Hi troops,
I'm considering purchasing a Denix SMLE for conversion (perhaps to a No.4). Would it be at all possible for someone to post detailed photographs of how it strips down, so that I can see how the metal and woodwork fit together?
Regards
Joe
Ask dieselmonkey about doing this. He's done it in the past. I'm pretty sure he'll dissuade you from trying it.
I made one from real steel parts (not a broken apart deac), i.e. wood stock, sights, screws, magazine, trigger guard and it was pretty easy. Others have done the same.
That is the approach I'd recommend.
Edit... oh conversion from SMLE to No4? So not airsoft? Sorry didn't read your post fully, lol.
Here's a posting I made a few years ago on a similar subject;
I've just partial dimantled my SMLE and it looks like it's going to be more work than I thought, dremels at the ready chaps.
Sorry it's not a good photo but hopefu;lly you can see there is no barrel at all, (well no more than is required for it to look right), also the middle band does not sit into a groove in the woodwork as on the original it just slides down the stock and is a loose fit and finally something I was already aware of the rear sight slide is one cast piece that just push fits into the base so there is no adjustment, however I've already ordered some real rear sight parts to replace it with.
I never did carry out the conversion opting to buy the real steel parts and use those instead.
dieselmonkey on this forum did convert one and here's wwhat he had to say when someone else asked about this.
Short answer - don't bother.
Longer answer: Effectively, the denix smle is a lump of softwood pine with a few cheap castings bolted to it. None of the parts are the same as a real SMLE and it doesn't strip down at all. There's no actual barrel, and so there's no channel for the barrel to sit in, for example, so you'll have to rout that out (accurately!) as well as obviously the magwell, and a shedload of space to fit the gun mechanism into, which, as it's softwood, really weakens the structure, so you have to reinforce with metal. Mind you, the wood's really the easy part.
There's a lot of grinding away of the metal castings to fit anything inside, too, and the only part of it that's useful is the metal band between the butt stock and the rest of the gun, to hold the two together, and even that needs a massive amount chopping away to get anything close to being usable.
It's actually easier, and about the same price to get all the legally available bits of a No.4 (woodwork and all the fixings) from ebay or elswhere, and then work from there. At least then you're working with hardwood and steel, instead of pine and monkey-metal alloy.
Sorry, but thems the facts. At least from my point of view.
I ended up with a very nice looking gun (to my eyes!) but effeectively, it's a wall hanger.
As you guessed Yith, this isn't really an airsoft project (maybe I should have posted in 'Off Topic'), but as I knew that a few people on here had them, or had attempted conversions I thought it might it might be the place to ask for photos.
What's wrong with a deac? 
The current rules in Denmark which specify that the entire weapon must be cut in half lengthwise so that it is in two separate pieces.
I see... repro it is then!
If you want it as a 'prop' weapon, which I presume you do from your description, then i reckon you could make a good, passable No.4 out of a combination of The Denix SMLE and assorted real, legally available parts.
As per my earlier postings though, if you want to make a skirmishable weapon, forget it!
Quick bump.
I'm after photos of the bolt/receiver area and the piece connecting the butt to the forestock (if this is seperate on the Denix model).
My current plan is to contact Denix about only buying the parts I actually need.
Quick bump.
I'm after photos of the bolt/receiver area and the piece connecting the butt to the forestock (if this is seperate on the Denix model).
My current plan is to contact Denix about only buying the parts I actually need.
Sorry, don't have any pix to hand, but as regards the last bit, forget it.
I tried to contact them repeatedly. Mostly ignored, but finally told they don't supply spares, and then eventually referred to their UK dealer, who mainly sell furniture and equally, refuse to supply spares.
