Sympathetic Restoration of SMLE Rifle

[cooper]

I recently acquired a SMLE deact which was very rough. It came from a batch of Enfields brought over from the middle east. My fiend who sold it to me helped me with some replacement woodwork parts where needed. These were taken from the same batch so we're similar in condition.

The rifle itself was in poor condition. The metalwork being rusty and even pitted in areas. The woodwork dry and cracking through being so dry.

I prefer items with character, I don't mind poor condition, it's character and consumerate with the age. It tells a story.

This enfield is a 1910 dated rifle. It has a commercial barrel. The nosecap and rear sight have mismatched numbers but had been fitted many, many years ago. Again it is testament to keeping the old girl in service. I assume the barrel was fitted late 30's when stocks UK rifles were refurbished for anticipated use in a new conflict with Germany.

The metal work was.hand polished to remove, that being the most sympathetic process. Some of the blind has gone, but I will leave in this original condition.

The woodwork was so distressed and dry. This was lightly cleaned and then linseed oil was applied, approx 20 coats. Then hand polished.

I am really pleased with the outcome and it is now the pride of my collection. I have attached photos before and after renovation. I think I have bought it a few more years.

[4thGordons]

Excellent job.

I have done a number of these sort of things myself - this looks great.

It's amazing how well the wood will clean up and restore.

The forend is also obviously also a replacement probably dating to the same time as the rebarreling (as it is cut low for the cut-off but has no provision for the volley sights that would originally have been fitted.)

Who made it?

Chris

[cooper]

Hi Chris,

It's an Enfield, It still needs a little more work and linseed oil!

I have another 3 coming and will leave it there.

I have a 1929, 1938 and either 1915 or 1918, difficult to confirm until I clean it a little. A good representation of the 40 year history in British front libe service

[cooper]

I agree about the woodwork. Personally I wanted to keep it in as original condition as when I got it. I took off the excess grease and dirt so it can be handled. I have left all the bumps and dings and not sanded or refinished. Simply fed the wood and polish it using a cotton cloth only.

Cooper

[Lancashire Fusilier]

I am really pleased with the outcome and it is now the pride of my collection. I have attached photos before and after renovation. I think I have bought it a few more years.

Cooper,

You should delighted with the outcome, it is an excellent restoration and well worth all your effort.

Regards,

LF

[4thGordons]

Is the 1929 rifle British made? If so that is a relatively rare beast (inter war production was pretty low) Ishapore continued to make quite a few.

I have collected enfields by year and have SMLEs dating from 1907 to 1988! (with gaps!)

Chris

1907 first year of MkIII production in UK

1988 production in Ishapore - (some may have been made in 1989)

[cooper]

I am actually waiting for 2 1928/9's. I am getting one for my father. They are British made BSA & Co. I am lucky at having the chance of purchasing them and am thankful to my friend to be able to purchase them from him. Again they will be in rough condition, just the way I like them.

I think I have been bitten by the SMLE bug!

You have some great rifles, including a very late one. I think that's the latest I have seen.

Of course I will update the forum with images of the new rifles in due course

Cooper

[Beerhunter]

Is the 1929 rifle British made? If so that is a relatively rare beast (inter war production was pretty low) Ishapore continued to make quite a few.

I have collected enfields by year and have SMLEs dating from 1907 to 1988! (with gaps!)

Chris

BSA made some SMLEs inter-war. I have a 1935 BSA made for South Africa. Obviously made from parts in store because the fore-end has a polished out depression for the volley sight.

[cooper]

The 1928/29's and the 1938 I am getting are matching numbers, ie receiver, barrel, rear sight and nosecap. They have British military proofs.

It will take a few weeks to obtain them as they are yet to be deactivated.

Is it likely that 20's rifles were for some British dominion? These are III*'s whereas the 38 is a III.

Cooper

[David Filsell]

If you warm the linseed oil in a ban marie - definitely not over direct heat - the dry wood will absorb it much better.

[cooper]

Thanks David for the top tip. The wood was so dry it generally absorbed the oil very quickly. However if I can speed the process up, so I can add coats in a more timely process, it will certainly speed the restoration up

Many thanks

[4thGordons]

BSA made some SMLEs inter-war. I have a 1935 BSA made for South Africa. Obviously made from parts in store because the fore-end has a polished out depression for the volley sight.

Yes I have several different inter-war produced BSAs

A Siamese contract rifle("smiling tiger" markd), a couple with Iraqi marks, and a 1935 commercially barreled rifle. Years in the late 30s are more common in my experience, all I meant was compared to wartime productions, the numbers produced (and hence surviving) was much lower.

Chris

[GeorgeB]

Dear Lieutenant, What do you do about finding replacement screws? I have a Lithgow 1918 with the same type early round button (as opposed to the flat later type) on the back of the bolt like the SMLE in your picture . I had to remove the original firing pin retaining screw. It was frozen and very badly stripped. I got it out with an easy out which naturally destroys the screw. The original screw has a very wide slot and fits perfectly into the half-moon cut out in the end of the firing pin. This time I was lucky, I found a gun smith with a drawer full of the screws, and to my surprise, we found the correct screw and it fits perfectly. But, if I need another one in the future ,is there a reliable source for these special screws?

