I`ve recently procured an Enfield MH 1874 MkII, converted to ME 303, 1901, ACII condition.

Heavily buba sported but retaining all but the nose cap stocking bits.

  My plan is to re-stock it in home brew Walnut as close to original military spec as humanly possible.

As it`s still in the mail, I`ll post a picture when it arrives around end of January. Pictures won`t be the greatest; I need a new phone, bought a rifle instead, priorities don`t ya know....

  In the mean time I`ll be looking for some suitable wood and try to find a set of sling swivels.

This should keep me out of trouble for a while......

   for now

Looking forward to progress.

Went to a gun show this morning, lot o fun lots of cool stuff.

I got a Mole manufactured P1889 bayonet broad arrow over crown B 36,

other side mole over 5.01 (May 1901?). Two rivet, scales excellent and what looks like a double struck N(Naval?) And a struck out 82, no scabbard. It`ll look good on the Martini.

Also found front and rear swivels. Was also looking for wood work but there was none.

 Found a reproduction stock set, so I`m going to go that route. Its a Martini Henry set so I`ll be trimming it to suite. Should be here next week.

Rifle arrived I was  today, a little apprehensive, as it was sort of a sight unseen purchase, stupid I know but..

 Was surprised when I opened the package, overall it looked better than the picture the gentleman sent. 85% bluing, no rust notta, though the butt plate has no bluing and is aged raw, it can stay that way. Has that vintage patina that only time can produce.

 The following pictures arn`t the greatest either as my phones camera lens`s have seen better days.

 Started life as an Enfield Martini MKII, 1874 under Queen Vicky, converted by B. E. Co in 1901 to ME .303 AcIII condition under King Eddy. two different crowns, truly a transitional piece.

Stocks arrived the other day and settled in to do a bit of work on the old girl

Butt stock first, fare bit of work to get it fitted just right so the lever stop lined up even and square. Drilling the cross pin hole was a challenge to get it right. Lots and lots of location measurements. One chance to get it spot on.

Stock disc, rear swivel, fit the butt plate and first coat of oil.

Just waiting on the nose cap to arrive.

Sure can get a lot done when there`s nothing else to do. need to start looking for another project.

The hand guard is from the left over front part of the full length stock I got to do the fore end. 

Not perfect but looks the part for this project.(I like hand guards)

I made the spring clips from a worn out hacksaw blade and used home made brass rivets to pin them.(old small brass screws turned down to 5/32" shaft with re profiles heads (then annealed before peening))

The lever stop, is hard to drill becuase its so small at the top.

What worked for me was to inlet the cup, measure carefully the depth of the mortise from the toe line of the stock.

 Then make some stops across the drill table and clamp the stock with body to the table.

Because the woods rounded, it's hard to accomplish and theirs not a lot of material to purchase on the cup without anything moving.

I use blocks to raise the body, clamp it and have clearance for the curvature of the stock and placed wedges underneath the stock to support it for drilling.

Cleaned and swaged the barrel. Nice bright pronounced rifling, no pitting, measuring .3085". Good enough for a 123yr old smoke pole.

Long wait for the nose cap, chomping at the bit to get this to the range for some trial shooting.

Pretty much finished, just waiting for the nose cap cross screw. I bolted it on with a smaller dia nut and bolt to hold it in place so I could go shoot it today.

I loaded up some reduced loads using IMR 4227(22grns) and 170grn round nose cast bullets an shot it to 50yrds. Only 5 rounds, 3 grouped close the other 2 had a mind of thier own lol(me actually).

Overall I think it`l be a good shooter once I master those hard to see close together sights.

Rewarding isn't it? Simplicity in its finest. And yes those sights are hard to use.

I built these two up in addition to another thats not pictured and I'm getting ready to start another.

The one on the post is using a No 4 barrel thats been turned and threaded by my son and a scrap fore end that had been shortened.

I still have some work to do,  tidy up the wood and add a sighting system to the one with the no 4 barrel. Soon as it warms up in the shop Ill round them out and finish them entirely. The last one is going to use a SMle barrel but with a splinter fore end made out of a sporter stock front and horn nose cap.

images aren`t great, my phones camera lens is kind of marred.

My ME AC MK II.  Had a hard post-military retirement as a cadet rifle, but still original and complete.

Very nice thanx for posting.

 The reduced forstock starts just past the rear sight. If I was to profile mine the same way it would break into the clearing rod channel, which then would need to be filled. I chose not to do this.

It will do as is until I come across and original piece.

 Just happy I have a shoot-able relic. Had lots of fun at the range yesterday with it firing both reduced cast and full 180gr fmj`s. Recoil was a lot milder than that of a N05. Pleasantly surprised. The reduced loads were like firing extremely loud .22`s. No appreciable recoil at all.