Removing metal finish SMLE

The Accurate Reloading Forums

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9411043/m/4821062242

28 May 2018, 08:02

Rolland

Removing metal finish SMLE

Can anyone recommend a product to remove the finish the brits use on their Enfields? I have got the number 4 rebarreled but would like to finish the action with the same blue as the barrel. It looks like parkerizing. I tried Brownells Steel White but it won't touch it.

28 May 2018, 18:06

slivers

Draw filing with a mill bastard will work, as will wet & dry paper wrapped around a sanding block.

28 May 2018, 18:44

dpcd

You have a Number 4, not a Mark 4.
Most of them are blued, many are painted, and some are parkerized. You can blue over the parkerizing. If it is gray and sand blasted, it is.
You can't file all over the receiver; too many nooks and crannies. I would abrasive blast it, or if it is a uniform finish, blue over it. Or as started, use abrasive paper on it. Many ways to do it. Use a belt sander for the areas you can reach.

29 May 2018, 01:59

Rolland

quote:
posted 28 May 2018 18:44 Hide Post
You have a Number 4, not a Mark 4.

dpcd I knew that

It looks like parkerizing . Forgot to add its a Longbranch if that makes any difference. I can never get the marks and numbers straight

29 May 2018, 08:16

dpcd

Long Branch #4s are blued, originally.
You can blue over parkerizing as is.

29 May 2018, 08:27

Bobster

I'd recommend a 10 minute boil/steam, wire brush, de-grease and rust blue over all. British Formula. It will all blend together.

www.rustblue.com

29 May 2018, 14:30

Thomas Smith

I Bead blast and hot blue them. Most No4Mk1's were hot blued from the factory, later No4Mk2's were phosphated and painted in Suncorite paint. Also many were treated like this in FTR (Factory Thorough Refurbish) programs after 1945

29 May 2018, 19:41

dpcd

Yes, do what Bobster said. With his blue solution.

30 May 2018, 02:10

Rolland

Bobster
I will give your recommendation a try. I don't hot blue anymore so a steam bath sounds like a good solution.
Thanks

31 May 2018, 03:40

enfieldspares

Why? The gun is what it is. It won't be original. Let it be as it is.

If it is a Lend Lease rather than a pre-Lend Lease Savage (or a Long Branch) it'll look wrong if it is blued. From memory...long time since I've been around any sort of Enfield as these were phosphated. In fact I've seen some of these North American rifles, U.S. Property marked, made by Savage, that were almost green. If it is a BSA or Fazackerley made No4 it'll be chemically blacked I'd think.

I haven't handled an Enfield, any sort, for near ten years plus now.

31 May 2018, 04:09

dpcd

Long Branch are blued. His was refinished at some point in phosphate. He can't hurt it if he wants blue. It isn't original now.

31 May 2018, 07:24

Rolland

Just for information it was not in original condition it had been cut down. I salvaged the receiver for a rebarrel. Yes it has a phosphate finish but will try the rust blue and see how that goes.

02 June 2018, 01:51

MyNameIsEarl

quote:
Originally posted by enfieldspares:
Why? The gun is what it is. It won't be original. Let it be as it is.

If it is a Lend Lease rather than a pre-Lend Lease Savage (or a Long Branch) it'll look wrong if it is blued. From memory...long time since I've been around any sort of Enfield as these were phosphated. In fact I've seen some of these North American rifles, U.S. Property marked, made by Savage, that were almost green. If it is a BSA or Fazackerley made No4 it'll be chemically blacked I'd think.

I haven't handled an Enfield, any sort, for near ten years plus now.

He is making it into a 45-70

02 June 2018, 02:14

enfieldspares

Aha. Do you think it will feed? I think there are Brit versions of a blown out .303 cartridge that might work better? Some sort of .375" from memory? The .375 Nitro Express. 270 grain bullet at 1,900 fps. Better than a standard pressure losded .45-70 and probably feed better too? It was what it was designed for...

02 June 2018, 02:57

Rolland

quote:
Originally posted by enfieldspares:
Aha. Do you think it will feed? I think there are Brit versions of a blown out .303 cartridge that might work better? Some sort of .375" from memory? The .375 Nitro Express. 270 grain bullet at 1,900 fps. Better than a standard pressure losded .45-70 and probably feed better too? It was what it was designed for...

It will feed perfectly the only hitch is getting the magazine feed lips right so the cartridge will come out at the correct angle I have turned the case rim to .550 from as I remember off the top of my head .605 on the 45-70. This is the third one I have made and all shoot great. I don't cut up original guns just those that have been sporterized and are not worth rebuilding back.