Greetings and Salutations!
Dunno what happened, but I think DiveMedic got things unscrewed. I had no access to the site. So my apologies for tech issues.
Well… A quick recap: A couple of days? ago I got the flu. Like a full on bronchial infection that I picked up when I went to the VA. Missing 1/2 or more of an airbag from the Cancer leaves me wide open to air-based infections, and there were a lot of older guys hacking and wheezing and coughing in the hospital, and well…
Been down for a few days, and still have a nasty hack with nasty ‘stuff’ coming up. Ugh. Grossness. I should be back to 100% shortly. The pain of it is the whole ‘missing airbag’ thing… Shortness of breath in situations like this are real. I’ve done pretty good at adjusting to such things, to the point that I was able to deploy post-op (after the lobectomy) to Afghanistan…
I mean I couldn’t walk very far for a while until I adjusted… the whole “3300 feet above sea level” thing was a pain, with Bagram at “5000 feet above sea level” being even worse… thin assed- air… Maybe a ‘normal person’ wouldn’t have noticed, but missing an airbag? Yeah ‘sucking hind tit’ is real.
So I’m rolling.
Now, as far as current projects?
Well, Reader “ST” found some Enfield ‘stuff’ in his father’s stuff after Dad had passed. Seems Dad was an Enfield guy, so he asked (and I of course accepted) if I wanted a stock he’d found in the back of a closet.
It showed up today. It’s in great shape, but needed a wipe down with some Murphy’s I figured:
So I hit it:
And it’s pretty much pristine!
VERY few dents and/or scratches.
It’s magnificent.
And I also found the manufacturing stamps:
It’s a Canadian MK 1, Mod 4 Canadian Long Branch.
The Arrow inside of the “C”
and the “L/B” combo at the top.
It indicates it’s an original manufacture from 41-45.
New/Old Stock in perfect shape.
Now… how does this factor in?
Well…
The Next Project?
Well… I got a $70 deal on a barreled Lee Enfield MK 1 Mod 2A1 .308 Ishapore rifle. In total, $84 w/shipping to GunGirl’s FFL. Essentially it’s a SMLE except it shoots the .308/7.62mm round.
And to round out the various pieces/parts? $130 on Atlantic Firearms for a “DP” (Drill Purpose rifle, with a ruined chamber/barrel which is for ‘drill’ only) rifle. It has almost 95% parts of an SMLE, with a bad barrel and chamber.
I figure I can strip the DP down, and repurpose the remaining parts, and make a .308/7.62mm Ishapore rifle, and hey, we’ll see what happens. The 2A1 was made in India post-colonial times as a ‘modern caliber’ firing version of the SMLE.
Lots of people have said it’s (the barrel/receiver) is a POS, but what the hell… I’m on an Enfield kick, and why not? I’d rather try firing some .308/7.62mm at $0.20 cents a round as opposed to $1 a round for .303? And using the DP Rifle? The wood alone is worth MORE than $130 once I repurpose it… cleaned up/sanded and oiled?
A set of replacement wood is like almost $300.
Add on the “fiddly-bits”?
Yeah.
Looks like (provided everything goes smoothly) that I’ll be building a 2A1 for about $300+/- invested (the mag is the $$$ at $80 w/S&H) and then see who may or may not want it?
Also, the Curio and Relic license paperwork is done. I’m planning on doing this almost full time if I can. If not full time, at least time enough to make some side cash.
So…
Hope your weekend went like well.
More Later
Big Country
Dammit Big! Up till now I have done a good job of resisting the urge to add anything else to the collection. But a .308 smelly? When I already have ammo for it?
You’re killing me man!
BTW that stock came out beautiful.
i don’t have a rifle or the ammo, but I’m willing to think about splurging on BCE’s build if it all comes out well.
I have a few other common calibers, but not .308…….yet.
But i won’t be upset if I’m outbid. I know my financial limits.
To quote RAH, “Patience is.”
Awesome news. You have put out some real nice rigs. It’s good you are turning it into a side job.
Almost makes me want to get a C&R again. I had one back about 15-20 years ago. It was great but I ended up buying stuff I didn’t need and only kinda wanted and it was just because it was cheap.
Glad you are back and on the mend, BC.
