Curious Lee Enfield Sporter - What Have I Got?

[Drachenblut]

Hello all! I have an interesting barn find sporter I recently picked up and would love to know more about it!

I have a 1916 dated No.I Mk.III*, with a 1944 dated FTR barrel, and C Broadarrow marked.

The buttstock is fine, except that it has an additional 3 holes drilled deep into the buttstock along with the stock screw channel. The fore wood has been sportered. Rear sight is intact, as is front site, and barrel length. Bore is a good 7.5/10, the rest of the metal is in fine shape with most of the bluing intact.

Bolt is a little mystery, double serial (one stamped under the bolt arm arch, the other on the tradtional back of the bolt arm arch, also on the crest of the top of the bolt arm is a crown over a combined letters of C and P, which I am not sure what that means, the back of the arm has a stylized P in a shield just before the bolt knob, after the serial number. What are these markings, any idea?) The bolt head is an Australian one (A in a star), the magazine is not serialed but is stamped O.A. for Orange Arsenal if I am correct. The bolt cocking piece is oval, with the left side flat and the right side a rounded oval shape. Not the slab style of the later cocking pieces.

The front site has some sort of metal ramp installed, with the blade fitted in it's normal spot.

Stock remains are walnut, not sanded. The clamps spots where the rear upper hand guard clips would pop into the stock have been professionally filled in with wood pieces.

Bolt, and action is smooth as silk, with a very strong and crisp trigger sear and short, quick second stage let off.

So, what have I got?

Pictures can be found below, two put here to keep size down!





http://s1013.photobucket.com/user/Drachenblutt/slideshow/1916%20Enfield

Cheers!
Drach

 

[englishman_ca]

The CP proof mark on the bolt handle is actually GP for Gun Makers Proof, a civilian proof mark from the London Proof House. The barrel reinforce has London civvy proof marks including a seaxe marking (an arm holding a scimitar). All rifles sold through the British Gun Trade have to be proof marked, tis a current law with origins going way back to the middle ages where a sword had to have a Sword Makers Guild proof mark (a fee was paid, a portion going to the Crown). The penalty for selling an unproofed sword was death!

The number under the handle is probably a factory assembly number for bolt and body to keep them together. The actual serial number was applied later to barrel, receiver, bolt and rear sight further down the production line when the rifle was tested and neared completion.

The butt stock is an early one with the lightening holes. Sht.LE Mk.I circa 1903-1907

The sight ramp is an aftermarket unit purly for style. It is held in place by the sight insert and will come right off it you tap the insert out of the dovetail.

The cocking piece is early style replaced by the flat sided one in 1915 to speed up war production.

Being an FTR arm (Factory Thorough Rebuild) it could have recycled or new replacement parts. Itsa bitza!

The rifle no doubt has been to the war and back. Nice find!

 

[Drachenblut]

Cool, many thanks!