Cracked Ishapore Enfield Stock, and a Sporterizing Project

[Adventurer_96]

Here's two Enfield problems rolled into one thread.

I've had the Ishapore rifle for a little over a year and I think I fired 50 rounds through it total. Today I went to the range and fired about 10 or so, and after the last shot I got a splinter in my hand as I lifted the rifle. Turns out, a piece of the stock has cracked and could just be pulled off from the side if I were in a destructive mood. Anyway, the best I can figure is that there was a weak point which was made weaker by expansion of some packing grease which I guess I didn't clean out all the way.

So, here I am with a neat old Ishapore rifle that I can still shoot at risk of splintering the whole stock. Here goes with the questions:

Could I get this stock repaired at a gunsmith? I'd like to keep it "as-is," but if I have to I'd buy a replacement piece of wood for it. Suggestions?

I've got my other Enfield that I wanted to sporterize, here's the markings:

G.R
B.S.A. Co (Birmingham Small Arms Co. I assume?)
1916
SHT LE
III

I'm not sure, could someone tell me the model of this rifle? I bought it with the intent of fixing it up not knowing a thing about Enfields. I think it would end up as a neat sporter with a new stock, but I need advice on identifying the rifle before buying a new stock for it.

Thanks again.


Check Six

 

[Gewehr98]

If that 1916 BSA No1MkIII has good metal (uncut), why not restore it?

I've restored two No1MkIII's, one No4Mk1, and one No5Mk1 that had been neglected. There aren't a whole lot of WW1-vintage SMLE's out there these days, especially ones that haven't been "Bubba-ized", a term military rifle collectors bestow on those who would ruin a gun that would be better off in it's original military configuration. Now, if that SMLE has the barrel already bobbed off, or the charger bridge ground off, then have at it. If it's just got bad wood, that can be replaced easily. But, just like Mausers, Krags, and Springfields, tons have been cut down as a sort of sporting improvement, much to the chagrine of those of us who delight in restoring them back to their as-issued glory.

As for your Ishapore splitting it's stock, there's a good thread going on about this very problem over at the gunandknife.com Lee-Enfield forums. The cause of the problem has a pretty easy fix, but if the stock has already split, you have a 50-50 chance of it ever staying together after you glue it, unless you fix the underlying problem that caused it to split in the first place. Head over there and read up, it was eye-opening!

If you want some help in the restoration of that 1916 No1MkIII SMLE, email me and I'll point out all the sources and techniques.