What to look for when buying a SMLE(Enfield)

Proof marks are irrelevant. What you want to see is whats on the butt socket. BSA, LSA. Crown over G.R. If it has a Crown over GRI, it's indian. (george Rex Imperator) emperor of india
 
+1

Look for the King's crown on the right side of the reciever butt socket. Aussie No1's say 'Lithgow' instead. The year should be just under the crown, so obviously a pre-1919 date is in order.

Beyond that, it all comes down to condition, bore, crown (of the rifling), and headspace. Matching numbers shouldn't be an issue if all you want is a shooter. But I prefer to find one with matching bolt, reciever, barrel, and nose cap.

Anything extra is a nice bonus.
 
Well I went to the show yesterday and the one I was after(seen at previous gun show) had been sold and I seen 2 from WW2(the style that takes the spike bayonets) and they were crudely made. :( I guess I'll have to try again next month...
 
The Number 4 Rifles from the Second War are FITTED just fine; it's the finish that suffered. Somebody finally got smart and figured out that you don't have to have a fine finish to shoot a bullet. The Germans didn't figure that part out until about 2 months before the war ended. I have a 98k, dou 45, which is a thing of beauty compared to almost any Number 4. But the nice finish doesn't make it shoot any better.

To get back to the original post......
You will find that MOST rifles are marked the way the fellows told you. Enfield made about 60% of all BRITISH production during the Great War, BSA made about 30% and London Small Arms made about 5%. That leaves another 5%.... and they are NOT marked as the others. These rifles have a completely-strange crown on the butt socket, almost a cartoon.... and no factory marking. You have to go to the rear end of the LEFT side of the boltway and look at what is stamped there: SSA is Standard Small Arms and NRF is National Rifle Factory. They are the same plant in Birmingham, just before and after nationalisation. SSA marked rifles will be 1915 through 1917, NRF will be 1917 and 1918 and both are rare. Also, the finish, especially on the NRF rifles, just was not up to snuff, although the rifles worked just fine.

So there you are: 6 factories, 7 markings. That's the set..... and it is VERY darned hard to complete that set unless you happen to be very lucky, rich or both.

There also was one other maker, but they didn't build the war-era Mark III/III*. That is Sparkbrook. Sparkbrook, though, did build the predecessor to the Mark III. This was the SMLE Mark I/I*. They made only a few, in 1904/05. I have never seen one, but they do exist.

And then there are the completely-strange ones, such as the little beauty that a friend brought for coffee the other day: 1894 Sparkbrook MLM II rebuilt as a SMLE Converted Mark IV, charger guide and all and, believe it or not, it was a 1942 FTR with a 1941 barrel on it in lovely condition!!!!! And NAVY stamped, just to add that little something-extra! Following that little visit, I needed a cardiogram and the kitchen floor washed where I had drooled all over the place!

But the basic collection is 6 factories, 7 sets of stamps.

Have fun!
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