Holy Grail Enfield

[big_gles]

My Holy Grail is to resurrect one of my 4 enfields (my 1916 Enfield Mk III*) from 'sporterized' back to as original as I can manage, to honor my two grandfathers who (might have) carried this model when they were in France in WW1, and for my great uncle who (might have) carried one in the Dardanelles in WW1. My great uncle was killed, the others survived, one wounded. In all, I own a 1922 Lithgow (complete, all matching), a 1927 Ishapore (complete, with Aussie wood), the 1916 Enfield sporter described above and a 1918 NRF barreled action which I'm collecting parts for (all 4 rifles are in .303 calibre). The Ishapore, and NRF are No 1 Mk III's, the Enfield and Lithgow are No 1 MK III*'s. I still need an original lower forend stock in decent shape for the 1918 NRF No 1 Mk III if anyone cares to part with one! I'm in the US but still a Brit, and when I eventually pass on, the British ones will go to my son

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Why not place a WTB in the forum here for more exposure for parts you need?

[Sunray]

Restoring any milsurp is a horrendously expensive proposition. Moreso with a No. 1 Lee-Enfield because a lot of 'em were assembled out of parts bins with no QC, so the headspace is usually bad. So check the headspace before you do anything else(measure the barrel length before doing that. Should be 24". Lot of 'em have been cut.) Fixing headspace issues is easy, but with a No. 1 you need a handful of bolt heads(at $14.90 each from Gunparts) to try with proper headspace gauges until you find one that works.
There are no more stock sets, but Gunparts lists the stock parts. Mind you, they're out of stock on most of 'em.
Then you get into the really expensive parts of a restore. That'd be all the wee metal bits and pieces. For example, a used nose cap runs $11.15 each. There are 2 nose cap screws, one of which Gunparts doesn't have(they're not the only game though), that run $3.50 and $3.60 plus a nut that runs $2.70 each. Then there's all the assorted swivels and their screws. Adds up quickly. And if you insist on original parts vs repros, it'll just more. Be worse if you want a specific year. The mag cut off was taken out with the '*' and you'd need a receiver with the cut off on it.
Do a net search for No. 1 Mk III parts for more places Stateside selling parts.
Dardanelles was in 1915. No Mk III*'s until January 1916. If that matters.

[CINDERS]

If it was produced with the mag cut off in place whether EFD or Lithgow does not matter they are usually $75/Au, piling swivels are usually around the $25 ~ $40/Au full wood sets go for around $300 ~ $450/Au so as SR suggests get it checked first then make your decision it took me 10 years to get my 1916 Lithgow correct (serials - Bolt, Receiver, Ncap match)getting WWI era or correctly stamped pieces in the end with the correct 1916 5MD Lithgow bayonet & Scabbard cost me roughly 8-9 times what the rifle originally cost (a $100 special) I have had the rifle now for @14 years.

[RCS]

I just sent you a message as I have a late WW1 Mark 111 fore-end available

RCS