OkayShooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Finally assembled the 20" carbine I had.
Enfields
- Thread starter Nats
- Start date
Here's a rare bird I just acquired, can't say I'd ever seen on in person before. This gun started life as a 1905 LSA Co Ltd SMLE MkI*. In WW1 (which year is unclear, but these were only made 1916-1918), the rifle was re-manufactured at Ishapore into an SMLE MkI** I.P. (India Pattern). This was a conversion of the SMLE MkI rifles to SMLE MkIII or MkIII* pattern that only Ishapore did in any numbers. Basically they would have removed the sliding charger bridge, riveted on a fixed SMLE Mk III bridge, machined off the MkI receiver flare that contacted the sliding bridge bolt head, and put on SMLE sights calibrated to Mk VII ammo, and either modified or upgraded the stock to SMLE MkIII or MkIII* pattern, depending on the year of conversion.
Later, in 1931, this gun became a fairly early conversion to .410 musket, retaining most of it's WW1 era I** I.P. features. While I would love to find a MkI** IP that still in .303, this specific rifle has had a pretty rare upgrade path, and in the end is a really rare gun because of it, despite being a little tired in terms of general condition and wear. I was glad to acquire it.
Later, in 1931, this gun became a fairly early conversion to .410 musket, retaining most of it's WW1 era I** I.P. features. While I would love to find a MkI** IP that still in .303, this specific rifle has had a pretty rare upgrade path, and in the end is a really rare gun because of it, despite being a little tired in terms of general condition and wear. I was glad to acquire it.
- Location
- Rockland, ON
The Klancher/Philips book confirms that serial number 82L6210 is attached to an MP marked No4 rifle.
The serial number on the butt socket of the rifle in your image appears oddly struck, not at all similar to other No4 LB rifles of the era. It is not centred or straight, the font is different and larger, the “8” appears to be upside down and the “L” is a reversed “7”.
The serial number on the butt socket of the rifle in your image appears oddly struck, not at all similar to other No4 LB rifles of the era. It is not centred or straight, the font is different and larger, the “8” appears to be upside down and the “L” is a reversed “7”.
Yep, and the serial number is for a 1944 rifle. It looks like this is an FTR replacement receiver, either swapped in by the CAF before it was given to the rcmp, or by the rcmp in service, and numbered by hand to replace the worn out 1944 receiver. If i had to guess, the boot release slot in the original receiver probably got chipped or worn.
In Lance’s book, this kind of font and style is consistent with FTR guns that got reserialized. FWIW, it was not sold as an rcmp gun, just as a number 4 in a batch that showed up at a local shop. It was just priced like any other LB no.4 rifle.
EDIT: I do have a thread going to get to the bottom of the weird serial number on MSC that's playing out. It's a weird one for sure.
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I’d suggest you start a new thread on this subject if you want helpful responses. This one is the photo thread.
Ok thanks.
