+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
Results 11 to 16 of 16

Thread: Warped SMLE Mk I*** Forestock

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #11
    Legacy Member Ridolpho's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last On
    09-27-2022 @ 11:12 PM
    Location
    Province of Alberta, Canada
    Age
    66
    Posts
    1,019
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    02:49 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by RobD View Post
    Englishman, I am intrigued about the steam box, can you explain the design? How does it fit over the fore-end and seal, and how do you generate the steam - is it just a tube coming off the spout of a kettle?
    Rob: I use a big oven roaster (turkey size) pan with doors cut in the ends. I put water in and sit it on top of a single element hot plate. I've used this to straighten bow staves and the key is definitely to get the wood to the right temperature through and through. When it's correct the wood bends like plastic- quite amazing. If you get it wrong it cracks. For rifle stocks I prefer the boiling linseed oilicon/ torch method as it doesn't seem to affect the wood at all. The secret, as with steam, is to get enough heat in. I've had good luck with a few and had others crack. My best result was with the forend off of a '41 Fazakerley which had a nasty bend and twist. Straightened it with hot oil 4 years ago and it remains straight today. Regarding the gun in this thread, with the collector value of a good Mk I, I don't think I'd touch it. If I was intent on shooting it a bit I think I'd just try it as is or, better yet, shoot a different one.

    Ridolpho

  2. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Ridolpho For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Age
    2010
    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
    Contributing Member 303 Gunner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 11:20 PM
    Location
    Maine, United States
    Age
    34
    Posts
    181
    Real Name
    Joshua
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    04:49 AM
    Thread Starter
    Tonyd, I will definitely keep everyone apprised if anything comes of it. Fortunately, I have another unwarped Mk I stock that could be duplicated for the rebuild

    Englishman, no worries, I definitely didn't read it as a flippant response. And thank-you for taking the time to write up the details of the steam box. It is certainly something I will be looking into.
    Last edited by 303 Gunner; 03-08-2019 at 05:28 PM.

  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
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    10:49 AM
    I'm no woodwork expert or wood technologist but as apprentices we did have two superb woodwork teachers who taught me the little I still remember. And it's this......... You CAN straighten a fore-end in much the same way as you can bend a butt to make it fit a shooter. But guess what? Yep, got it in one. Unless it is retained in that position - like the curved wooden fenders of a tug-boat, it's going to revert to form. It's called the laws of nature.

    And another thing. There's two sorts of wood. There's wood that has warped and there's wood that hasn't warped - YET!

  7. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  8. #14
    Legacy Member Lateo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Last On
    06-21-2020 @ 12:19 AM
    Location
    Umina Beach, NSW AUSTRALIA
    Posts
    2
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    06:49 PM
    G'day all, this is my first post. I wanted to give some information on the the warped forewood post. My son uses a CNC mill to reproduce SMLE uper & lower forewoods in Australianicon Coachwood one of the woods used by the Lithgow Small Arms Factory here in OZ during the 1940s. The upper wood can be two piece or single for use on "Range Rifles" The end product is very precise having been referenced to the original Armourers drawings and saves a lot of hassles for restorers.

  9. #15
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 12:49 AM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,839
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    01:49 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Lateo View Post
    My son uses a CNC mill to reproduce SMLE uper & lower forewoods in Australianicon Coachwood
    You should raise a WTS ad in the forum for that...they likely will sell.
    Regards, Jim

  10. #16
    Legacy Member Towarzysz_Beagle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Last On
    07-11-2022 @ 02:36 PM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    19
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    07:49 PM
    I suggest shoot it and see how it goes.

    Many years ago I had a Lithgowicon No.1MkIII* manufactured in 1919 still in its original wood. It had a warp very similar to this in the forend when I bought it, unbeknownst to me.

    I found upon shooting it that the pressure it exerted on the right side of the barrel near the muzzle caused the rifle to throw shots left to the order of about 1 inch at 25 metres. However despite throwing them to the left the thing strung 10 rounds through a ragged 0.5 inch hole with one flier at this range the first time I shot it.

    I duly drifted the sight and stretched the rifles legs finding it to be an excellent shooter.

    I pondered trying to straighten the wood in the long term.

    However I ended up deciding that even though the aesthetics of having a sight drifted all the way over to the left are unpleasant it was outweighed by how well the rifle shot and elected not to mess around with the wood.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2

Similar Threads

  1. Swiss K11 Carbine warped stock.
    By StrelokM38 in forum Swiss Rifles
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 07-23-2014, 05:00 PM
  2. Desportizing a SMLE and can't find a forestock
    By Gumsehwah in forum The Restorer's Corner
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 08-03-2013, 03:25 PM
  3. Warped/Twisted forestocks. Is there any solution?
    By Morning Wood in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 07-14-2012, 09:32 PM
  4. How to straigthen a warped stock??
    By jerry in forum Gunsmithing for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 12-27-2006, 11:51 PM

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