I’ve a 2A as well having picked it up several years back. My research found it had a thicker receiver to handle the .308. The Indians needed to rearm quick after one of their many border clashes with China and didnt have luxury of time for R&D. So they picked a proven platform and upgraded it. The aluminum butt plate is rough on the shoulder for sure.
I’d like to know where there’s .308/7.62×51 for $0.20/rd, best I can find is around $0.75…
Toxicavenger: Geez. And that’s before California’s glorious 10% additional theft.
Can’t beat 0.20/rd but try American Marksmen @ 0.66/rd.
https://www.theamericanmarksman.com/7.62-nato-308-win-ammo.html
Used to have a 2A. Apparently, the extractor was never redesigned to work with the 7.62 NATO cartridge, so I always had trouble ejecting brass after firing. Not sure if this was a widespread thing or if the one I had just sucked.
Fit and finish were terrible, pretty standard for anything made in India.
Seems the 7.62 “NATO” Indian version was loaded to a lower pressure.
https://www.ssusa.org/content/feeding-the-ishy-low-pressure-7-62-mm-nato-for-india-s-enfield/
I also used to have an Ishapore 7.62 and had issues with the bolt being hard to operate. I thought I had a lemon. Seems the 308 and real 7.61 NATO is too much cartridge for it.
It was a Stopgap weapon after all.
Pity as I’ve always liked the Enfield rifle but 303 is expensive.
Dropped my C&R years ago when the bastard went from 40/yr to 200 (or higher). Back then that was real money, have not looked into what current scratch is. Keep us posted on the process and cost.
Raising an eyebrow… BCE re-furbished antique lead-slinger (hopefully you get a proof stamp). Said before I’d be interested (others too). Now I might have to start another “toy” savings fund.
Man, you got bit bigtime by the Enfield bug!
That pic of the mfg. stamps looks like me sitting in front of the keyboard with my britches down. Why y’all gotta be so nasty?
I know you must go to the VA for stuff, but man, you should also know that SICK PEOPLE congregate at such places. Load up on the immune system boosters before you go.
I used to work at a hospital ‘long ago’ and that was the sickest period I have ever had to deal with. The bugs run rampant in such places.
i remember when i was building and fixing shooters.
you get bit by the gunbug and wham..
you’re still not eating ivermectin every day like moi?
i haven’t been sick since the bioweapon was all the rage in ’20
lessons learned……
just when you think things can’t get more fucked-up the MIT type crowd throws this shit out there *********
Y2Q: The Quantum Apocalypse
https://substack.com/home/post/p-159728186
You’re such a little ray of sunshine tfA-t.
you have to keep up with things. it moves real fast out there- don’t let yourself get eaten
“In the new world, it’s not the big fish which eats the small fish, it’s the FAST FISH which eats the SLOW FISH”
klaus schwab founder WEF
Like they say on the plains of africa- “It doesn’t matter if you are the predator or the prey. When the sun comes up you’d better be hauling ass.”
That sounds like an awesome project!
Hey BCE, fam member had a lobectomy of 2/3 of one airbag from LC (used to smoke 2 packs a day back in the good ol days on smoking 40s-70s) and when he got older he also would get really sick to the point of having to go to the ER once a winter for shortness of breath during a bad flu/cold. He started taking the flu shot before winter and that cleared it up (this was 30 yrs ago, so pre gene based fuckery with shots). On the downside, I think its part of, if not fully what gave him Alzheimer later on, so not the trade off I’d make, but we didnt know then what we know now about shots. As for Canadian parts on a Lee Enfield, reminds me of the history books up there when in WW1 we got a bunch of crappy ones from the You-Kay is Gay, would pawn their less than primo stuff on their commonwealth little kids. Take Carex
Hey since Divemedic is too pussy to post replies that go against his narrative of crying like a bitch about bs let’s see if you will post it.
Did the idiot even read the article he posted about the liars? The fucking guy admitted to it. Sorry that went against his retarded theory. What happened to the bloggers since covid? All you motherfuckers are in bed together protecting each other from scrutiny. Posting what keeps the donations coming in and the support underneath you for all the retarded theories you guys spout. Divemedic used to post some good shit then he went full retarded landlord and now he’s just a whining bitch. Aeslop anyone? Btw where is that retarded faggot and his russia russia russia bs? That’s right he’s blocking and censoring everyone too and posting shitty memes and crappy sunday boomer music. Crying about censorship on every social media but doing it themselves. Can’t make the shit up anymore.
