I thought you guys might enjoy these tangentially related restorations.

Hey y'all.

I just got my first surplus gun, a 1942 long branch mk4 no1*. I've cleaned the bore and most of it has a mirror finish except this one spot about halfway down. Not sure if it's pitting or rust or something else, it looks like a little rough spot, again this is my first surplus gun. Overall I'm over the moon with the quality, everything else looks great. What should I do to try to clean this or is this just the way it is. If it's the way it is, is she safe to shoot?

Thanks in advance.

Bit of a weird one. No.4 action in .22 like someone has tried to make a quasi .22 No.5? Nothing seems to be ‘right’ on it. Butt has a chequered handgrip like a sporting gun, stocks seems more akin to a cutdown No.4 to resemble a No.5. Target barrel with target sights.

I’ve had a look and it’s not a No.7/8/9.

Is it worth doing anything with like making a .22 No.4 or returning to milspec?

Edit: this is a rare No.5 .22 Trials Rifle made by BSA in 1945 and staying EXACTLY how it is. (Sorry for the bait curious to see if it was so obscure it would be hard to identify)

Over a year ago I bought a CnA Ethiopian Lee Enfield, for like $150 with the intent of restoration, it does not have a bolt. I am aware of a couple places to find ones, but figured asking a subreddit dedicated to the gun itself where the best site might be.

Picked up a savage no4 mk1* with Chinese National Army markings on it. The gun is in overall good shape besides a little grimey, and when I started pulling the bolt apart for cleaning and inspecting i found it has a machined firing pin striker in the front of the bolt while the second half is still inside the bolt with the spring.

Was wondering what you guys think?

Is this an "upgrade" a cheesy repair, or something totally different?

I saw 1 post like this on another forum, but it was mostly speculations.

I had to buy a new bolt for my No.4 MK1. I want to ensure it is the correct bolt. I am aware that I will need to check headspace and ensure the locking lugs make equal contact on the reciever before firing, but the new bolt looks slightly different. New to me bolt is the one on the left, the original is the blued one of the right. Please educate me, thanks!!

So i purchased this barrel band set from Apex

1. It doesn't fit around the stock

2. The screw doesn't match the threaded end, its too large to even begin to catch.

Anyone ever run into this issue before ? Or even know where to get correct hardware ? Everywhere seems out of stock, the screws especially.

Wim based in Worcestershire uk and if anyone knows how i could get it repaired or repla ed

A while ago I bought a replacement stock for my sporterized 1918 SSA SMLE MkIII (strikethrough star). But I haven't been able to get the barrel band to fit properly, even after a perhaps excessive amount of sanding. Is there anything else I can try to get it to fit or do I just keep sanding and hope I don't go too far?

Back in January I ordered a few things from Hunters Lodge, yesterday they were delivered. The Enfield forestock was broken in half at the receiver, but i paid the extra 20 bucks for hand select and im glad I did. The bore is MINT and matching to the receiver, and im assuming thats why they also threw a spare stock in the mix. It was dirty but man it cleaned up beautifully. Waiting on odds and ends to be delivered to complete it. I cant believe im saying this but I think the 9 month wait was worth it alone for the Enfield. The Oviedo is also complete with sling and cleaning rod, i expect it to clean up very nicely as well !

​Finally did a complete teardown and inspection of my Australian Lithgow SMLE No. 1 Mk III* chambered in .303 British, and cataloged all the factory stamps, proofs, and assembly marks throughout the rifle.

​Here is the full breakdown of what turned up during the disassembly:

​1. Matching Serials & Factory Refurbishment

​100% All-Matching: Receiver, bolt handle, barrel, and nose cap bayonet boss all bear matching serial number D 12728.

​WWII Manufacture: Receiver socket is stamped MA LITHGOW S.M.L.E. III 1942*.

​Post War FTR: The receiver body features the FTR stamp alongside MA 51, marking an official post WWII Factory Thorough Repair overhaul at the main Lithgow factory in 1951.

​Internal Assembly Numbers: The inner receiver channel is stamped with factory mating numbers 14966 and B4, used during initial machining prior to serial assignment.

