A sporterized Enfied No4 Mk1 for my collection of crap

[Archie]

Very nicely done. You have a delightful rifle.

I usually cringe when I see bubba’d milsurps, but yours actually looks pretty good. Glad it wasn’t a hack job.

As do I, Rock. This isn't one, now. (It wasn't nasty, but sort of mediocre when he started.)

 

[someguy2800]

Looks awesome. Leave the metal alone IMO.

I’m kinda leaning towards that because it has an interesting bare metal look. Almost steam punk type of thing. Plus I’ve waaaay overspent the last month and don’t need any more expenses.

 

[someguy2800]

Very nicely done. You have a delightful rifle.

As do I, Rock. This isn't one, now. (It wasn't nasty, but sort of mediocre when he started.)

I really haven’t done anything other than some shaping and dent removal on the wood. A little oil sure does wonders on a piece of walnut.

 

[Archie]

I really haven’t done anything other than some shaping and dent removal on the wood. A little oil sure does wonders on a piece of walnut.

Finishing the project. Sometimes it really helps. Some of my earlier projects were for function only. I'm learning that making a project that looks like it was done on purpose is much classier than those that 'just growed'.

 

[Walkalong]

Very nicely done. You have a delightful rifle.

Yep, a seriously cool rifle.

 

[HowieG]

Those old SMLE rifles are real neat, and you can shoot them very, very, fast with practice. The old WW1 Mad Minute exercise required a soldier to fire 15 rounds at a 300 yard target in 60 seconds. That's one shot every 4 seconds for those who can do math. Points were scored by hits on target.

 

[someguy2800]

I got myself a whole bucket of 303 brass and got some loaded up to shoot the other day. I like the look of this rifle much better without a scope, but unfortunately it was just a reminder that I can't see buckhorn sights worth a damn. The best I could do with the lighting I had was about 30 yards. Any farther than that and I just could't get a sight picture to save my life. Plus with the raised comb on the stock I would really need the front and rear sight at least a 1/4" taller to be of any use. I really dig the look of this rifle with just iron sights but I'm afraid that for it to be any use to me it will need to have a scope on it.



The scope mount that this originally came with has a 3/8" dovetail to use rimfire rings, but the rings were much too tall. I can't stand having a rifle where the comb height is too low for the scope so the original rings were a no for me.



I searched for awhile and could not find an extra low set of 3/8" scope rings so I decided to just make a set out of a pair of high leupold rings I had in the parts bin. I cut the bottom half off the rings in a bandsaw and then filed them down to fit into the scope base slot. I assembled the scope and rings and base together with tape and then drilled mounting holes through the base and the rings. I tapped the holes in the rings to 6-32 so the screws go up through the base and into the rings. This way I got pretty much the lowest possible scope mounting height.









I topped it off with an old bushnell 3-9x32 scope I had in my collection





I'm not in love with the look, but at least it will be functional for me now.

 

[shootr]

Big fan of sporterized milsurps as well! Nice work there. Being in the same boat as you wrt eyesight, I've come to like the look with vintage or vintage-looking scopes, esp the old "no-front-flare" Weavers. Won't be surprised if that old war horse shoots as well as it looks!

 

[Scooter22]

Love it! Golden State Arms and Navy Arms back in the day had some nice sporters on the Enfields. Not a easy platform to look good. The old .303Brit aint a magnum but no slouch either. Used all over the world and our northern neighbors use it on everything. Enjoy it. Oh and a tip I,ve read if you reload .303 in sloppy Enfiled chambers. Get some small O-rings that will fit over the case down to the rim. They hold the head of the case against the bolt so when you fire the case fills the chamber going forward. Not back and forth causing head separations. Then just partial resize for that gun.

 

[303 hunter]

You did a great job on that wood! I’ve got a “T” marked no4 mk1 sniper that someone sporterized many years ago. They did a great job, and it’s very accurate. I’d LOVE to have it in its original condition, but appreciate it as is.

 

[someguy2800]

I did shoot it a little bit today. I just sighted it in at 50 and then did some plinking at 100. It shot good but I'm not sure I'm really digging this rifle. I'm thinking about putting it up for auction on gunbroker and see if I can get my money back out of it. Don't know what it is about it but it just doesn't really give me the warm and fuzzies.

 

[BreechFace]

I’m indifferent to enfields as well, the cock on close is takes some getting used to. But mine are kept due to their wartime history and not necessarily as shooters although they do get shot.

 

[someguy2800]

I’m indifferent to enfields as well, the cock on close is takes some getting used to. But mine are kept due to their wartime history and not necessarily as shooters although they do get shot.

That’s really my only hesitation to move it on. I would like to collect one example from each major country in the war with a wartime production date. I have a K98, Mosin, Arisaka, this Enfield, and planning to get a garand soon and a few others. Would like to get a carcano, a mas36, and a Finn Mosin.

 

[BreechFace]

Out of your list I’m missing an Arisaka and a Finn Mosin. I’ve bid on a few arisaka but I’m particular and want a mum and a 7.7 with aircraft sights. They always go above what i want to pay.

 

[BreechFace]

My carcano, and it may be all of them has the worst trigger known to man. It’s a complete surprise when it is going to trip the sear.

 

[303 hunter]

I lucked up a few months ago, and found an original Savage made Enfield at a good price. Also have an unfired no4 mk2 that’s as new. Prices on original military surplus rifles have gone out of sight, and are getting out of my price range, but I’m lucky to have found these two.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

The official Canadian Air Force survival rifle was a sporterized Lee Enfield No 4. I suspect I passed on the opportunity to buy one in the 1970s. They are a collectors item in Canada (and there are counterfeits in circulation too).

 

[mokin]

Outstanding work someguy! Like many others here bubba'd milsurps hurt me to look at. Your's looks really nice. Brings to mind some of the really nice rifles I see at hunter sight ins the club hosts. What is really fun is hearing the story behind the rifle.

Thanks for sharing. Not just the story, but the pictures too.

 

[someguy2800]

Out of your list I’m missing an Arisaka and a Finn Mosin. I’ve bid on a few arisaka but I’m particular and want a mum and a 7.7 with aircraft sights. They always go above what i want to pay.

full original enfields always seem to go above what I’m willing to pay also. I grabbed this one because i only ever see really hacked up sporters so I figured if I’m ever going to get a decent one this is probably my chance.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I just hope no one tries to "restore" a Canadian Air Force survival rifle to an "original" No.4.

 

[Space Ghost]

That turned out very nice. I'd call it a win. Not every old WWII rifle needs to be original. Mine had scope holes in it too, and a lot of people thought I was weird for putting a red dot on it, shortening the barrel, and turning it into a "scout rifle" of sorts, but (according to others) it turned out nice, and it's one of my favorite guns.

 

[someguy2800]

That turned out very nice. I'd call it a win. Not every old WWII rifle needs to be original. Mine had scope holes in it too, and a lot of people thought I was weird for putting a red dot on it, shortening the barrel, and turning it into a "scout rifle" of sorts, but (according to others) it turned out nice, and it's one of my favorite guns.

Their are plenty of them in museums and private collections for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. I don't see what's wrong with modifying one into a more useful tool, especially if its already been modified in some way. I bet the guys that fought with these would appreciate that people are still using and enjoying their rifle rather than it being locked away and never used.