Got my first Lee Enfield!

Tinman204

Tinman204

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Rural Manitoba
Finally got my first lee Enfield. I believe it's a no.1 mkIII sporter (please correct me if I'm wrong!). I got this gun from a buddy at work, we were talking guns in our shop at work the other morning when I mentioned that I was looking for an Enfield. My friend said he had one in his safe but he wasn't sure what model or year it was, all he could tell me was it's in decent condition and it's been in that safe for 20 years. I went after work today to have a look, not only did He want me buy it but he through in a spare mag, 75 pieces of once fired brass and 20 or so rounds, for the measly price of $100. I just brought it home and stripped and cleaned it, bore looks shiny, rifling is good and all seems to be well. Can't believe that I could buy such a cool rifle for such a cheap price.

Anyhow any info etc on this gun would be appreciated. The right side under the bolt handle is marked 1916 so I'm guessing it's an early model. I think the barrel is full length but I'm not sure.
Here's some pics that may help with identifying this rifle.

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3EF1C8B4-5E0C-45A0-9209-2286E4C937C1-1503-00000742A1AD4C02.jpg


83F235B1-0B32-4528-BD6E-E65A30B1E5F0-1503-00000741C071BF41.jpg


387D3F14-05AE-46CD-AA90-3E41C564F7E5-1503-00000741CA09C4B1.jpg


85E10B87-3992-4AF6-83CE-A907050F8EB5-1503-00000741D38F0B64.jpg
 
Yup, full length barrel and other than having the wood modified, the rifle looks unmolested. It could be restored with a replacement stock set and furniture. However, as it sits, it is a classic sporter. Not too shabby of a job either. Sportered lee Enfields have probably put more meat on the table than any other rifle. It is part of our Canadian heritage.

I have come full circle in my opinion and believe that not every sporter should be restored back to original spec. Try it and see how it shoots. It is one heck of a good deer rifle in that configuration.

On the receiver ring you can see a marking of a 'D' with an arrow head inside. This signifies Australian service.

Nice find, sweet deal!
 
Thanks for the info, I had no idea what the "D" and arrowhead meant. I may restore this gun to it's original state but even if I don't its still nice in my opinion. The guy I got it from mentioned that he's taken many deer with this rifle and mentioned that if he remembers correctly it's pretty accurate. I don't hunt, I'm a target shooter so I hope I can show a few people up with they're fancy new rifles! I'm itching to put a few rounds through it, maybe if I get home before dark tonight I'll load a couple rounds into the mag and finally get to fire a real Enfield.
 
Nice fairly-original 1916 rifle.

You will find that U-notch rear sight and square-blade front sight much easier to shoot with than standard European sights.

Also, the 2-stage military trigger, if it is tuned right, can give you much more consistent let-off than many rifles today.

You have a fine classic rifle, likely the most reliable ever made anywhere.... and the toughest.

A hundred bucks? Does he have any more?????????

At that 'price', very nearly a gift.

Treasure it.
 
smellie said:
Nice fairly-original 1916 rifle.

You will find that U-notch rear sight and square-blade front sight much easier to shoot with than standard European sights.

Also, the 2-stage military trigger, if it is tuned right, can give you much more consistent let-off than many rifles today.

You have a fine classic rifle, likely the most reliable ever made anywhere.... and the toughest.

A hundred bucks? Does he have any more?????????

At that 'price', very nearly a gift.

Treasure it.
Click to expand...

Sorry Smellie, I had the pleasure of looking at his whole collection and this was the only vintage gun in the lot. He said he knew of a couple guys that may have an Enfield or 2 laying around and that he would inquire about them for me. I will treasure this rifle for sure, my grandad was in the infantry in WW2 so the Lee Enfield has sentimental value to me for sure. Grandad in his later years would tell war stories and he would speak of the trusty Enfield rifle and how accurate it was. I'm sure this will be the first of many, I'm only 30 so I figure I have a long future of milsurp gun collecting ahead of me.

Steve
 
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