New member - New owner of a Lee-Enfield

[Brian Dick]

It looks like a nice, original rifle to me. I don’t think it’s a Fazakerley FTR from what I see. It’s seen service and has seen an Armourer’s workshop a time or two I’m sure. That’s why the cocking piece was changed. Military Armourers that worked on them weren’t worried about parts manufacture, just function to specification. Read the articles on this site written by Peter Laidler. They will teach you about the different assemblies of the rifle and what to look for. I have Infantry Training Pam’s, (booklets), on the No.4 and Skennerton’s bible if in need. Give me a PM or call and I’ll fix you up.

[CINDERS]

For goodness sakes if you are going to start pulling the weapon down look up the threads on how to do it many fore stocks have been split by well meaning amatures doing the wrong thing. Heed the words of Brian Dick as he has probably repaired more lee's than hot breakfasts we have had. In the real world at forward base workshops the armourers (The real ones that is) were not concerned of rifling(pun) around in a tray of spare parts to ensure the weapon was matched. The sole function was to repair the malady to bring the weapon back to spec so it could be re-issued to go out and do the business on the 2 way rifle range.

The rifle seems to had a good linishing for some reason is this a normal thing BD or Roger!

[Roger Payne]

It looks like a nice honest rifle that has had the misfortune to be rubbed down with fine emery cloth or maybe even a wire mop. Not clear why, unless a previous owner entertained ideas of refinishing it but then for some reason never got round to it.....

The barrel is also LB manufacture & I've no doubt the 43 is the year of manufacture, so it's likely the barrel is the original to the body (receiver).

[Brian Dick]

The Dulite blue that was used on Savage and Long Branch No.4's as well as many other military weapons at the time in North American production wasn't that durable to start with. That's why it was replaced by Parkerizing in most instances by war's end. The Canadian production was small post war and bluing was the standard until the 93L serial range in the 1950's when they switched. They started producing rifles in quantity again in 1949 in preparation for the Korean conflict that was heating up. The Ethiopian imports flooding the market now are perfect examples of original finish wear regardless of countries of manufacture. The metal on most is quite honest I have to admit even though the barrels are terribly neglected. Most are worn even worse than the OP's rifle.

[Surpmil]

How about a few photos of the whole shootin' match?

[Roger Payne]

I wonder, is this one of the Ethiopian rifles?

[Gaijin]

Hey guys, Just got in for the night. It has been a busy day here. Visited a couple of LGS this morning, then sanding and putting (hopefully) the last coat of mud on the purple drywall in the bathroom, and then transplanting a sprout off from my Cameo Quince. Some other odds and ends around the house, and I just gained the opportunity to check out the forum again.

You have granted me several replies to go through!

You guys have provided some great information for me, and I cannot thank you enough for that!

Give me a little while longer, and I will try to post more photos tonight that show a bit more than the small tidbits I have shared so far.
Thanks again!

Roger, I have no idea what so ever where this rifle may have been sent off to. How would one find out where a rifle was used?

[Roger Payne]

Hi Garjin. I just asked about the provenance of your rifle in case it was from a batch that I gather is on sale in the US at the moment, sold by ?? RTI ?? or some such outfit (it's pretty academic to me as I'm in England anyway). However, I gather these rifles are generally pretty rough & Brian is being kept busy restoring them for customers who have bought one. If yours is one of these then I guess the wear on the finish could just be from the constant handling of weather beaten Ethiopian fingers (!), but if you bought it as a private sale, & it was in private ownership for a while, then I would have been more inclined to wonder if the finish had been intentionally removed with a view to refinishing by a previous owner........

Just my convoluted thought processes......

[Gaijin]

Roger,
This was not imported by or for sale by RTI.
This does unfortunately have an import stamp, but is it CAI.

My understanding is that the rifle had been in the collection of the guy's father for a long time.

I wave been very reluctant to share full pics of the rifle, because I felt there was so much that was not 'right' with it. That and it just does not compare to many of most excellent examples that many of you possess.
For whatever it is worth... here it is.

adding pic of import stamp

[CINDERS]

Never be afraid of posting a pic of your rifle we are all enthusiasts and collectors here and probably one of the very rare sites that will not pull the p*ss out of someones item, as to us the owners of the rifles or custodians for the next generation we all admire them for what they are a very unique design that has withstood the passage of time and wars to become an icon.
Alongside rifles like the Garand, M1 carbine, Colt 1911, BAR, K98 to name but a few, so carry on and post all you want but I do suggest studying the copious amount of threads on how to's on the rifle in regards to giving the woods some RLO and general light maintenance as has been stated with the trigger group etc its not just one component that has to fit to make it work safely, enjoy them but understand this you have been warned;

Owning a 303 Lee Enfield has in most cases caused the owners to contract the rare disease "Enfielditis" which will cause the subsequent collection of more 303's and as such there is no known cure................