A different looking Smelly

[Bjornb]

Picked up this SMLE rifle recently, paid very little money. The barrel is stamped Santa Fe Model 1944, and the entire top of the receiver (charger bridge and mil.sights)have been milled off somehow. I was able to find some info online, on the University of Idaho's website:http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/stratton/SantaFeRifles.htm
It states the following:

The Model 1944 exhibits the barrel and receiver gunsmithing of the 1941 Supreme but is fitted with sporterized military furniture. The receiver has the charger bridge and rear sight bracket milled off, and the barrel is lathe-turned. All metal re-finished with a high luster blue. Sights are Williams-type ramp front and folding leaf rear. The buttstock is military but is fitted with a "Santa Fe" red rubber recoil pad. The fore-end is shortened and has the tip painted black to simulate a contrasting fore-end tip. Overall length is 40 inches, and the barrel is 22 inches long. One Model 1944 was reported as having commercial sporter furniture, however.

I picked up one of NOE's GB moulds, the 314299, and I'll give it a try with a medium load before I go crazy with load development. The bore is shiny with strong rifling, doesn't look like the gun has been fired much. Just thought I'd share some pics.

[Andrew Mason]

I think that is a beautiful rifle

I have several enfields that I plan on cleaning up and slicking up like this,
some will be rechambered, some will remain a .303 britt

[nekshot]

I have a santa fe that was almost identical to yours, I turned it into a one piece stock rifle and boy does it shoot jacket bullets or what. Can't say the same for cast, obviously it is smarter than me. If you like yours as much as I like mine we are in hog heaven. I would buy another santa fe with that turned barrel and sights in a heart beat.
nekshot

[Bjornb]

Gotta research the one piece stock thing. That sounds cool.

Nekshot: just found your pics from last December. Very cool stock; too bad it's a one-off.

[EMC45]

I have one similar to that that was sported in England.

[TheGrimReaper]

I like it, slick looking really.

[Dead Dog Jack]

I think that is a beautiful rifle

I have several enfields that I plan on cleaning up and slicking up like this,
some will be rechambered, some will remain a .303 britt

Andrew, Hopefully the Enfields you are going to modify aren't any of the more collectible ones. Are they typical No. 4 models? Or Mk IIIs?

[Andrew Mason]

They are No 4s

All the ones that I have for modification, are allready sporterized to begin with

I do have a all original no4 that is is prestine condition,
And that baby is staying that way

[quasi]

I have always thought these are the nicest sporterized #4s. This was done by Churchill in Britan.

[nekshot]

that is a nice sporter, kinda makes me want to do another one and leave it in 2pc stock. Wish I could get factory 5 round clips for these guns. Only ever saw one and the guy wanted too much for the gun. I guess he thought you buy the clip and the gun comes with it!

[Multigunner]

I like the two piece stock because you can remove the butt stock and store the rifle in a shorter case for traveling or storage.
The original SMLE butt stock screw has a square tip that a metal plate at the rear of the fore end slides over. You can't take the butt stock off the old style SMLE/No.1 without first removing the fore arm.
The No.4 stock bolt does not have the squared extension, you can remove the butt with fore end in place.
Some later production No.1 rifle stock sets have a fore end with the cross strap of the No.4, these do not use the old style stock bolt so these can be removed with fore end in place.

[quasi]

Gun Parts Corp. used to sell 5 shot #4 magazines, I am not sure if they still do.

[Artful]

Nice looking variant