AIM's got No.2A Enfields!

[joab]

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php/products_id/1333

They are marked for S.M.L.E No. 1 Bayonet and the P.14 Bayonet sp they should be correct

Look around thesite and you will also find some repro leather or canvas slings and other stuff of interest

 

[.45&TKD]

Thanks joab.

Speaking of slings what's the appropriate type of sling for the Enfield 2a?
What did the Indians use? Canvas or leather?

 

[Diomed]

Speaking of slings what's the appropriate type of sling for the Enfield 2a?
What did the Indians use? Canvas or leather?

Webbing is the appropriate material, Indian manufactured slings I'm not sure where to get (except for pre-WWI repros, those are Indian make). This should be close enough:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_60/products_id/151

 

[Crosshair]

As for the ammo question; I've heard the 2A1 is safe for high pressure and commercial ammo, the 2A is not. The main reasoning behind that is metallurgy.

The metallurgy is the same in both rifles, the only difference is the rear sights.

 

[meef]

Jumping on the "Whoopee, I got mine!" bandwagon here.



Just picked it up from my dealer. I figured I'd gamble the extra $10 and play the "handpicked" lottery.

Whoa! I don't know who was doing the picking that day, but I'd buy him a beer anytime!

Except for the usual layer of "gunk that must eventually be dealt with", this puppy is beautiful! No stock repairs, scratches or even dings...

The bore is pristine. The whole rifle almost looks like nobody ever got around to using it (except to paint it black and goop it up).

I couldn't be more pleased. What a deal for less that $200!

Thanks for the tip, DMK.

 

[iamkris]

I'll get that guy to buy ME a beer. My handpick definitely wasn't worth it.

 

[DMK]

Cool deal Meef. Glad you got a nice one.

I ordered my first with the handpick. Not knowing how long they'd last, I figured I'd hedge my bets on getting a good one. Later, I ordered a second without the handpick. The second one is nicer in every way except that it has a small stock repair on the bottom of the buttstock mirroring the one most of these have on the top.

IMO the extra money for handpick most often doesn't get you anything unless you ask for something specific (like in this case some asked for a 2A1 instead of a 2A, or a certain year of production, etc).

 

[monsternav]

I feel I got hosed on the handpick also. Mis-matched stock with multiple repairs (handguard) and screws in the worse shape I have ever seen. One screwhead has been ground all the way through on one side in an attempt to make the slot deep enough to hold a screwdriver.

Oh, well. The rest of the gun is in great shape really. The paint came off (what a mess), and there is some park (?) under there and some older stoving, which appears to have been applied correctly, as it has not yet come off. The butt and the forend are nice and solid and not to dirty. Numbers match and the bore is perfect, so not a bad buy for $200.

I'm still gonna have to buy a bunch of screws, darn it!

 

[Rockrivr1]

Where's a good place to get replacement screws for the 2A?

I took mine mostly apart. The screw that holds the internal trigger assembly is stripped out so I left that part on while I'm stripping the paint. Wow, some of the gunk is hard to get off. Oh well, it's turned into a challenge now. I figure another two weeks or so to paint the metal and stain the wood before it actually makes it to the range.

 

[Ad Astra]

I still haven't gotten all the paint off mine... billions and billions of particles- but I can affirm the 17" bayonets SOG has fit fine, and the FAL stripper clips work perfect too.

The free CETME bayo was brand new but I already had one; maybe I'll make a pike or something with it.

 

[monsternav]

I think I'll get one of those SOG bayonets this month. 17 inches of pig sticker on the end or your rifle, just can't resist.

Numrich has screws

http://www.e-gunparts.com/

So does this gentleman

http://www.customscrewsandmore.com/default.html

 

[.45&TKD]

I still haven't gotten all the paint off mine... billions and billions of particles

What are you using? Oven cleaner? Something else?

 

[Ad Astra]

<What are you using? Oven cleaner? Something else?>

Brake cleaner. Goof-Off. Gun Scrubber. Scotch-brite pad. It's gonna be winter before I'm really happy with it.

The SOG bayos- someone else said 1907-made; mine's 1907 and a crown, some other neat markings under MORE black paint or stoving from almost 100 years ago.

Be careful cleaning the leather body of these: a century of oook is holding it together. Staple at top is loose now. can see making a new leather body for this someday.

 

[joab]

Spend the extra $5 for handpick on the bayonets

I paid for handpick on the last two and they look almost brand new, except for the grips.
The one I bought a few months ago was not handpicked and while still in good shape is not nearly as nice as the other two

 

[Rockrivr1]

Well I spent most of the day working on mine. I started using CitriStrip on the metal and wood and it did a pretty decent job. The metal is pretty much ready for whatever paint I'm going to use, but the wood didn't come out so well. I used the CitriStip on it and then mineral spirits. There is still a LOT of dirt and grime ingrained into the wood. Plus, when it shipped the wood looked to be all the same color. Now that it's stripped down some it's pretty obvious that the butt is a different color then the stock. I'm gonna need to work on that.

I just got done baking the stocks in the oven to get any leftover grease off of them and they are definitely in need of additional cleaning. I'm glad the wife was out and about so she didn't witness that. That could of been an intersting conversation.

Anyone have a better method of cleaning up wood? I've gone through two sets of gloves using mineral spirits and sandpaper. Any suggestions would definitely be appreciated.

 

[.45&TKD]

....sandpaper. Any suggestions would definitely be appreciated.

Yes, don't use sandpaper.

 

[Janos Dracwlya]

OK, so I got my AIM Surplus Ishapore No. 2A and I've cleaned it up:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/Dracwlya/BoltAction4c.jpg

I darkened the one serious repair with a little leather dye before rubbing the gun down in linseed oil:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/Dracwlya/IshaporeRepair-1.jpg

I even managed to preserve this stamping on the stock (and the rack number on the far side - no pic of that):

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/Dracwlya/IshaporeStockCartouche-1.jpg

So, I need to get a headspace gauge to check it, but nobody seems to carry a 7.62x51mm headspace gauge, only .308 Winchester, and I've heard folks say that checking a mil-surp gun with a .308 gauge won't give accurate results. What to do?

Thanks.

 

[leadcounsel]

If these are listed for .308, I don't understand why the headspace needs to be checked, nor do I even understand what that means

Can someone 'plain to me?

 

[STAGE 2]

Anyone have a better method of cleaning up wood? I've gone through two sets of gloves using mineral spirits and sandpaper. Any suggestions would definitely be appreciated.

As per another members suggestion here, soak the wood in purple power for about 15 minutes, rinse under really hot water and then set aside to dry. I took a soft toothbrush and scrubbed some problem areas while it was soaking.

The purple power really does the trick. I can see the factory stampings on the stock and it actually smells like wood as opposed to 3rd world preservative.