The New Rifle On Deck and Minion Wanted

Greetings and Salutations!
Gun Addiction: It’s Real.
My name is Big Country, and I’m a gun addict…
Yep.
I went down today to drop off the paperwork for Lee Enfield Number 3 for the restoration/raffle project(s) that I’ve been doing. I unfortunately got delayed in doing so via a V.A. follow up appointment, and then add on the ‘usual Friday Commute Hijinks’ that ensued. As I was going into the V.A. up towards Big Bend, there were a huge number of fire trucks, police, ambulances… you name it all seemingly converging on the V.A. itself.

I got in just in time for my appointment, and it seems the fire as it was, was at the Self-Storage place next door to it. By the time I got out of the car and started hiking across the parking lot, MORE fire trucks and whatnot were coming in, as well as News Helos and the Sheriff’s Helo for good measure. Big billowing clouds of black smoke, so yep, a for-real fire and not a bad electrical false alarm.

By the time I got done 40 minutes later, the smoke was no longer billowing, although there was that acrid ‘smell’ of a fire in the air… not the ‘nice’ fire either but that chemical-melted plastic stank fire…

And 301 was a full-on fucking Parking Lot.

So much for ‘quick errands.’

Because of this, and the fact that due to my previous ‘legal entanglements’ the background check hadn’t cleared by the time Gun Girl was closing up shop. Guess I’ll get it tomorrow.

I did get to look it over however.

It’s a 1942 No 4, Mk 1 Long Branch.

It too is in exceptionally cruddy condition. Like caked with crap. The serial number on the bolt, as far as I could see, does not match, and the magazine has no serial number on it at all. There isn’t a lot of rust, but like I said, it IS crapped up pretty heavily.

The rear stock (which I forgot to take more pics of the thing dammit) is also about a 1/2 shorter when placed side by side with the one I worked on before, the BSA Matched Numbers rifle. I think at -some point- in Ethernopeian, some Starvin’ Marvin shortened the stock to fit his underfed frame. Whoever did it, well as of now it looks like they did a decent job on it. I realized this when I set both the refurb next to the new ‘rifle on deck’ so to speak as I brought in the refinished one to show off to Gun Girl per her request. Plus I will admit, I also do enjoy the accolades of the old timers who hang out in the shop on the regular.

Seems I’m gaining a reputation among the gunnies in the A.O. as being the go-to guy for these sorts of restorations, and GG also told me that one of the customers was asking if I’d sell the SMLE and to set my price.

Hmmmn.
This may bear looking at as a full time side-hustle methinks.
It’s convincing Gretchen that’s going to be the bitch.
Finding and tripping over weapons and piece-parts and fiddly-bits is de facto a part of The BCE Casa. I mean the look on Sapper’s face when he went to empty the dishwasher and found the stock parts from the Lee Enfield in it was epic. He then grumbled something along the lines of “Rifle parts in the dishwasher? Of course! Why not? Only in this house…” and finished removing the pieces-parts as well as the dishes that went through the cycle…

Oh yes, also speaking of The Sapper…
Give him some congrats and kudos for finishing up his job with the Unnamed Fuel Company that he’s been with for the past 4 years. He gave his two week notice two weeks ago (duh!) and finished today. The job was a stone-plated bitch, but he gutted it out. His reason for resigning is he’s prepping to leave this battle-space, and head back to the MidWest to be by HIS Grand, MiniMegaMind.

3M as I call him ‘cos as the kid has a HUGE squash and the brainpower behind it. He’s about 6 months younger than the Redhead, and when they (3M and Sapper’s Boy) come to visit, 3M and the Redheaded Nook get along like gangbusters.

Fuck.
I’m losing my right arm man…
Happy for him, but just…. fuck.

I mean it’s not like a forever Adios.
But still, he’s been my stronk Right Arm/Gray Man/Hitman for nigh on 9 years now… this’s going to take some adjusting to.

Maybe run an Ad?

“Minion Wanted: Morals Optional, Bloodthirsty a plus. Odd hours. Must be able to lift a male body (200+/- lbs) and carry at least 100 meters. Must be proficient with small arms and a shovel. Prior DotMil experience a plus.”

Something to that effect.

So that’s what got for tonight. We have to get the Redhead in the A.M. and head out for the Ren-Faire which is her first time for this… got me a hunch the experience is going to overload her, but hey, what the Hell. Pics and stories to follow.

How about you?
What you got planned for the weekend?
More Later
Big Country

34 thoughts on “The New Rifle On Deck and Minion Wanted”

  1. FEED your addiction, I will mine. 2 day online only gun auction. BrandUsedWorks auction house in southern Colorado. I have no idea how to link it. Not to smart with these machines. Buy online and send them your gun girl info and presto addiction satisfied.

  2. Even though El Jefa is rescinding EOs aimed at the dreaded ATF, you need to watch how you do this, as you turn too many around and or post on it as a side hustle. you will get caught up for either selling or gunsmithing with out the OFFICIAL paper to do so. Saw a few reports on this last year about this kind of thing. This is not a new play for them. Talk to gun girl about the papers, so she doesn’t lose a customer.

    1. Good advice.

      Maybe since Gun Girl has the FFL and necessary paperwork, SHE is officially buying and selling the guns and could have you as a contract gunsmith ?
      Have to double check with the legal side but that might work.

