The first 'Lee-Enfield' in my "collection" - I'm a sucker for pretty wood

[browningautorifle]

she appears to be a good candidate for restoration.

You can see the muzzle has been shortened by the length of the bayonet lugs.

[Darlington]

I just posted some pics of my BSA Shirley in another thread...this is the original configuration

[Roger Payne]

From what we can see in the photo's of the OP's rifle (isn't that wood just beautiful?!?) it would be possible to restore it to full military trim, though would probably cost more than buying another complete as issued No4. The body & bolt look good, & unadulterated, but pretty much everything else would have to be replaced, & likely at considerable cost. Probably best to do as others have suggested & enjoy it as it is, & just buy another rifle if the OP wants one in service trim.

[Singer B]

Good point, thanks!

[Gaijin]

CINDERS, here is another picture of the writ that you asked for.

Does this help you see what you are looking at better? If not, just let me know, and I will try again.

I am not certain of what exactly you are looking at, so I am trying my best to help.
I do not not see anything at all below the serial number though.


A number have wondered about the feasibility of trying to bring this back to something resembling a 'correct' Lee-Enfield. From my limited knowledge of these, I do not believe that is a really an option.

The receiver is marked a No4 Mk1, the cocking piece is a MkII and the rear sight is a Mk III. The barrel has been cut down 1.50", and the end of the barrel turned down a bit to accept the front sight.

All in all, this is quite the Frankenstein. But the wood is nice! LOL!

In getting the picture, I did notice that I was unfamiliar with some of the markings that I saw.
The "N.67" on the cocking piece? and the very small stamp on the bottom of the bolt handle knob... JNB? I am just not sure. For whatever it is worth, the number 7 is stamped on the bottom of the bolt handle.

[Roger Payne]

Hi Gaijin. The N67 means that the cocking piece was made by the Singer sewing machine factory. Earlier in the war they used their initials with the last two digits of the date, eg SM41 (Singer Manufacturing 1941), but later on changed to the secret code allocated to them of N67, & they also dropped the date at the same time.

The mark on the bolt handle is an oldish BNP or Birmingham Nitro Proof stamp (together with the crown). It is the civvy proof mark for Birmingham Proof House. It should be on the receiver, barrel, & bolt head somewhere, too.

[Gaijin]

Cool. Thank you Roger!

[Surpmil]

Looks like a one-off stock to me, but hard to say. Very nice wood, the figure would show up much better with a refinish.