Back To Original - Sort of

[NHForester]

My old Enfield that is. It was my father's gun, which he bought from Sawyer's Mills department store in the early 60's. His Dad had to go in with him and pay for it. He was just a teenager.

It was a No4, MkI that Golden State Arms had imported and turned in to a Jungle Carbine clone. Somewhere along the line, Dad lost the hand guard and split the fore end. When he gave it to me, about the time I turned 20, I cut the fore end back past the split and basically turned it in to a sporter. I even had a scope mount put on and had an old Weaver on it. Only problem with that is you couldn't remove the bolt as long as the scope was attached.

Here is how it looked a little while ago:
(http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=9623)
http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/vb/picture.php?albumid=38&pictureid=180

And here it is now that I've returned it to the way it was when Dad bought it:


http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/vb/picture.php?albumid=38&pictureid=179

I purchased a new fore end and hand guard from Numrich. Also the front band, screw and swivel. When these arived, I realised I was missing the ring that keeps the back part of the hand guard from moving around so I ordered that and threw in the sling.

I think it turned out all right, though I did have to stain the buttstock darker than it was in order to try and match the new wood. It's close, but not exact.
(http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=9623)

[Clem]

Here is a link to a thread I started on a great gun forum in regard to a bit of a restoration I did on an old Enfield. I am posting a link to it because I have not figured out how to do the pics on here yet.

http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=9623

Looks like a nice restoration job. When I was a kid in the '60s, the Enfield Jungle Carbines were available, and inexpensive. I doubt that is the situation now. I got to fire one then. Interesting.

[NHForester]

Looks like a nice restoration job. When I was a kid in the '60s, the Enfield Jungle Carbines were available, and inexpensive. I doubt that is the situation now. I got to fire one then. Interesting.
The last one I saw in a gun shop was priced at $600. :eek:

[Theyeti]

I have a Gibbs No.7 carbine (made off of a '66 Ishapore in 7.62 NATO) that some absolutely despise but it's a nice looking gun. I've only fired 20 or so rounds thru it and I'm finding that it will take some getting used. Ive found that the carbines are not the most accurate weapons in comparison to full sized pattern and especcialy with the short site radius and bolt pattern.

[essayons4791]

Your resto turned out pretty darn good. The first hi-powered rifle I ever owned was a no 1. mkIII, SMLE. Old WW1 vet. Took my first deer with it when I was 12 (it was my Christmas present).
Well, as the years went by, I sporterized it, added a scope, etc. 20 years later, I decided to return it to it's original configuration via a process a lot like what you did. Yeah, it cost me more than the rifle was worth to change it back, but it was worth it to see it again like it was when I got it from under the tree from my dad.
Since then, I've had No. 4 Mk1's, more SMLE's, a MkIV webley, and a No.5 Carbine. They can still be had, occaisionally. AIM sold them for 275 bucks about five years ago, and I pounced like a cat on that deal.
It looked like it came through several wars, but a little elbow grease and it was fine.

Enfields are good rifles. I missed out on the cheap Ishapores a couple of years back, but I'll own one eventually. Enjoy yours, they are good guns.