Enfield Gunsmithing - Retro sporter project

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Retro sporter project

Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Gunsmithing
Forum Description: Submit any how-to's or other gunsmithing suggestions here.
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5729
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 6:21pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Retro sporter project

Posted By: sjuhockey10
Subject: Retro sporter project
Date 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.

Replies:

Posted By: sayak
Date Posted: February 03 2013 at 1:13pm

Boyds is your best bet in my opinion. Very little inletting is necessary, mostly just finish work.

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Posted By: Canuck
Date 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!

Posted By: ArcherSix
Date 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.

Posted By: sjuhockey10
Date 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.