.

    As the Irish sailor said when he first saw Moby Dick: "Whale Oil Beef Hooked!"

  10. #16
    Deceased August 31st, 2020 englishman_ca's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last On
    08-15-2020 @ 07:19 AM
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    378
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:42 AM
    Thread Starter
    This is a nose cap from the latest and final batch of nose caps produced on the CNC mill. I now have enough to last me a lifetime of projects. Now to work on barrel bands and retainers.....



    The program was tweaked a bit to correct a couple of things. Pretty much perfect now. The only way to tell that they are repro is that they are just too perfect. They are too 'crisp' at the corners and edges and are perfectly symmetrical about the center line.
    Obviously they have no inspection marks, although I might initial and date them inside somewhere hidden.


    This one has been bead blasted to mellow it a bit. They are made from mild steel and take rust blue nicely.

  11. The Following 4 Members Say Thank You to englishman_ca For This Useful Post:


  12. #17
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:05 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,836
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:42 AM
    They look great and the fact that they're hen's teeth make them acceptable. The rust blue will make them about perfect.
    Regards, Jim

  13. #18
    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 04:54 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    2,237
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:42 PM
    Throw them in a gem tumbler with a bunch of ball bearings and some smooth pebbles for a few hours and then have a look.

    They will probably have "aged" a bit.

    As for finish; try the "blazing off" trick I mentioned above, as well.

    I have an original one of those nosecaps here. Now all I need is the rest of the Carbine.......

  14. #19
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    sir geron's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Last On
    02-19-2017 @ 09:28 PM
    Location
    tyler tx
    Posts
    3
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:42 AM

    neat guns

    Hi i have a lee enfeild no 1 mk 3, its my first gun bigger than a 22. But your guns look really neat. i would rebuild mine sporterized but i dont have the money, and only the barral and bolt are maching. But i think by barrel might be bad do you know where i could get a new barrel.

  15. #20
    Deceased August 31st, 2020 englishman_ca's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last On
    08-15-2020 @ 07:19 AM
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    378
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:42 AM
    Thread Starter
    Often a worn or pitted Lee Enfield barrel can be made to shoot quite well with slightly larger bullets.

    '303' is the nominal size of the bore, .311 being the standard groove diameter. With a worn bore, sometimes .314 bullets will work like a charm.

    You would need to have some cartridges hand loaded. Even shooters with good condition rifles try loading with different bullets and powders to 'tune' their ammunition for their gun.

    Hand loading for accuracy can turn into a hobby on its own. But reloading your cartridges certainly is the economical way to shoot the Lee Enfield.

    So don't give up on that barrel until you have given it a chance to shoot at some targets and you can evaluate.

    I hand load for these carbines, a lighter bullet and less powder make them pleasant to shoot.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. 1898 Lee Enfield Cavalry Carbine
    By Heli-Mech in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 08-10-2014, 05:07 PM
  2. Buttplate swap - Lee Metford/Enfield MLM/MLE for LEC1 Carbine
    By Bluenoser in forum The Restorer's Corner
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 02-28-2014, 10:36 AM
  3. Restoration of a Spanish Mauser Cavalry Carbine
    By m4a3sherman in forum The Restorer's Corner
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 04-02-2012, 10:57 AM
  4. Canadian Lee Enfield Cavalry Carbine
    By K31 in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 03-08-2011, 09:16 PM
  5. Lee Metford Cavalry Carbine Mk1
    By 8udr in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 09-18-2010, 09:45 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks