Out of the woodwork Lee Enfiend id/restoration help

[sexyfishsticks]

Hi boys and girls,

Picked this one up at a local shop, not really been touched since the great war since it was sporterised, looking for some restoration help. Not quite familiar with the very early rifles, but from what I can ascertain there might have been a peep/precision sight at one stage as well as a magazine cutoff. Any more information would be appreciated, as well as ideas to counter the shrunken stock? not cracked in any way but slightly shrunk at the grip. My personal thought was some steam?

Kind regards,
George

Information

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[Daan Kemp]

Lots of work, new butt, safety, gaps in No 1 wood filled, reblued, volley sight removed, etc. Looks like a post WWI BSA production for the colonies.

[nijalninja]

Oh no who do such a thing. Commercial MKI: Missing the volley, wrong fore-end (Looks like a MkIII fore-end), wrong butt stock, I'm gonna guess its a MKIII* barrel someone tacked on, and so on. If you reckon you have the patience to wait it out and find all the bits you require (Which being such a rare base rifle will not be in any way easy) then go for a restoration. It would be well worth it for something like this. Oh and welcome. Always good to see more people from upside down land.

[sexyfishsticks]

Oh no who do such a thing. Commercial MKI: Missing the volley, wrong fore-end (Looks like a MkIII fore-end), wrong butt stock, I'm gonna guess its a MKIII* barrel someone tacked on, and so on. If you reckon you have the patience to wait it out and find all the bits you require (Which being such a rare base rifle will not be in any way easy) then go for a restoration. It would be well worth it for something like this. Oh and welcome. Always good to see more people from upside down land.

Hi mate,

Hahah thats why ive been so confused, I was planning on going for a modern lee speed, the barrel is new 10/10, and the action is beautiful. From my understanding Mk1's army and private were used for targets and they removed the volley sights and replaced them with peep sights. When the second war started they handed them in and they were given the refurb for home guard duty, probably this is where it got the new woods and barrel. If you can see the buttstock is actually the original with wood added very well (look at the outline on the grip). Does this story line seem kind right?

Kind regards,
George

[nijalninja]

No way that butt job is fantastic. Never saw it until you mentioned it. The commercial rifles are a bit tricky and there is not near as much info out there about them as military rifles, but yes I do believe a certain amount would have been pressed into some form of duty when things were dire. There is a member of the forum here who is writing a book about the commercial rifles like this one. He might chime and offer his thoughts. I'm actually pretty new here too honestly, but there are greatly knowledgeable people here who will no doubt help on the specifics.

[henry r]

i say lee speed it.

commercial action. everything else wrong. if you do it tastefully, what have you got to lose?

I'm sure you have already seen the new lee speed stocks that come up from time to time on usedguns. if you search "sold items", remember to curse whoever got the express sight, it makes me cry that i missed it.

[Sunray]

"...steam?..." Nope. Steam won't expand the wood that much. Regular epoxy bedding with some colouring.
Probably is a commercial MK I. No date or any other typical military acceptance stamps.

[nijalninja]

It is less likely shrunken as it has worn draws or an incorrectly fitted fore-end. That being said 50/50 turps and linseed is all those stocks need, but I don't think that will cover the gap. For that you will need to pull it apart and see how tight the fitment is at the rear between the draws and the wrist (Just looking at it we can assume it will be loose. This fitment is meant to be tight.

[pisco]

i have a rear hand guard if you are interested

[pisco]

i may have a magazine cut off have to have a look