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Thread: Siamese Contract SMLE Restoration

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  1. #1
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    Siamese Contract SMLE Restoration

    So, this resto will actually comprise of 2 firearms, the donor firearm that is providing most of the woodwork and several of the screws, as well as the Siamese Contract rifle which is a total mismatch of several timbers. and has some rust on the left side of the receiver ring where someone has stamped a serial number into it with what looks like a center punch and left the metal bare.

    im going to try and do it in 3 parts.
    The first being the tear down and disassembly of the donor rifle for the woodwork.
    The second will be cleaning up and re-stocking the contract rifle.
    Thirdly the repair of the mess on the receiver ring of the Siamese contract rifle if its possible/feasible
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    Last edited by BushyFromOz; 03-14-2017 at 09:51 PM.

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    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.
     

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    Good luck with fitting the wood, it may not be that easy but you know that I guess.
    Regards, Jim

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    The donor rifle

    The donor rifle (actually a .410 shotty) i bought online off pictures. Its a 1938 Indian conversion of a 1917 Enfield No1Mk3 from .303 to .410 with its usual wooden plug in the magazine well.



    Knowing the metalwork was cactus, the images of the timber looked really good. It was dark and almost semi gloss, like English Wallnut goes when its oil soaked, and the shop i bought it off was sure it was Wallnut as well. It also had no Ishy screw, so my chances were good for it being english, along with the action

    Alas, when i got the damn thing, it was not english, it was in fact an ishy stock, pre-ishy screw. And yes the wood was dark but that's only because it had been coated with something that stinks of motor oil and creosote mix used on old fence posts to stop the termites getting into the woodwork.

    When i destocked the thing the rear handguard snapped in two with some dry rot. It must have been stored at the bottom of the Ganges as there was mud underneath the barrel and in the trigger mechanism.


    The rest of the wood was structurally very good, but i could not get the oily mess off the timber with acetone or lacquer thinner until i scuffed the surface with 180 grit sandpaper to break the grand of the wood, then the acetone would penetrate. its been 4 days now of wiping it over with lacquer thinner. Each day it looks good in the afternoon, then the next afternoon its got black junk seeping from it again so outcomes the lacquer thinner

    Metalwork wise, i was able to save the trigger guard, safety assembly, butt plate, stock bolt, trigger guard screws and the entire nose cap assembly. I didn't bother with the sights as they are pinned at 200 meters for the .410 cartridges. All of the parts show Ishy marks on them, so i have ended up with most of the furniture for an ishy rifle, which is kinda neat.


    Ill spend a few days working on this timber, the contract rifle should be here next week

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    Nothing is junk until it's actually junk. Looking forward to the procedure...I know the wood can sure look better.
    Regards, Jim

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    Quote Originally Posted by browningautorifleicon View Post
    Good luck with fitting the wood, it may not be that easy but you know that I guess.
    Yeah, looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time

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    Slow and steady, and I think you'll enjoy it as much as I would over all...and of course after.
    Regards, Jim

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    Some more pics of the wood today, and a couple of cracks that need addressing. It was a bit oily looking this morning, so i wiped it over with lacquer thinner again and sat it down. The last 2 show the black muck seeping out of the wood grain an hour or so after cleaning


    Last edited by BushyFromOz; 03-14-2017 at 11:08 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BushyFromOz View Post
    The last 2 show the black muck seeping out of the wood grain an hour or so after cleaning
    And so it shall be for a bit, bet you feel very rewarded right now though. Wasn't as bad as you thought was it? It's looking fine. That crack will sort, I'd go as far as acetone inside to clean everything before epoxy, or whatever you use to repair...

    It's looking fine as I figured it would.
    Regards, Jim

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    Yours looks similar to the LSA I'm working on now. The metal looks to be better but the wood and muddy stock look about the same. Looks like a fun project.

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    Very nice work.
    Weathers warming. You have inspires me to look for another project.

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