You’ve all become a bunch of whining grifters for clicks and donations. Catering to retarded judeo christian boomer cucks. It’s fucking disgusting.
I’ll be surprised if this even gets posted.
Hey Hedge!
I generally poast all your comments, provided you don’t get personal or OVERLY asshole-ish. As far as donations? Hey, DM as far as I know has NEVER asked for a cent. Me? All my $$$ (hopefully) are in the rear-view and I’m able to stand on my own. My clicks as you say? I went from 75-80k daily, and am down, sitting at about 40k a day, so at least I still have a core audience.
Including YOU apparently.
Seriously. No idea why it blows so much steam up your tailpipe man… for the most part this thing, for me leastways is a way to vent about shit that bugs the fuck out of me, that IF I did it at Sapper and Gretchen, they’d eventually cut my throat and feed my corpse to the gators. And as far as “Grifting”? Maaan, I wish I could grift. It’s not in me. Support when asked for, freely given? Much appreciated. In fact I try to reciprocate as best I can when I can. I have NOTHING but gratitude for those who’ve been kind enough to assist.
As far as others? Aesop? Got no axe to grind. My own POV w/him is he’s a product of his g-g-g-generation where the Rooskies = Bad and nothing is going to change his mind, and I’m cool with that. Retarded theories? Well… I do have a few… but most of them don’t involve reptilians from the Oort Cloud or whatnot, (which is lame IMO) but there’s faaar too much out there to continually invest my time in negativity and shytte. Hence the mostly-concentrated weapons oriented poasts as of late.
EVERYONE out there I would thin at this point is tired AF of poly-ticks.
I sure as hell know I am…
Hey BCE – this dropbox link is for 2 photos of my Enfield. I bought it about 30 years ago and it is interesting – it’s a No. 1 Mk III Australian Lithgow. It was remanufactured by Lithgow using the best furniture and parts from a huge amount of surplus. So… the serial numbers do not match but it is essentially new. The leather thingy on the stock is cool too and the sling is period correct for WW1 – even though this is a 1943 original. The Aussies did not go to the No.4 until much later than the Brits. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/8o5v7yi79giz0mkyjj6rt/AFC-qtAsJgQGcmwtKpIt5SU?rlkey=r2qrnzdnf2vezyoyrrkbbfuha&dl=0
Oh that’s PURTY!
MAD Cool! Thanks for sharing man!
How can I help support BCE?
Just when I think I can’t get anymore disgusted with the Ukie Way of War some schmuck drops intel that let’s me know what Bandera was all about.
https://kiwifarms.st/threads/russian-special-military-operation-in-the-ukraine.150029/page-2080
Bottom of the page gives a story, maybe maybe not. Next page has uploads of dead kids with VERY pissed off Ivans narrating. Apparently the lid is being kept on for Reasons, but it would seem that old people being found bound and murdered in Kursk basements is just the tip of the iceberg. Doing this kind of butchery on a pissed of nation with nukes was done once before as I recall. What’s the Ukie word for Hiroshima?
Martyanov dropped a vid from Telegram sources of the kids in body bags. That was bad enough, as the other vid of them B4… Yeah. Don’t think Ivan was taking many prisoners after that incident. Much more of this shit and Keeev is going to be a glassed over parking lot. Most assuredly Z-man is going to get the full Vlad treatment, along with more than a few of his cronies. That’s Vlad Tepes, not Putin
“… the whole ‘3300 feet above sea level’ thing was a pain, with Bagram at ‘5000 feet above sea level’ being even worse …”
Yeah, can feel it here, had to leave Wyoming because of a tropical parasite I’d picked up in my travels.
By the time The Rona came around, I’d healed up from that, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t cause for concern.
In addition to tfa-t’s suggestion for keeping ivermectin on hand, having some mebendazole on hand to drive out lung nasties could be an actual lifesaver.
Breathing really is easier in Florida, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stay prepared.