This weekend I took a trip down to Nashville, and checked out the gun show with some buddies. I was looking for either a new concealed carry pistol, or a nice Mosin-Nagant. My soon to be ex-wife is taking my old pistol, since we originally bought it for her anyway. As for the Nagant I like old bolt action rifles, particularly Allied rifles from WWII. Compared to what I carry in the Army today, some of these old rifles are absolutely primitive. On the other hand, it is awe-inspiring that our grandfathers were storming beaches and fighting for their lives with these weapons. They're the assault rifles of their generation, but even the most paranoid of anti-gun people would look at a wood-stock, iron sight, bolt-action rifle in this day and age, and classify it as an "assault rifle".
Anyway, enough politics, the gun show had both the guns I was looking for, but something unexpected caught my eye. A Lee-Enfield No. 4 MK I in rough shape. I have a soft spot in my heart for Lee-Enfields, even after experiencing the wrong end of a few in Afghanistan. In fact those experiences are what really got me interested in them. These bolt action rifles have been in service for almost a century, and they are still formidable battle rifles. I picked up one made in India after my last deployment and restored it pretty well for my first time. This new one is going to get the same, if not better, treatment. I'll start by tearing it all down, then the wood will get a bath in TSP to strip out all the grime and packing grease. The metal parts will all get oiled, and any rust will get scrubbed off. Once the wood has soaked, I let it dry, and rub it with fine steel wool to make it smoother. Then the wood gets refinished by rubbing it down with tung oil. This rifle should come out looking great.
Its funny how you can go in expecting to get something, and then come away with something that is even better.
I took it to the range today, and it shot okay. It is accurate enough for my current uses, but it is making the rounds tumble in flight. Some research suggests that this might be because of the shape of the bullet I am shooting. Otherwise it is an issue with the barrel. One is an easy fix, the other is less so. Still fun times shooting both Enfields, and my other guns.