Another SMLE restoration

And so the next project starts. :)

I had a peddled scheme (SSA marked) 1917 No1Mk3* receiver and barrel that I got off TM from Arsenal (forum advertiser) for a steal at $11.55. Plus I had a ton of spare parts lying around from a couple of stripped guns too far bubbafied to save.

After cleaning the barrel, it wasn’t too bad really.
The original plan was to put the action in a sporter stock, but thought better of it once I acquired an original Lithgow coachwood stock, again of the yellow site.

I’m going to do some juggling around now.
Put the new Lithgow stock on my 1942 Lithgow, and take the Geoff Mentor repro off that for the new 1917 rebuild.
I have the missing metal parts now and the remaining top wood (repro) is still coming from VMA, who taking his sweet time.

Attachment 161774

Attachment 161775

Bugger, can't edit it. Should read:

'and parts from some awesome forum members (you know who you are ;)) and a couple of stripped guns....'

There are special places in milsurp heaven reserved for peeps like you. Well done. Restoration takes so much work, skill, time and cost that most people often underestimate what it actually entails.

@dogmatix , awesome to see a someone restoring these old neglected rifles that deserve better. The old 303 is an icon in NZ history whether its on foreign battlefield's or deer culling . Keep up the great work.

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Originally Posted by Trigger

There are special places in milsurp heaven reserved for peeps like you. Well done. Restoration takes so much work, skill, time and cost that most people often underestimate what it actually entails.

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Originally Posted by viper

@dogmatix , awesome to see a someone restoring these old neglected rifles that deserve better. The old 303 is an icon in NZ history whether its on foreign battlefield's or deer culling . Keep up the great work.

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Cheers guys.
Plus its a peddled scheme receiver, so non matching numbered parts has been its history from the beginning.

Right, just in time for ANZAC Day.

Did a bit of juggling with parts. The stock in the earlier photos was an original WW2 era Lithgow stock, so I moved that to my 1942 Lithgow and used the repro off that for this build.
I purposely 'aged' the stock parts for this 1917 rebuild to match the buttstock by rolling/dragging down the concrete driveway for dents and scratches and used artists oil paints for the tints/stains.
The front rear wood required repairs to the ears.
I still need to bed the receiver and trigger guard properly and a few more spots of linseed on the upper woods.

P1907 bayonet is a Nov 1917 Wilkinson which matches the rifle. I've picked up a WW2 May 1943 bayonet for my 42 Lithgow now.

Thanks to all the forum members who helped out with parts. :thumbsup:

Attachment 165917

Attachment 165918

Looks great!

It reminds us how far infantry weapons have come in the last 100 or so years. ( I have an original 1917 Mk3)

Here it is with my 1942 Lithgow No1Mk3* and 1942 Longbranch No4Mk1* complete with pointy stabby things and slings.

Attachment 166080

thankyou for restoring these old gals......

Nice job, have you test fired it to see how it shoots?

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

Nice job, have you test fired it to see how it shoots?

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Not yet. Will do so after I sort out the triggerguard and receiver bedding. Also noticed one side of the front sight is touching the inside of the nose cap.
Will need to fix that by filing off a bit of the inside of the nose cap wing.

@dogmatix good job mate. Also how are Geoff's repro stocks coming along, was there much fitting work involved for his current repros? I know I will regret asking and catch the bug again if his stocks have overall improved.

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Originally Posted by Trigger

@dogmatix good job mate. Also how are Geoff's repro stocks coming along, was there much fitting work involved for his current repros? I know I will regret asking and catch the bug again if his stocks have overall improved.

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Cheers mate.
They have certainly improved. I have an early version and a recent version (ie 2 weeks ago).
Still a bit of fitting, ie bedding/shaping required for the receiver and trigger guard. Plus dremeling required for the W plate for the end of the stock (part #37).

Good to hear that his stocks have improved. I came across one of Geoff's stocks very early on and the lack of stock plate cutout was a bugbear for me.

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Originally Posted by Trigger

Good to hear that his stocks have improved. I came across one of Geoff's stocks very early on and the lack of stock plate cutout was a bugbear for me.

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Yeah, it’s a right pain cutting it out. My first repro then split there anyway, so I had to glue it with a brass screw through that tiny area.

How hard is it to take a sporterised one back to a fully wooded one. Have thought about doing this but looking at your pics I bet it isn't easy. I see quite a few 303s quite cheap that have been sporterised and have wondered about that.

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Originally Posted by dogmatix

Yeah, it’s a right pain cutting it out. My first repro then split there anyway, so I had to glue it with a brass screw through that tiny area.

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I almost split a repro stock whilst doing it and it was one from VMA so I cut right through it acraglass a bolt in place. I think by doing that, I strengthened the cutout area. But I won't be doing that again.

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Originally Posted by Gordo

How hard is it to take a sporterised one back to a fully wooded one. Have thought about doing this but looking at your pics I bet it isn't easy. I see quite a few 303s quite cheap that have been sporterised and have wondered about that.

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It depends how fussy you are.
I’ve been quite anal and wanted my rebuilds to be accurised guns, ie following all the tips and tricks to get them shooting well.

Or you can just through one together to look good, but the bedding isn’t done etc.

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Originally Posted by Trigger

I almost split a repro stock whilst doing it and it was one from VMA so I cut right through it acraglass a bolt in place. I think by doing that, I strengthened the cutout area. But I won't be doing that again.

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All my Enfields have had the same repair done, or I’ve had to do it myself! :XD:

You remind me to look up Roger Wadham’s book. His videos are pretty good on YouTube but he doesn’t cover everything.

@Trigger I have a PDF version of the book. It’s even saved to my iPhone. :D

@dogmatix you remind me that I should actually save the document to my computer. Its a whole 218 pages... long read.