Repairing a SMLE No.1 MKIII cracked stock

[fishduck]

I need some help. I have inherited a SMLE No.1 MKIII. During cleaning and inspection the wood was so dry the stock cracked. I would like to repair it. I have all the pieces. Would repair with a standard wood glue bring this back to firing condition?

Is there anything safety wise I should be concerned about with this repair and reassembly?

Here are some photos with each piece being placed in its correct spot.

http://imgur.com/a/GKPbO

[Sashi]

Clean it out good and use epoxy.

[mgvande]

Never remove the but before the fore stock. Tell your friends. On that note. I use epoxy glue from west systems. Wood glue should work. Every no1 I bought has a damaged forstock.

[Grizzly Adams]

Every no1 I bought has a damaged forstock.

Even has a name, the infamous LE stock split.

Grizz

[mgvande]

I can see how it happens though. Pretty crazy design with the square bolt.
It's a sporterized stock, you can buy one cheap from Numrich is things don't work out. I may even have one that is in better condition.

[fishduck]

Originally Posted by mgvande

I can see how it happens though. Pretty crazy design with the square bolt.
It's a sporterized stock, you can buy one cheap from Numrich is things don't work out. I may even have one that is in better condition.

I made the mistake of following this video I guess which removes the butt first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V753x_5Mol4

[mgvande]

That video leaves a lot to be desired. I will check my stuff I will pm you if I have a stock. Yours could be a lot of work. Probably needs extra support with dowels which means a lot of work. When you suck down the action you my split again down the road

[Grizzly Adams]

Probably find a replacement, real easy, at a gun show, no muss, no fuss, no bother.

Grizz

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by Sashi

Clean it out good and use epoxy.

This, if the crack isnt in a visible place I bevel it with a dremel and mix the epoxy a little thin to give it time to soak into the crack before it starts to set.

[mgvande]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

This, if the crack isnt in a visible place I bevel it with a dremel and mix the epoxy a little thin to give it time to soak into the crack before it starts to set.

I think it is very visible

[hairygrump]

That crack is normal in Enfield stocks. I've seen several that had a brass pin inserted at that point to reinforce them. Assuming the wood isn't too contaminated with oil for epoxy to adhere to it, carefully drill a small hole thru the stock where it's cracked, insert a small piece of dowel to strengthen it, a and glue it. Should hold for another 100 years.

[mgvande]

Is anyone looking at the pics?

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by mgvande

Is anyone looking at the pics?

I did and I think the others are too. The pin is one way to fix it along with using white wood glue to glue the rest of the pieces back in place. The other is to get a new wood fore-stock from the guys at Alberta Gunstocks in New Norway. They specialise in stocks for old military weapons and will easily have one for your 303. The repair should hold fine but a new piece of wood will probably lock better, the one you have looks pretty dry rotted.

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by mgvande

Is anyone looking at the pics?

I did, and I have fixed a lot worse cracks then that in more critical places, and they have all held.

I got my 30-06 because someone had hit his buddy upside the head with the butt stock and cracked it badly. So badly he even bent the end of the receiver.

I straightened the receiver, pinned and glued the stock with epoxy and still use that rifle, with that stock, as my go to big game rifle.
I've owned it for over thirty years now.

[mgvande]

It's actually the most critical area. His draws are totally broke out. For a sporterized stock it's more of a project to do for fun to see if you can get it back in service.. 20 or 30 dollars will replace that stock. I actually offered the op a stock for shipping but he never got back to me.