huskershooter
Member
Hey guys I picked up another sporterized Enfield for cheap. Wondering if you can tell me about it. Its a says MA Lithgow SMLE III* 1942 but it has a 20" barrel which confuses me. Its Australian army stamped.
Another "Destroyed" Enfield to be Saved
- Thread starter huskershooter
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Pics are really need to be sure but based on the info from the stamps it is a Lithgow (Australian) made No1 MkIII* made in 1942. That much is pretty clear. The 20" barrel might be the result of the Sporter job. Or it might be a Jungle Carbine conversion. Is there a cone shaded muzzle device? Here is some basic Enfield history:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee-Enfield#Short_Magazine_Lee-Enfield_Mk_III
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee-Enfield#Short_Magazine_Lee-Enfield_Mk_III
huskershooter
Member
No flash hider on it. I'm trying to figure out the pics.
Then I would imagine the barrel was cut off. Thats no good. Was the Sporter a pro job or a hack job?
huskershooter
Member
It looks like a pretty good sporter job but I'm just gonna convert the damn thing because I like military style rifles. I've got a jungle carbine and this gun doesn't have the cuts to the receiver. I figure due to length if I want a military stock it will have to be a carbine stock.
karlsgunbunker
Member
FYI: Century Arms has Walnut No4 Enfield Butt Stocks and Hand Guards (front & rear) as well as many parts, prices are very reasonable.
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alemonkey
Member
Are you in Lincoln? If so I think I know of the gun you bought. Nebraska Gun had a decent looking sporterized Enfield that I'd thought about picking up.
DougW
Member
The Aussie Lithgow is a #1mkIII as Gus said. Wood and metal parts can be had from Springfield Sporters, but the wood will be British, not Aussie.
I bet the barrel has been cut. I don't have my reference data, but the barrel length seams short. It might present issues during restoration.
I bet the barrel has been cut. I don't have my reference data, but the barrel length seams short. It might present issues during restoration.
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bobbo
Member.
Unless the front sight has a proof stamp on it, it'll have been cut. BTW, the original barrel length is 25" or so.
I'm working on "saving" a 1919 BSA No 1 Mk. III* sporter right now. It wasn't cut down, so it's salvageable. Yours will likely be dificult. And since it is a No 1 and not a No. 4, it won't look right as a No. 5, as it has a barrel-mounted sight, rather than the peep sights.
I'm working on "saving" a 1919 BSA No 1 Mk. III* sporter right now. It wasn't cut down, so it's salvageable. Yours will likely be dificult. And since it is a No 1 and not a No. 4, it won't look right as a No. 5, as it has a barrel-mounted sight, rather than the peep sights.
huskershooter
Member
Hey alemonkey glad to see a fellow nebraskan on here. I'm from Mead actually and for the gun from a relative, so I'd go check out that place for your next rifle
RockyMtnTactical
Member
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Need pics please...
7mmsavage
Member
Instead of making a jungle carbine clone, I'd like to see something like a 'tanker enfield'.
DougW
Member
What 7mmsavage said. If it has been cut, it could be possible to build a cut down version. I would give it a go myself if the bore is in great shape.
huskershooter
Member
Sunray
Member
"...something like a 'tanker Enfield'..." No Armoured Corps troppie in the Comonwealth would be caught dead with a rifle of any kind in his vehicle. Just not done.
As mentioned, a 20" Aussie made No. 1 has been cut. They didn't change to the No. 4 Rifle. They decided that their No. 1's worked just fine and didn't want to spend the money. Kind of suspect the troopies liked having a proper bayonet too.
Before you do anything, check the headspace. Thousands of 'em have been assembled out of parts bins with zero QC.
As mentioned, a 20" Aussie made No. 1 has been cut. They didn't change to the No. 4 Rifle. They decided that their No. 1's worked just fine and didn't want to spend the money. Kind of suspect the troopies liked having a proper bayonet too.
Before you do anything, check the headspace. Thousands of 'em have been assembled out of parts bins with zero QC.
Maverick223
Member
After seeing that rifle, I don't believe I would change a thing, it looks to be a well-done sporter, and would be costly to restore.
alemonkey
Member
Yep, I would leave it as is.
dirtyjim
Member
not a bad looking sporter as it is but if the stock was reshaped a little it would be a great looking sporter.
rasp the comb down, sweep the grip back a little and get rid of that god awfull white line spacer on the fore end
rasp the comb down, sweep the grip back a little and get rid of that god awfull white line spacer on the fore end
Wareagle5.0
Member
I have a 20" "tanker" or "bulldog" ishapore that still has the nose cap and all the wood on it. I love the way it looks and handles with the shorter OAL. Im in the process of putting a scout scope on it. I think it'll make a great truck gun when im done. For 200.00 you cant beat it.
Ohio Gun Guy
Member
DougW
Member
Very nice sporter.
AlexanderA
Member
The second rifle I ever owned was a Lithgow SMLE Mk. III* that I bought for $10 at Academy Surplus in Austin, Texas around 1962. When the forend split because of recoil, I decided to sporterize it. I had the gunsmith at McBride's cut back and crown the barrel, remove the rear sight and fill the holes, give the whole thing a high polish blue, and install a ramp front sight and Lyman receiver rear sight. Then I installed and finished a Fajen sporter stock myself. Needless to say this cost a fair amount of money, but I ended up with a very nice-looking sporter. I sold it ten years later for $60 (obviously at a loss).
If this sounds like your situation, I would forget about trying to reconvert it to the military configuration. It would be cheaper just to get an unaltered one.
If this sounds like your situation, I would forget about trying to reconvert it to the military configuration. It would be cheaper just to get an unaltered one.
None of the sights are original, and as was mentioned, the barrel has been cut.
I was going to offer to trade you a complete Ishapore No 1 military stock set for your sporter stock set, but you would probably be better off leaving it alone.
I came into a No 4 that was cut down. I moved the rear band back 2", worked the stock down a little to thin it, shaped the end of the forend similar to a Krag carbine and had it cleaned up at 19" with P-14 front sight assembly. It made a nice short rifle, looking like a military-ish carbine (not a jungle carbine).
I was going to offer to trade you a complete Ishapore No 1 military stock set for your sporter stock set, but you would probably be better off leaving it alone.
I came into a No 4 that was cut down. I moved the rear band back 2", worked the stock down a little to thin it, shaped the end of the forend similar to a Krag carbine and had it cleaned up at 19" with P-14 front sight assembly. It made a nice short rifle, looking like a military-ish carbine (not a jungle carbine).
Mr_Pale_Horse
Member
I had 2 beautiful SMLE sporters, both based on #4 Mk 2 actions. AA walnut. Sold one to a friend (since I had two). Then I lost the other to a bore obstruction (argh).
Carl N. Brown
Member
Back in the 1950s you could not sell a Lee-Enfield unless it was "sporterized" usually just by altering the stock. Most had original length barrel and original military sights. There should be plenty of such guns out there (a local gun shop had two on the used gun rack a couple of months ago), better candidates for restoration than a rifle with a shortened barrel.
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