[4thGordons]

Almost all parts for SMLEs are available (many get listed on eBay) although wood furniture is getting hard to find/expensive. In the US all such parts are easily available. The current price for the screw you mention is $3.30. However many of the suppliers will not / cannot post internationally because of both US Govt and destination govts restrictions.

I would suspect that most working gunsmiths in the UK would have access to more SMLE parts than any other type and I suspect only a few components are scarce. Beerhunter would probably be able to speak with more authority on this.

Over the years I have collected a drawer full of SMLE parts so I suspect a professional will have too.

Chris

[Beerhunter]

Dear Lieutenant, What do you do about finding replacement screws?

EFD (http://www.efdrifles.com/) have practically everything but not cheap.

Darrell (http://www.dsmilitaria.com/home.php) has less stuff but is cheaper and nice bloke to do business with. If the part isn't on the web site, ask him.

As has been said, "that auction site", always has SMLE and No.4/5 bits and pieces on it. I bought a box of 10 brand new in box SMLE extractors for not a lot of money from there.

[Stevie]

A lovely restoration job on the 'Smelly.' It just goes to show what can be achieved with some TLC.

[cooper]

Thanks for everyone's sentiments, it's a fascinating subject and it's great learning from everyone else's experience and knowledge.

I cannot wait to receive the new ones and research their unique histories if I can, but also to save them from the scrap heap.

[pierssc]

Very nice. What did you do re the metalwork? You said "hand polished" but it must have taken a lot of elbow grease!

[cooper]

I stripped it down removing the wood work. The using sponge and soapy water removed as much grime and dirt as I could. Then I advanced to using a nylon pan scrubber with the same method. Lastly a brillo pad very lightly in very bad areas. Then in those same areas I again used a nylon scrubber. I do not want to leave scratches hence this method.

When dry I used a specialist metal polish cream which helps with removing rust etc. I apply and polished approx 3 or 4 times. Hand polishing using a cotton cloth only.

This helps in also giving a protective layer to help protect again future rust. Also it restores it back to the original 'would be finish' if the rust wasn't present. Unfortunately the rust has removed some areas of blueing. I will leave like this as again, it's the signature look of the piece, ie been there done that.

Cooper

[David Filsell]

Cooper

Let me know how it goes.

David

[Doug504]

Thanks David for the top tip. The wood was so dry it generally absorbed the oil very quickly. However if I can speed the process up, so I can add coats in a more timely process, it will certainly speed the restoration up

Many thanks

I have a 1916 S.M.L.E No 1 Mk III, which I still shoot on a regular basis. When I purchased this for the huge sum of £200, it had been imported from India with a number of others packed in an oil drum full of grease. Seller said he would reduce the price by £50 if I would clean it up myself. The woodwork had numerous dents and dings and everything had a very sticky coating of what I'm told was Cosmoline grease. Anyway, wife was away for the weekend and the dishwasher wasn't doing much! One stripped down rifle, woodwork and all went into the dishwasher for a few hot cycles. Results were excellent, Cosmoline removed and the heat / moisture raised the dents in the woodwork ready for finishing.

Doug.

[MikeyH]

Cooper,

Excellent job, should you wish to re-blue any parts of your SMLE, can recommend Birchwood Casey 'Perma Blue', available from Henry Krank. This is a cold blue product, application is easy, had excellent results on my SMLE re-furb. a couple of years ago. A 90ml container would probably treat 2 rifles.

Mike.

[pierssc]

Thanks Cooper, I'm very impressed with the metal polish and amazed that there was so much blueing still there under all that rust. Would it be indiscreet to ask what product you used? I need to get some!

[cooper]

Great tip about the dishwasher. Not sure for me though to be honest. I like the dings, knocks and don't want the wood completely cleaned. Only enough to handle without leaving marks. Great tips though....and you were brave!

Thanks about the blueing, I take it that's a cold blue product. I will bear in mind, but again will probably generaĺly leave as is, unless there might be one of the new rifles which come up just too shiny.

I will check I'm the garage tomorrow and check the cleaner and polish. There are still some areas which need a little further cleaning as there is still a couple of patches of rust around the rear sight. I will get there.

Thanks

Cooper

[Stevie]

There are better ways of bluing, such as using a mixture of ammonium chloride and deionised water. The problem is that its messy, entails coating the items with the solution and putting them in a sweat-box for 24 hours for the rust to form. Then boiling the items to neutralise the rust after each 'pass' of the solution used on the metal - and is most certainly not 'wife-friendly' when said items are boiled up on the cooker. But the finish is unbeatable for durability, and is probably much closer to the original finish than any cold application cream.