Lee Metford

**tatou** · 05-04-2022 01:20 AM

I really need to stop doing this...

Got this MLM that will be in need of love, tender and care.
Project number 5 on the bench... i better start finishing them or

Now i'll be honest at the moment this one is close to ''relic'' state ... but it's they often turn up much better than expected.
I might have overpaid (don't we always do?) but i had almost all the parts needed to fix it, sitting in a bin doin' nothin'

Anybody knows the profile of the front trigger guard screw on the Metford ?
It's my first and i now see a MLE screw wont fit.

Same thing for the rear trigger guard screw ?
Unless someone has ''screwed'' with it, it looks like it would have the treads just under the screw head ?

Those will have to be fabricated, plus dust cover screws, chain loop thingy and get a couple of brass screws for the buttplate.

Information

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**smle addict** · 05-04-2022 02:28 PM

Hey Tatou!

When I get home from work tonight, I can pull apart one of my MLM Mk I's and post some pics for you. One of them is at the front of the gun safe and is easy to get to.

You gotta get those projects done! We're all waiting to see the end results of your skills!

**pzjgr** · 05-04-2022 09:35 PM

I posted a bunch of detailed shots here, see if any of these help...

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=76560

**browningautorifle** · 05-04-2022 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by tatou

at the moment this one is close to ''relic'' state

Ok, it needs a couple things. It'll be fine.

**smle addict** · 05-04-2022 11:04 PM

Tatou,

I pulled out the MLM Mk I* and a couple of SMLE's from my safe. I pulled both SMLE trigger guard screws and both of them threaded into the Metford with no issues. They are noticeably shorter, but they worked. Likewise, the Metford screw threaded into both SMLEs with no resistance (Pics 1 and 2).

I had an extra SMLE front guard screw and a long lee target swivel/guard screw, and they both threaded into the Metford. I did notice the heads were different diameters. In the following photos, you can see the variation when put to a dial caliper. (In pic 6, the MLM Mk I* is the one in the middle).

Hope these help.

**tatou** · 05-05-2022 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by smle addict

Hey Tatou!
You gotta get those projects done! We're all waiting to see the end results of your skills!

I know right haha.
Next week i'm getting wood finishing supplies and will probably work on a couple of stocks at once.
The P13 and the RIC.
For the Metford i think i might have a god at boiling & carding.
Summer is my busy season at work so i'm hoping to still be able to get some of them done.

---------- Post added at 12:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:11 AM ----------

Originally Posted by pzjgr

I posted a bunch of detailed shots here, see if any of these help...

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=76560

Thank you, i saw those and the rifle is beautiful. The pictures sure do help.
My mag is missing the small snap clip and the link attached to the guard swivel loop.
I don't have hope to find those, they will have to be fabricated, so all pictures help.

---------- Post added at 12:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:13 AM ----------

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Ok, it needs a couple things. It'll be fine.

Yep, the hard thing to find would have been the magazine but i already had it.

**tatou** · 05-05-2022 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by smle addict

Hope these help.

Every little bit helps, thank you. Like i said, it's my first Metford i have ever held in my hands so it's like learning all over again. There does appear to be differences between MLMs and MLEs.
Damn... the treads of my rear trigger guard screw are on the left side.... i was hoping it was factory... why bubba...
I guess i'll have to have a screw specially made .
And looks like a SMLE front screw head can be easily modified to fit.

If i can botter you for shots of the dust cover screws and the handguard too.
I have an old and abused MLE handguard that looked just right and i tried to install it to see...
Bad idea... it was already cracked and is now split in half...
Good news is i now know the rear spring clip is bigger on the MLM than on the MLE

I guess i'll make one from scratch.

**tatou** · 05-05-2022 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by smle addict

I did notice the heads were different diameters. In the following photos, you can see the variation when put to a dial caliper. (In pic 3, the MLM Mk I* is the one in the middle)..

Is the front trigger guard screw recessed like on later models and like pzjgr Metford ?
If so it would appear my guard was altered by beveling that recess.
On the plus side, i think i might be in luck... after seeing your picture i thought i had seen a similar front trig. screw in my bins.
Is the screw head slightly domed or completely flat ?
I think i might be in luck.

**smle addict** · 05-05-2022 01:05 AM

Mine is recessed like pzjgr's metford. And the screw head is domed.

Pics to follow shortly...

**smle addict** · 05-05-2022 01:55 AM

Here you go. Bolt, dust cover screws and bolt head securing screw. Also pics of the handguard. I found the other MLM in the safe, so I took pics of both handguards. One handguard appears to have been repaired or modified with a newer spring clip.

I also pulled my sole martini-enfield from the safe and took side by side pics of the handguards. Last pic is of the coiled spring that is wrapped around the lower sling swivel.

Got to thinking... with your threads on the opposite side, perhaps the original threads were stripped and someone thought it prudent to thread the other side to secure that screw. Just a guess, though.