I have wanted a Long Lee Enfield MLE or CLLE ever since I first realized l didn't need to buy left handed friendly rifles.
I haven't had much luck finding one at shows and local shops, and they always sell for prices beyond what I can afford at auction. I got to thinking, is it possible to build your own?
Before you say something like, "just buy a Krag" I want a MLE, or something that looks darn close.
I came up with a rough plan to build a replica, and I want to know, is it possible?
I have 4 marks I would like to meet;
1. Is it possible?
2. Is it legal?
3. Is it safe?
4. Is it cost effective?
I would be starting with an Ishapore Enfield in 7.62x51. These are fairly common and can be found in importer sporterized configurations, as well as they have enhanced heat treatment in the reciever.
Assume the Ishapore I would get is already sporterized and fully disassembled. I will ignore smaller parts like screws and pins.
Receiver: Ishapore .308. Charger loader left attached.
Bolt, Trigger, Guard, Magazine well: Ishapore .308
Magazine: (1. SMLE III*, modified to feed .308 (2. Ishapore .308
Butt stock: SMLE III*
Barrel: Custom. US Krag 30" blank with chamber cut to .308 win. LE extractor cut. Retains Krag dovetail and screws for sight. Threads matched to Ishapore receiver either on barrel or in receiver.
Sights: Original or reproduction US Krag.
Forestock: (1. MLE reproduction. (2. SMLE reproduction with volley sight cut, cut at barrel band or nose cap and extended to MLE length.
Bands: (1. Reproduction or MLE front and rear. (2. US Krag front and rear, stock shaped to fit front. (3. "Any band combination that fits"
Volley Sight: Front Reproduction, Rear omitted?
Sight Protector: Front CLLE original. Rear Ishapore.
Upper handguard: Custom. Adapted from reproduction LE to fit Krag rear sight.
Cleaning Rod: (1. Mosin Nagant. (2. Omitted.
Is it possible? These are all parts that I believe are obtainable fairly regularly. As a "modern" reproduction I would prefer the 7.62 chambering, due to the cost of .303. This combination seems like the most reasonable combination I could come up with, but I have no way of knowing if this or a similar combination is functional.
Is it Legal? Is it legal to assemble foreign, US made, and homemade parts on the foreign Ishapore receiver?
Is it Safe? Is this a sound design that wouldn't have any weaknesses beyond what a normal Ishapore rifle would already have?
Is it Cost Effective? This is a tricky one because the homebuilt MLE tribute wouldn't have much resale value, but assume I wouldn't ever sell it or a real MLE. Would it end up costing so much that I would be better off struggling to find and buy a real LE CLLE? Would the tribute have any resale value as a reproduction? How much would shop labor run me if I had someone do everything associated with fitting the barrel to the receiver and headspace?
In theory I could do some of the work myself. I don't want to be accused of destroying a perfectly good? Ishapore, so I would get one that is already ruined for the purposes of this idea. I am competent with woodworking, and can finish an inletted stock, and extend it if needed.
Is this a project that is worth attempting, or should I toss it in the trash and hunt down a real MLE?
Thank you for any input.
I haven't had much luck finding one at shows and local shops, and they always sell for prices beyond what I can afford at auction. I got to thinking, is it possible to build your own?
Before you say something like, "just buy a Krag" I want a MLE, or something that looks darn close.
I came up with a rough plan to build a replica, and I want to know, is it possible?
I have 4 marks I would like to meet;
1. Is it possible?
2. Is it legal?
3. Is it safe?
4. Is it cost effective?
I would be starting with an Ishapore Enfield in 7.62x51. These are fairly common and can be found in importer sporterized configurations, as well as they have enhanced heat treatment in the reciever.
Assume the Ishapore I would get is already sporterized and fully disassembled. I will ignore smaller parts like screws and pins.
Receiver: Ishapore .308. Charger loader left attached.
Bolt, Trigger, Guard, Magazine well: Ishapore .308
Magazine: (1. SMLE III*, modified to feed .308 (2. Ishapore .308
Butt stock: SMLE III*
Barrel: Custom. US Krag 30" blank with chamber cut to .308 win. LE extractor cut. Retains Krag dovetail and screws for sight. Threads matched to Ishapore receiver either on barrel or in receiver.
Sights: Original or reproduction US Krag.
Forestock: (1. MLE reproduction. (2. SMLE reproduction with volley sight cut, cut at barrel band or nose cap and extended to MLE length.
Bands: (1. Reproduction or MLE front and rear. (2. US Krag front and rear, stock shaped to fit front. (3. "Any band combination that fits"
Volley Sight: Front Reproduction, Rear omitted?
Sight Protector: Front CLLE original. Rear Ishapore.
Upper handguard: Custom. Adapted from reproduction LE to fit Krag rear sight.
Cleaning Rod: (1. Mosin Nagant. (2. Omitted.
Is it possible? These are all parts that I believe are obtainable fairly regularly. As a "modern" reproduction I would prefer the 7.62 chambering, due to the cost of .303. This combination seems like the most reasonable combination I could come up with, but I have no way of knowing if this or a similar combination is functional.
Is it Legal? Is it legal to assemble foreign, US made, and homemade parts on the foreign Ishapore receiver?
Is it Safe? Is this a sound design that wouldn't have any weaknesses beyond what a normal Ishapore rifle would already have?
Is it Cost Effective? This is a tricky one because the homebuilt MLE tribute wouldn't have much resale value, but assume I wouldn't ever sell it or a real MLE. Would it end up costing so much that I would be better off struggling to find and buy a real LE CLLE? Would the tribute have any resale value as a reproduction? How much would shop labor run me if I had someone do everything associated with fitting the barrel to the receiver and headspace?
In theory I could do some of the work myself. I don't want to be accused of destroying a perfectly good? Ishapore, so I would get one that is already ruined for the purposes of this idea. I am competent with woodworking, and can finish an inletted stock, and extend it if needed.
Is this a project that is worth attempting, or should I toss it in the trash and hunt down a real MLE?
Thank you for any input.
