Thread: SMLE restoration update.

Getting there.... pictures paint a thousand words. And ‘painting’ is literally what I’ve been doing!

I’m real happy how the stain has worked out so far. Still lots more boiled linseed coats and then bedding the receiver and trigger guard to go. Plus dozens of other little jobs. But it’s been a journey and learning experience since November working on restoring my 1942 Lithgow No1 Mk3*.

That is an impressive colour match on the new wood.

Keep up the good work and perhaps we can start a Home Guard unit.

Originally Posted by Kiwi Sapper

That is an impressive colour match on the new wood.

Keep up the good work and perhaps we can start a Home Guard unit.

Dad’s Army episodes keep on coming up on my YouTube feed all the time now, due to the 303 and 1907 bayonet vids I’ve watched.

Nice job mate, good to see how the old girl is looking. I found her to be quite accurate, should be a good service rifle contender.

That’s stunning. GREAT job and look forward to reading the rest.

Are you bedding the rifle yourself?

What bedding compound are you gonna use?

Originally Posted by Seventenths

That’s stunning. GREAT job and look forward to reading the rest.

Are you bedding the rifle yourself?

What bedding compound are you gonna use?

Cheers.
I was tempted to ask TJ to do it.
But I’ll go very carefully with the Acraglas kit from Reloaders.
It’s only small areas to bed to keep it Service Rifle legal.

Originally Posted by dogmatix

Cheers.
I was tempted to ask TJ to do it.
But I’ll go very carefully with the Acraglas kit from Reloaders.
It’s only small areas to bed to keep it Service Rifle legal.

TJ also does original rust blueing aswell so your rifle would look brand spanking new.

Based on what you’ve done, you’ve planted a seed so I might have to rebirth an old .303

Could you PM me please where you got your stock furnature from?

Originally Posted by Seventenths

TJ also does original rust blueing aswell so your rifle would look brand spanking new.

Based on what you’ve done, you’ve planted a seed so I might have to rebirth an old .303

Could you PM me please where you got your stock furnature from?

Rust blueing is totally inappropriate on the Lithgow rifle of that period as they were Parkerized. The rifle actually has a large amount of original finish and looks really good!

Originally Posted by gundoc

Rust blueing is totally inappropriate on the Lithgow rifle of that period as they were Parkerized. The rifle actually has a large amount of original finish and looks really good!

That’s good to know & yes it does look superb as it is.

Good on ya mate! Returning it to its former glory. Have you noted how much Lithgows are worth in the USA?


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Originally Posted by Burb122

Good on ya mate! Returning it to its former glory. Have you noted how much Lithgows are worth in the USA?


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That’s a surprise!

I've got a copy of setting up the sights, I'll try and scan then send to you.

The two-tone look would have been really popular in the 1980's!

Originally Posted by grunzter

The two-tone look would have been really popular in the 1980's!

With the stoned wash jeans!

I’ve noticed that the cross bolt on the nose cap has a badly misaligned hole. So when the bolt is tightened up, it twists the cap causing it to touch the barrel.
So my next job!

With 150gn S&B factory soft points it still shoots them the best, although with a much higher (8 MOA) POI at 100m now.
I’m not going to change the front blade for factory ammo, so will use them up for practise.

The Greek surplus 303 ammo has the elevation spot on, but shoots 3” left. I will adjust the front blade windage. Groups were average due to the mentioned touching barrel.
No POI change with the P1907 bayonet on.



The Greek cases I had pulled due to wet powder were reloading with new Fed primers and 45.5gn of ADI 2209.
They actually shot well, with a 4” group, but were about 10” high!

The front top handguard was actually still a bit sticky from the last coat of linseed oil I put on yesterday morning.
But I soon had the barrel hot enough to cook the oil and guard dry!

So still more little jobs to do with the cross bolt. One day I’ll finish!