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My 1917 Enfield

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01 March 2014, 23:26
butchlambert
My 1917 Enfield
This rifle was built by AR members and AR members supplied the parts.

I bought the receiver from one of our members. It had never seen a barrel or other parts. It was bare.John Farner,toomanytools, cobbled together the 3 pos safety from parts as at the time LaPour was redesigning his and had none. John did some nice clean up on the receiver.

Nick Hughes did the final surface grind, the bolt handle work, his custom bolt release, and the great scope bases that shows no screws.

Tommy Kaye did the subtle engraving. He also engraved the quarter rib also.

James Anderson did the quarter rib and iron sights. He engraved the rear leaf blade with his mill, install the very nice Wiebe bottom metal and did the final feed work on the Wiebe follower. James did the wonderful extended tangs from Wiebe. He did a lot of machine work on the factory rear tang to match the extended tang. James did a European style stock. I had the flat checkering done by another craftsman.
We are so lucky to have the true artist here in this USA and also members of this fine forum.
I am very happy with this project.
01 March 2014, 23:32
capoward
Beautiful rifle!


Jim coffee
"Life's hard; it's harder if you're stupid"
John Wayne
01 March 2014, 23:48
Siam_Krag
Absolutely stunning!!
01 March 2014, 23:50
Tommyhawk
Now THAT'S a rifle! Beautiful.
What caliber? Do you have any other pics?
02 March 2014, 00:03
butchlambert
I have no other pics at this time other than a few in progress. I hope to have it in my hands soon. It is a 416 Rigby. We are having a real grey squirrel problem on our property.
02 March 2014, 01:24
craigster
Beautiful, indeed. Nicest custom on an Enfield action I've ever seen.
02 March 2014, 01:54
farbedo
Perfection. Nothing else I can say.

Jeremy
02 March 2014, 02:38
dave wesbrook
Beautiful rifle Butch. Congratulations to both you and James. ...Dave
02 March 2014, 04:12
ab_bentley
Butch,

Are those bases tig'd or are they removable?

Adam


______________________

Ammo, you always need more.
02 March 2014, 04:28
butchlambert
Adam,
The bases are screwed on. I don't know if Nick glued, soldered, or just screwed them on. He did make plugs to cover the heads of the screws.
Pretty clean work isn't it?
02 March 2014, 04:29
steyrsteve
When I saw your heading of "My 1917 Enfield" I thought "yawn, yawn". Man, was I ever wrong. That is truly a beautiful silk purse from a sow's ear. Congrats to your gunsmith for that wonderful transformation. Please keep us posted as you develop loads. As usual on AR, we are vicariously privileged to share other members rifles. In this case it is truly a treat. Thanks for letting us in on your new treasure. Eeker


NRA Life Member
DRSS-Claflin Chapter
Mannlicher Collectors Assn
KCCA
IAA
02 March 2014, 04:56
montea6b
Beautiful work...
02 March 2014, 05:03
Dall85
Stunning! Love the extended tangs.


Jim
02 March 2014, 05:35
jimatcat
Fantastic work!!!....can I see a pic of the quarter rib???.... I need 1 for my rem 30, 505 gibbs...


go big or go home ........

DSC-- Life Member
NRA--Life member
DRSS--9.3x74 r Chapuis
02 March 2014, 05:43
butchlambert
I don't have it in my hands yet. You might contact James Anderson.
02 March 2014, 07:02
Austin Hunter
That is the best Enfield sporter on this planet. I'm going to throw mine away. Unbelievable.


"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
02 March 2014, 08:48
dempsey
Wow, love everything about it. Great photo's as well.


______________________
Always remember you're
unique, just like everyone else.

02 March 2014, 12:59
Rockdoc
What a fine rifle with stunning wood.

So many craftsmen had a hand in making that and the result is impressive.

Congratulations.

Cheers, Chris


DRSS
02 March 2014, 19:18
ab_bentley
Butch,

That's a slick rifle for sure. I was curious if you have any pictures of the other side of the rifle?

