Retro sporter project

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   I few years ago, I found myself a beat-up, bubba-hacked No. 1 Mk. III.  Chopped wood, missing metal, drilled receiver, whole nine yards.  The receiver finish is about shot, but the bore is in good shape and the rifle shoots well.  I picked it up for $70, intending to build a retro sporter.  Now that the other projects have made some room, I'd like to get moving on it.

My intent for this rifle is to turn it into an early 20th century style sporting rifle, similar to the Lee-Speed and the other BSA sporting rifles.  

First on the order of business, does anyone have any leads on where I might find good quality wood for this project?  I don't have the woodworking ability to work from a blank myself, but I'm capable of doing some inletting and finish work, so I also don't need a perfect match or to send the rifle out to have that work done.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
sjuhockey10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: November 24 2012 Location: MN, USA Status: Offline Points: 121	Post Options Post Reply Quote sjuhockey10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Retro sporter project Posted: February 03 2013 at 12:40pm
	I few years ago, I found myself a beat-up, bubba-hacked No. 1 Mk. III. Chopped wood, missing metal, drilled receiver, whole nine yards. The receiver finish is about shot, but the bore is in good shape and the rifle shoots well. I picked it up for $70, intending to build a retro sporter. Now that the other projects have made some room, I'd like to get moving on it. My intent for this rifle is to turn it into an early 20th century style sporting rifle, similar to the Lee-Speed and the other BSA sporting rifles. First on the order of business, does anyone have any leads on where I might find good quality wood for this project? I don't have the woodworking ability to work from a blank myself, but I'm capable of doing some inletting and finish work, so I also don't need a perfect match or to send the rifle out to have that work done.

sayak Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: August 01 2010 Location: Alaska Status: Offline Points: 160	Post Options Post Reply Quote sayak Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 03 2013 at 1:13pm
	Boyds is your best bet in my opinion. Very little inletting is necessary, mostly just finish work.
	I support hard work, creativity, freedom, responsibility and truth

Canuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Cochrane, AB Status: Offline Points: 4021	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 04 2013 at 3:12am
	Boyds, I recommend them. A buddy has one of their stocks on his Mosin Nagant, beautiful wood grain, almost no fitting required. Nice products!

ArcherSix Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: March 05 2009 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 317	Post Options Post Reply Quote ArcherSix Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 16 2013 at 2:24am
	I have a Boyd's semi inlet stock on my 1917 Enfield. Nicely made and minimal inletting was required. The only gripe was that the drop is more suited for a scoped rifle than iron sights. The old British sporters had a lot more drop than these have. Maybe their stocks for SMLEs are different? You'll want to check though.

sjuhockey10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: November 24 2012 Location: MN, USA Status: Offline Points: 121	Post Options Post Reply Quote sjuhockey10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 19 2013 at 10:35am
	That's definitely something I'll have to look at, although I am planning on (or at least kicking around) scoping the rifle. Which is my other current conundrum -- I think modern scope look like crap on classically-styled rifles, so I have to do some looking to find something that looks at least somewhat correct.