I too have many surplus rifles, and 3 different types of enfields, i use Dawn blue dishwashing soap and hot tap water to clean all my wood stocks, it really cleans them good, just have to do it a couple of times to get into a deep clean. I also use a damp rag with a iron, a clothes iron to pull out the dents out of the wood. Hope this helps you out
I keep watching videos of really beat milsurps being cleaned up. Everyone acts like doing anything beyond cleaning is destroying a priceless chunk of history. WELL, you ain't. This rifle is in good enough shape to warrant a total restoration. Re rust blue, replace damaged or missing parts, and scrape and re-finish the stock. you will then have a really nice shooter grade rifle. Sorry it will never be a collector grade rifle. buts thats the truth. (A replacement stock is a great idea for your rifle)
Definitely plan a new stock and a good opportunity to do a instructional video on how to do a replacement forend on a No 1. Once I'm finished with that, I'll probably do a rest blue on some of the components such as the trigger guard and magazine. Thanks for watching!
You have put real work into this, good for you! Yes the rifle is in questionable condition, but that is the world of surplus firearms that long after manufacture. I have used Kramer antique restorer to retain all the patina on both the wood and the metal. My initial cleaning is with bronze wool and coarse rags after heating up the items to soften the slop on the weapon. Then apply Kramers, Kramer’s will loosen the screws in the wood and get under left over dirt. Subsequent application and wiping with clean cloth will pull the dirt and oil out of the wood and replace with all natural waxes. Final finish can be whatever you wish , however you will likely find the wood looks great and is well protected.
Thanks! I am still on the hunt for a Queensland Maple stock. But they are hard to find and customs makes importing them difficult. Hoping prestigious stocks restocks QLD Maple at some point.
In a word….satisfying. What cleaning solution(s) and materials did you use? My “C” grade arrived the other day..stock is toast..BSA 1918 though which is cool. Thanks
Mostly Hoppes spray and oil, lucas solvent for the bore, and boiled linseed oil on the wood. If the wood is really dirty try some murphys oil soap. Brass brushes and 0000 steel wool also helps on the hardened crud.
Nice work. I've got a 1922 Lithgow No.1 Mk3*. I restocked mine about 7 years ago as the original Queensland Maple stock was a bit battered (nothing as bad as yours though) & had been given a clear coat all over (I intend to remove that) by a previous owner. I put on a 1942 Coachwood stock set. She shoots great. I'm in Australia, so parts / stocks are a bit more readily available. The issue I have noticed with Queensland Maple stocks is they really show any marks/dings far more than other wood types. You probably know this, but re-stocking a SMLE can effect their accuracy if some points of receiver & barrel bedding are not correctly positioned (points of contact / gaps / etc) as the barrels are quite light on standard barrel SMLE's & the No1 Mk3 receiver & barrel was designed to have certain points of contact & if any contact outside the designed areas, it can effect accuracy. Thought I'd mention it, in case you were not aware & find your test shots not impacting targets to your liking. If so, the stock fit may just need a tweak / little adjustment.
you need to get some kerosine to harden off the finish after your final boiling and carding, also to drive out any remaining water. I finally broke down and bought the Brownell's stainless tank to boil my actions. I use 2 turkey burners and the tank, first I clean the parts then first boil is 45 min then each additional is 30 mins then after carding they go in kerosine for 24 hours.
I feel sorry for anyone just getting into Milsurp collecting. What I see out there is pure junk. If a rifle doesn't have a good bore and the potential for accuracxy then it's nothing more than a wall hanger or an expensive paddle. Do any of you know what a great bore looks like? From what I've seen, I seriously doubt it.
For god sakes why did you boil the parts then not have them magnesium or hot tank blue, instead you just oil and put them right back in that disgusting stock that’s pure junk, why? Absolutely why? You literally did the same thing in Ethiopia that led to the condition the rifle is in now.
