Enfield 2A1: Project Finished, Pat Me On The Back

[Jackal]

Well, after 2 weeks of refinishing, my 2A1 is finally done! I was a little disappointed to un-wrap the rifle to find the dirtiest/ugliest pos ive ever seen. I then began to remove the paint... and i found all matching numbers and perfect headspace and a bore that looks like better than new condition. Only took me about 4 hours to clean the entire rifle of the paint/cosmo.(I have an automatic parts washer). I was then very disappointed to find zero finish under the crappy paint. Only the barrel still had a tiny bit of origional finish left. Well, after doing some research, i decided on Brownell's Aluma-Hyde II dark parkerize gray. I then sprayed over the gray with a clearcoat. Now that the metal was done, i tackled the wood. Lets just say that there is little an entire can of Easy-Off oven cleaner, 100-400 grit sandpaper and some Tru Oil can't fix. Now, im left with what i beleive to be a nice looking rifle, with a so far durable finish, all for a grand total of about $200.00. I just added a new Mojo click adjustable rear sight, and let me tell you, i like this rifle .

Let me know what you think. I could use a good pat on the back. Photos are before, after.

Note: Ill post a range report in this thread as soon as i can.

 

[Ad Astra]

Sweet! Can't decide how to redo my 2A; can only hope it comes out as nice as that. Thanks for the look and some refinishing ideas. Liking that Brownell's Aluma-Hyde II...

 

[jotto]

Beautiful!

 

[Snake Eyes]

Very nice job.

Now....how about a little love for that footlocker???



(Hmm.....NW Washington, eh? Must not be Ferndale or Custer---you'd have just cut it down and spraypainted the whole thing camo.)

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Looks nice, but FYI, the "crappy paint" WAS the original finish. The Brits and Indians finished their rifles in WW2 and afterwards with a baked on enamel paint. It's ugly but it protects the rifle better than blueing or parkerizing.

 

[STAGE 2]

Beautiful rifle Jackal, I'm almost done with mine. How did you break down the mag, I can't seem to get mine apart.

 

[SigfanUSAF]

As I firearms refinisher myself, I must say you did a beautiful job. I have used the Aluma Hyde I and II extensively, and found few other products that can compare. The bake on Gun Kote they sell is great too.
Now normally, I'd cut the finish down with 0000 steel wool, as a military finish would be matte. But I truly like they way your rifle looks.

 

[PAC 762]

Looks great! I love alumihyde II, but never tried it on a bolt. How's it holding up to cycling the action?

 

[Jackal]

Stage 2: To disassemble the mag, you must depress the button on the bottom, then while holding the button in, you just slide off the floorplate. Well, not really slide, more like hit with a hammer, like i did.


Pac: The finish on the bolt has worn off of the contact surfaces, but it is still holding up just fine everywhere else.

 

[lee n. field]

I just added a new Mojo click adjustable rear sight, and let me tell you, i like this rifle .

They got them for the Enfield?????

 

[Crosshair]

Yes they do. They take awhile to get sighted in though. Also, buy the replacement apertures, the stock one is too big IMHO.

 

[n4sir45]

Anyone know where to get a replacement stock for the 2A MK III? New stock?

 

[hobgob]

Very nice work, I plan doing something similar and giving to my pops for a b-day present, I showed him my No4 Mk1 right after i bought and he fell in love immediately!

 

[elmerfudd]

Sounds like yours was in almost the exact condition mine was. After doing a similar restoration, my metal looks about the same as yours, but I think you did a nicer job on the stock than I did. I left it with a dull finish and the rear is lighter than the front. Still, it looks much better than it did when I started.

It's turned out to be one of my favorite milsurps. It's accurate, fast cycling and I must be one of the few who really like the sights on it.

 

[moose fat]

Yes your rifle does look nice!

I got mine two years ago from AIM. The black paint was so thick on it the safety wouldn't work, the grooves on the firing pin/cocking piece were filled in and the rear sight wouldn't move. Like yours after getting past the crappy black paint(CBP) the metal and especially the bore were very nice. Mine has parkerizing under the CBP.

I left mine kind of rough looking. Its my nocking around on the snowmachine, winter rifle. It did go through the solvent tank, all the metal parts, and did get the EZ-Off treatment and then a couple of wipe downs with BLO. I almost put the stock in the dishwasher.

n4sir45, maybe;
http://www.ssporters.com/index.html

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/

 

[Jackal]

Uh guys, I posted this 2 years ago..... I dont even have that rifle anymore, I'm flattered, but let this thread die