1912 SMLE Enfield Retoration Project Wrap-up

[Longlee]

Attachment 95690Hi Gang,
I finally got some photos sorted out so here are some stocking up photos. I was able to score a reproduction walnut forend and a set of hand guards for this project. I will reuse the original beech stock (it will be stained to match the rest of the furniture). I have included an advert from a 1958 Eaton's catalogue where I think this rifle may have come from. I got the rifle given to me for FREE so I was okay with putting some $$ into this project. The third coat of BLO is drying now and the rifle will be assembled Thursday. Comments and suggestions are always suggested. Attachment 95680Attachment 95679Attachment 95678Attachment 95677Attachment 95676Attachment 95681Attachment 95682Attachment 95683Attachment 95684Attachment 95685Attachment 95686Attachment 95687Attachment 95688Attachment 95689

[louthepou]

Was that a stock set from Ralph in Yukon? Looks nice...

The recoil draws look like they'll need some work for proper fit on the recoil lugs. that would be one of the things to watch for.

[browningautorifle]

Looking good with that repro stock. Can't wait to see the final go...

[Longlee]

The stock came from Stuart at Enfield restorations in Saskatchewan. There was a generous amount of wood on the draws to work with - the more, the merrier.

[Longlee]

Well, it's done. It came together pretty well and I'm happy with it. I won't post targets until I get it zeroed. I only had a few rounds through it today as a shake down. Nothing fell apart
Anyway, here it is and one of the pics has my military Cooey 82 trainer with it. The similarities are obvious and the Cooey was an excellent and accurate inexpensive training rifle.
Attachment 95704Attachment 95705Attachment 95706Attachment 95707Attachment 95708Attachment 95709Attachment 95710Attachment 95711

[Longlee]

I had the Mk. III to the range today and and its needs some foresight adjusting but I sure can't complain about the grouping. 6 rds in 1.5" @ 100 yds. Load data - Hornady 174 FMJ/BT on top of 38.6 gr of Hygrade 100. Attachment 95722

[Peter Laidler]

That's a lovely old lathe that you've got HHunter. What make and year is it? Clearly not a Korean or Chinese import!

Thread 11, photo 2nd from last, bottom row. Those 'ears' on the upper and lower handguard. As apprentices, we had to repair/replace those and wood pin using that hot animal glue. It's probably been banned now under some obscure EU legislation...., anyway. Nobody ever knew exactly why we had to patch repair these things as by the early 60's the No1 rifle was already well obsolete and except for the odd ones used as EY's and assault course DP's plus those still with the public school Cadets, you'd never see one. The irony of it was that even if you did, the EMER instruction was to remove the broken one AND the good one and make good. And if you did one, then you'd do all four for good measure!.

No nobody really understood all the torture.

[Longlee]

That's a lovely old lathe that you've got HHunter. What make and year is it? Clearly not a Korean or Chinese import!

Thread 11, photo 2nd from last, bottom row. Those 'ears' on the upper and lower handguard. As apprentices, we had to repair/replace those and wood pin using that hot animal glue. It's probably been banned now under some obscure EU legislation...., anyway. Nobody ever knew exactly why we had to patch repair these things as by the early 60's the No1 rifle was already well obsolete and except for the odd ones used as EY's and assault course DP's plus those still with the public school Cadets, you'd never see one. The irony of it was that even if you did, the EMER instruction was to remove the broken one AND the good one and make good. And if you did one, then you'd do all four for good measure!.
No nobody really understood all the torture.

The lathe is an earlier restoration project I took on last winter. It's a 1922 South Bend Model 25Y. It has a 9" swing and uses changes gears rather than a quick change gearbox to adjust feed rates and for thread cutting. It has minimal wear and works like a charm.
Hand guard ears - it's easy to see how these little fingers could get damaged or snapped right off. When stocking up this rifle I made sure that the front ears weren't touching the rear sight mount and the ends of the front ears did not touch the rear ears. It was also tricky to get clearance for the rear guard clips to clear the stock. BTW - animal glue is still used these days, especially in instrument construction and restoration.

[Peter Laidler]

South Bend lathes. When I was an apprentice in the early 60's most of our lathes were well used but immaculately maintained lend-lease South Bend lathes.