    2. Any gun that comes in for repair, overnight or longer has to be run thru an FFL.
      Not keeping a repair log will get you busted, as well as not having an FFL.
      I had FFL and Class3 many decades ago, not worth the hassle these days, either go big or go broke. Open up a big manufacturing plant or forget the piddly little shit.

      1. Word. I believe time and money is better spent looking for private-party sales in the local Penny Saver. Here in the Gem State, private-party sales of firearms between Idaho residents are lawful. A friend of mine recently picked up well-maintained Ishapore Enfield (7.62X51). Personally, I would be leery of Milsurps for the simple reason of ammo. Unless you reload, your search for cartridges is going to be an expensive Easter Egg Hunt.
        I hope all is well with you Semper Fi, 0321. I’m still battling the Hagadone Cabal and their useful idiots here in Kootenai County. Bleib ubrig, mein freund.

  3. If memory serves, the SMLE had different stock lengths since the buttstock was removable.
    Could be wrong though!

    1. Might be! There’s ‘other anomalies’ on it that I’ll be going in-depth on as well…

    3. Correct.
      There were 4 sizes; Bantam, Short, Regular and Long on the SMLE. The No. 4’s were Short, Regular and Long.
      You will find the size letter S, R, L on TOP of the stock just in front of the buttplate tang.

      1. Correction;
        Normal, not Regular. The Normal were usually unmarked. They came in 1/2″ increments.

  4. Minion. Hmm. Too bad I don’t live closer. About the only box I can’t check at my age is the carry at least 100 meters. Then again, they sell some big ass wheel barrows at the box stores.

    We will be baby sitting our grand, Logan (who just turned four) tomorrow starting at 07:45. Sunday will be spent recuperating.

  5. If I wasn’t already committed with work and other engagements in Sin City I may seriously consider it.
    Not DotMil background, but 18+ years experience in IT and 8+ in EMS.

    Not a lot going on, just catching up on honey-dew stuff at home, then back to work Sunday.

  6. We use the dishwasher for food storage.
    Curios and relics could be the workaround for paperwork?
    No one needs to know about your side hustle.
    Over a 1ooo miles away in red state and no mil experience.
    Pappy was a lifer and he talked me out of signing up as a young man.

    1. Good chance he got the clot/VAIDs jab. Couldn’t have happened to a more appropriate guy.

  8. More off topic. This might inspire a cease fire.
    CFP headline: “Zelensky surrenders to Trump and will sign rare earth mineral deal within hours.”

    1. Rumor is there are no rare earth minerals in Ukraine. Zelensky could be trying to play Trump.

      They do have (or had) oil fields, though.

      1. Ukraine DOES have a bunch of rare Earth minerals but they are in the Eastern half of the country where the Russian Army is right now and territory that most likely will end up being part of the Russian Federation soon.
        That said, Trump could negotiate the mineral rights with Putin as well and come to a deal.

  11. “Hi, My name is Duke, and I’m an addict.” I know the feeling well. My wife just rolls her eyes every time I head over to my FFL buddy’s house. “ANOTHER GUN?!” lol

    I would be your Renfield, or Huckleberry, or Gunga Din’t, if I wasn’t on exactly the opposite side of the continent from FL, but I’m sure you will have no shortage of applicants. I will just have to settle for living vicariously through your exploits, so thanks for that.

  12. Hey BCE, the brits issued the No4 with three different buttstock lengths. You probably have one long one and one short stock if you see that much difference. The best No4’s are the MKII with the upgraded trigger that originated on the post war sniper versions (the trigger is attached to the receiver on the Mk2, not the stock). DOL (you probably know what that stands for :>)

  13. Few years back a co-worker retired to Tennessee, we pitched in and sent him off with a Lancaster (or Bucks)County long rifle build yourself kit. Been wanting to try my hand at a build since then. The maple stock was an unfinished work of art. They were spendy then, haven’t priced them recently. You just might inspire me.

  14. Maybe you could set up a non-profit foundation for the restoration of wayward rifles, or work under the umbrella of a firearms museum. You are preserving history. You might be able to get around certain ATF regulations if your work is for research and historical preservation, in the interest of edumacation. After all, it’s not as if the drug cartels, gangs and other criminal elements are big buyers of historically significant firearms that may or may not blow up upon shooting.

  16. Akchshyuallyy came by here to see if your caps lock key had returned from being AWOL after 1 February …

    So disappointed! 🙂

  17. Fair winds and following seas to Sapper. Finding a new roomie is going to be a real challenge, especially in Florida, due to Florida Man Syndrome. How about a silent auction for the rifle? That would probably bring in the most $.

  18. Love what you’re doing with the milsurp restorations. Ive wanted to do that myself but too much of a risk in getting a decent shooter from RTI or Hunters Lodge type dealers. I’m currently well into building a Kentucky rifle from scratch, not a kit. Start with a bandsawn piece of wood and the raw parts. If you want a fun project that will seriously challenge your skills and patience, that will do it.

    1. What are you building now?
      I worked for Green River Rifle Works and Oregon Trail Riflesmiths, built a lot of plains rifles in the late 1970-1980’s, then went into the earlier eastern rifles.
      My last one was a 1750’s Virginia rifle. Waited 2 yrs just for the .60×48 swamped oct-round Getz bbl.

  19. DUDE, you SHOULD still have my contact shit. Please pass it along to Sapper when he lets ya know which part of the Mid-West he’s headed to.
    It never hurts to have someone in the neighborhood.

    Night Driver

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