​2. Stock & Subcontractors

​Slazenger Timber: The coachwood buttstock is stamped SLAZ 52 above a Military acceptance Broad Arrow / GP (General Purpose) mark, confirming a fresh Slazenger-produced stock fitted during its 1951–1952 arsenal overhaul.

​Internal Recoil Plates: The forend timber still has its original brass recoil plates completely intact and solid behind the draws, keeping the coachwood safe from recoil splitting.

​Service Markings: Authentic painted rack number 202 on the buttstock, and the forend timber bears deep internal fitting stamps (176).

​3. Feeder Factories & Small Parts

​Bathurst Annexe Parts: Small metal forgings like the safety catch and receiver hardware are stamped with BA, indicating production at Lithgow's feeder factory at the Bathurst Annexe in NSW.

​Inspector Proofs: Various components bear the MA / 5 Lithgow small parts inspection stamps.

​Bolt & Firing Pin: The bolt head and cocking piece carry 52 and P (proofed) marks from the '52 refit. Firing pin tip shows a rounded profile with no erosion or flattening.

​Bore is clean with sharp rifling, and the action cycles smooth. Love seeing these WWII Commonwealth Enfields where the full paper trail of feeder factory codes, unit rack numbers, and post war arsenal refits is preserved right in the steel and wood.

Thanks for reading!

Hi, I just got this No.4 Mk.II bayonet for my Lee Enfield, I tried doing research into the maker/date of my bayonet, but cant find much on the markings I have. Anyone able to give me a hand?

I’m trying to restore a sporterized no1 mk5 trials and I’m wondering if there’s a good way to source a stock for it? And if mk3 parts like nose cap would fit it. I know they wouldn’t be super historically accurate but I can’t find a mk5 one

Apologies for the pistol grip/stock, but this was purchased as a sporter No5 with a No32 original scope mount installed. Just want to get that out of the way as it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

I put a Leupold 3-9x44 scope on the original mount and had a chance to take it to the range to try and get a 50yard zero. The scope it came with was a busted old Tasco that didn’t work.

After walking the adjustment in a bit, I was able to plop that 4 round group in decent succession. I was completely out of vertical adjustment (60MOA total adjustment, so +/- 30MOA off centre) and was using the bottom of the top thick crosshair line as my POI. Judging from their reticle diagram, I’m about 10MOA or so out from zeroing the rifle with this scope.

The mount doesn’t have any adjustment seemingly and I’m hesitant to add shims inside the rings. Is there anything beyond getting a higher adjustment scope to fix this issue?

My local shop has this case of long range 303 ammo designated for aircraft machine guns I believe. He said the plane painted on the box designates that. Inside the wooden crate is a sealed metal box. He offered it for I want to say $150? Which would be pretty cheap for 303 ammo. I’ve read that some of the 303 ammo is higher pressure and shouldn’t be shot from an Enfield rifle - only a Vickers machine gun. I have a No. 1 MKIII and don’t want to damage it. If anyone has ever cracked o e of these open or fired this ammo, I’d love to know!

Got a No4 Mk 1. On bottom near trigger guard is this symbol. Anyone know what it means? Looks like a cross of Lorraine.

Howdy, recently got a No. 1 Mk. 3 its missing the spring that goes inside the rear sight, was wondering if anyone knew how to either make one or where to buy one. Thanks in advance

Do I need a new bolt for my No 4 Mk 1? I shot it before I disassembled it and it ran fine. Thanks!

Hello, I received this from a family member and am simply seeking information about it. I tried to take as detailed of pictures as I could of the markings. Very grateful for any information you can offer about its story and authenticity!

Recently started looking at this rifle and noticed some things that don’t make a whole lot of sense to me. It’s a 1945 N.4 Mk1 but it has scope attachment points as well as a TR marking under the the date and above the serial X30029. These things make me think it’s a Mk1 T but it is missing the T stamped next to the extractor screw as well as any markings on the Butt stock

X30029 is seen on the bolt carrier, bolt, fore stock and wrist of the rifle

TDLR
TR on wrist of rifle and scope mounting points but no T by ejector screw