Smelly old SMLE - advice on stocks?

• Apr 1, 2014

• #1

C

Captain Lyerly

New in Town

Messages

8

Location

USA

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong place, or a duplicate - I searched, and could not find a (recent, at least) thread that covered this.

I have a #4 MK2 (I believe) SMLE that has been "bubba'ed" into a sporter configuration - a real butcher's job was done on it. I rescued it from an "Antique Shoppe" in Virginia, for the royal sum of $67.00 US. The bore is good, numbers seem to match, but it really doesn't have any "collector value" left - it would certainly take more to return it to spec than it would be worth. I would like to find a decent set of wood for it, in something like a Monte Carlo configuration; but I have not been able to find a set that really suited me. Mostly what I find is synthetic; I have rifles that fit the modern category, I don't need this to be another one.

Not looking to take it to Africa, nor going after any of the Dangerous Game category, but the .303 is a grand cartridge and I want to find something suitable so it doesn't look out of place in the gun room.

Can anyone direct me to a suitable source?

Thanks ever so much.


Cap'n L

 

• Apr 2, 2014

• #2

DeaconKC

One Too Many

Messages

1,702

Location

Heber Springs, AR

Welcome to the place Cap! Try the SMLE forum here www.surplusrifleforum.com Talk to Tikirocker there, he is the Mod of the Enfield sections. Say hello to me too, I'm DeaconKC there too.

 

• Apr 2, 2014

• #3

C

Captain Lyerly

New in Town

Messages

8

Location

USA

Roger that, and thanks!

Cap'n L

 

• Apr 2, 2014

• #4

C

Captain Lyerly

New in Town

Messages

8

Location

USA

It looks like I will be spending some time in there, but I have found at least a partial solution just using the search function. It led me back to some sites I had been through, and had just missed what I was looking for.

Thanks again!

Cap'n L

 

• Apr 2, 2014

• #5

GHT

I'll Lock Up

Messages

9,331

Location

New Forest

Captain Lyerly said:

Smelly old SMLE - advice on stocks?
Cap'n L

Click to expand...

Talk about an ambiguous thread title. I couldn't have been more wrong.

 

• Apr 3, 2014

• #6

C

Captain Lyerly

New in Town

Messages

8

Location

USA

:eusa_clap

Well played, sir.


Cap'n L

 

• Apr 3, 2014

• #7

R

rjb1

Practically Family

Messages

561

Location

Nashville

This may be stating the obvious, but are there any gun shows in your area? SMLE stuff around here (Nashville) is not a hot item and you would likely find what you need very inexpensively. Probably the same would be true where you are.
Also, you could look it over before buying so you would know if it was exactly what you are looking for.

 

• Apr 3, 2014

• #8

C

Captain Lyerly

New in Town

Messages

8

Location

USA

Yep, that was my plan. I have (with the help from earlier in the thread) located some on-line sources. There just happens to be a gun show this weekend, and I plan on going through it on Saturday - then, if I can't find anything good there, I will place an order on line. Still haven't found a good butt-stock, but the fore ends are findable; I guess that is because you can cut down any issue fore end, but you have to make up a new butt stock if you want it done right.

Thanks!

Cap'n L

 

• Apr 4, 2014

• #9

DeaconKC

One Too Many

Messages

1,702

Location

Heber Springs, AR

There are three lengths of buttstocks for the SMLE, the shortest is marked S and the longest L. The standard length is usually unmarked.

 

• Apr 4, 2014

• #10

C

Captain Lyerly

New in Town

Messages

8

Location

USA

Right. The one I have is a good length for me; it seems to be marked FR - factory repair? But if I were to get a replacement, it would be an aftermarket job anyhow, so I don't need to look at the issue stocks. There were quite a few nicely done replacement sets from a few years ago, but I didn't have an Enfield then. Now I have to hope the right one turns up on eBay or some such. Many sets I have seen sold for more than I paid for the rifle, so...

Thanks!

Cap'n L

 

• Jun 30, 2014

• #11

P

PistolPete1969

One of the Regulars

Messages

185

Location

Wilds of Southern Ohio

Numrich (e-gunparts.com) has SMLE/ Enfield stock sets available. Check them out

 

• Sep 17, 2014

• #12

Texfield

New in Town

Messages

17

Location

Houston, London or somewhere in bloody Africa

Boyds makes a replacement butt stock that has a more conventional cheek height and grip. Fore stocks can be had from ebay, Numrich's, etc. There new ones made in the UK but are not cheap!

I shoot two Ishapore Mark 2a rifles which are 7.62 NATO from the factory (not rechambered.) One is stock the other has been cut down to a Tanker length. None came out of the factory in the Tanker config but they should have. Great pig slayers.

 

• Sep 29, 2014

• #13

DavidJones

One of the Regulars

Messages

177

Location

Ohio

I was given a beater BSA enfield (No. 1 Mark III dated 1936) that had a rough stock. I wanted to keep the rifle as it was a good shooter, but wanted to replace the stock. After some searching at local gun shows I was able to get a FR (factory repair) stock from the 1950's and replaced all the wood. That made the old BSA look much better. It might take time but occasionally original FR stocks can be found.