1937 No 1 MkIII

[infideleggwelder]

Just was given an No 1 sporter.
dated 1937 with no * after the III
GR with mag cutoff slot open in the stock and the receiver

Has ESSEX stamped on the barrel right behind the rear sight

bolt is matching with round cocking piece.

it has been tapped and drilled for a scope, extensive and obvious arsenal repairs to the butt stock, and the fore end has been heavily but tastefully sanded. i do like the slimmer fore end.
a few other stampings overlapping each other on the knox , will post pics later.

it will be brought back to an original configuration with my own hand made wooden parts and a spliced stock.

thoughts on a 1937 No1 MkIII with mag cut off?

 

[TANK1867]

my first thought is that I hate you, other than that I have nothing constructive to add

 

[louthepou]

I believe many receivers were made with the machine slot for the mag cut off, only to be assembled (and stamped) much later after instructions were given to switch to the star (*) configuration. Which would explain why a rifle with such a late date would still have that slot on the right side of the receiver. But I'm just supposing here, quoting from a very vague memory after having enjoyed some red wine on a late Good Friday...

 

[bogusiii]

I have a Birmingham Small Arms SMLE Mk.III made in 1939 with the cut off. Removing the cut off was a WW1 expediency and post war they started using it again.

 

[tpipower]

You can see some of war pattern (mk3*) converted after the ww1 to the mk3 pattern by just adding a cut off slot and plate. I got many converted like this, its very common. The star after the mk3 is punched 2 time horizontaly when the rifle been converted. All the new production after the war until middle 1941 was on mk3 pattern

1918