Adam


______________________

Ammo, you always need more.
02 March 2014, 19:57
Tsquare2
Butch,

You have exquisite taste in rifles, and exceptional judgement in selecting your artisans.

TT
02 March 2014, 22:03
custombolt
Incredible culmination of artistry on this custom Butch. Seems appropriate to say that no stone was left unturned. Congratulations to all. CB


Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can.
02 March 2014, 22:32
Atkinson
I love the Enfield action for big bores, and use a lot of them for the 404 and larger. There is not better option short of a true magnum Mauser action, but when done right they sure look alike. Nice rifle.


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
02 March 2014, 22:47
srtrax
Nice rifle and nice work from all involved!

Enjoy...


_____________________
Steve Traxson

02 March 2014, 23:37
gasgunner
Hi Butch,
I generally do not post on threads like this as there are just so many fine rifles posted on this site, but I felt I had to make an exception this time. All I can say is WOW, you really knocked it out of the park on this one. Seldom does a build that utilizes so many craftsman end up so well. Says a lot about the planning of the project. Great job.

Only thing I would do different is to send it back to the checkerer and have him finish the checkering. Big Grin

John
03 March 2014, 00:20
WoodHunter
An absolute heart throb.

Post some photos over on 24hourcampfire and show those macswirley guys what a real rifle looks like.

PS, if this is your Gray Squirrel gun I do not want to see the size of your White Tail Deer!
03 March 2014, 04:19
Jungleboy
Butch, that is a beautiful gun in a great caliber!

Really like the long tang, nice touch. Congrats!

Jim
03 March 2014, 06:36
Idaho Sharpshooter
I'd be a notch or two past "happy" if that were mine. I'd be just shy of delirious...
03 March 2014, 07:29
Austin Hunter
Commandment #10: Thou Shall Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Rifle


"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
03 March 2014, 10:50
TC1
I like everything about it. The wood and metal seam perfectly together. One doesn't overpower the other. Truly a classic.

Butch, you hit a home run with this one my friend. Congrats to you and all the fine craftsmen who worked on this masterpiece.

Terry


--------------------------------------------

Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
03 March 2014, 11:38
Wink
Beautiful. Any pics from the bolt handle side?


_________________________________

AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim.
03 March 2014, 19:22
ColoradoMatt
Aside from welding on the tang extensions, What was done to the tang? It looks great. The nicest tang treatment I've ever seen.


Matt
FISH!!

Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:

"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
03 March 2014, 19:34
butchlambert
Matt, If you know a 1917 Enfield you could see all the work James did to make it look smooth and factory.



Wink,
I have no photos of the reverse side at this time. I hope to have the rifle in my hands soon. My photos won't look a good as the ones that James took.
04 March 2014, 01:08
Austin Hunter
What does the rifle weigh?

I know people manufacture new Mauser actions (GMA, Prechtl, etc), but damn, someone needs to make a new Enfield action based on this. I think this beats a Mauser hands down in coolness factor.


"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
04 March 2014, 01:24
butchlambert
I have not a clue as to the weight. I haven't received it yet.
04 March 2014, 01:33
pennfly
That's as nice as an Enfield gets.
04 March 2014, 02:02
Austin Hunter
I bet it comes in around 9 lbs.


"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
05 March 2014, 19:55
Nick Hughes
Butch,

I love it I can't wait to hold it in my hands!

James,

Congrats, I know that was a tough project but as always the result is beautiful! Simply stunning!
05 March 2014, 20:24
butchlambert
Nick,
I was very lucky to have you do your part on the project. James just did a wonderful job finishing the metal work and building a beautiful stock.

Austin, It weighs 9lb. 8oz.
05 March 2014, 21:49
ab_bentley
Butch, is the rib integral to the barrel?

Adam


______________________

Ammo, you always need more.
05 March 2014, 21:58
butchlambert
No sir.