In order to relieve some of the winter blahs, I would like to submit photos of last winter’s project.
This is my bubba’d Enfield, so that makes me Bubba.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
It’s an Ishapore No.1 Mk3* made in 1963. It used to be ugly as sin, with a coat of brushed on black paint on all the metal and very dark, oily wood that was way oversized. I’ve never really considered the Ishapore Enfield to be historically very significant and in a way just a copy of a “real” Lee-Enfield. I got this as a Christmas present from my father-in law. After looking at it for a few weeks and shooting it a little (it has a like new barrel and shoots very well) I decided to make a project out of it. After completely disassembling the rifle and removing the black paint, I discovered all the metal parts are like new, possibly unissued condition, and had a pretty nice green parkerized finish. That’s when I decided to make a more field ready rifle out of it, a little more in the flavor of a No. 5 jungle carbine without the flash suppressor and ugly butt plate. So I cut the barrel back six inches, mounted a No. 4 front sight assembly, did away with the standard rear sight, and installed a No. 4 handguard, then cut the fore end back to match the handguard. The entire stock was slimmed down to better match the metal, dents steamed out, and generally de-oiled. I also fabbed a new steel butt plate to replace the original heavy brass one. The stock was then rubbed down with boiled linseed oil, and is actually quite attractive now (the wood is teak by the way, which ended up being a very good match for the walnut handguard). I had a Williams 5D laying around that I modified at fit to the right side of the receiver.
I’m very pleased with the results and don’t regret it for a second. I believe this would have made a much better handling battle rifle, and makes a great all around hunting rifle now. It currently shoots minute of apple at 75 yards with no further tuning, but does show signs of vertical stringing as the barrel heats up. Let me know what you think!