Help with Enfield No.1 mark 3

Reeferman

Reeferman

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Hoping to get some help with this Enfield. I got it from a guy about 40 years ago and has been in storage for about 30. Took it shooting a few weeks ago and still shoots great. It had a 4 power Bushnell on it when I got it but I never used it. Not going to do anything to it but shoot it. Would just like to know what all the marks say about it. The only number I could find on the magazine is a 4. Took pictures with iPhone and some are not real clear.


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Hi Reeferman,

Your SMLE was made at the "Royal Small Arms Factory", located at Enfield Lock; that's why there's Enfield stamped on the right side of the receiver, with the year of manufacture. Looks like a commercial sporter, given the nice front sight ramp.

The serial number is stamped both on the front of the receiver and the barrel, right next to it. The "4" on the magazine is simply the 4th version of a magazine for the SMLE. Seems that you're missing the safety?

Lou
 
louthepou said:
Hi Reeferman,

Your SMLE was made at the "Royal Small Arms Factory", located at Enfield Lock; that's why there's Enfield stamped on the right side of the receiver, with the year of manufacture. Looks like a commercial sporter, given the nice front sight ramp.

The serial number is stamped both on the front of the receiver and the barrel, right next to it. The "4" on the magazine is simply the 4th version of a magazine for the SMLE. Seems that you're missing the safety?

Lou
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. Gun is complete. I completely took apart to clean after shooting it a few weeks ago. There was still thick brownish grease packed up into trigger assembly. I was just curious to know what all the marks on barrel and reciever meant before I put it back together. This gun had never been apart like this since I have owned it and really doubt the previous owner did either. I am either going to make or maybe find a bolt tool next month at the Thorncliffe gun show as I want to take it apart to clean and lube as well.
 
Reeferman said:
The markings I am most interested in are in picture #5. Can anyone explain those to me.
Click to expand...


The mark on the receiver with th crossed lances are british acceptance marks. THe mass of numbers on the barrel "303 (calibre), 2.222 and 5 tons are proof marks stamped after sold out of service, proof of pressure test. "BNP" is for export stamp
 
points said:
The mark on the receiver with th crossed lances are british acceptance marks. THe mass of numbers on the barrel "303 (calibre), 2.222 and 5 tons are proof marks stamped after sold out of service, proof of pressure test. "BNP" is for export stamp
Click to expand...

Are there any marks that indicate when it was made into a sportster? Or did they do that at all?
 
Markings in Pic 5 encompass about 40 years of this rifle's use, from the day it was made to the day it was sold off surplus.

Your 'crown-crossed-flags-GR-P' on Body ('Receiver' to the Americans) and Barrel are Government proofs from when the rifle first was built. You also have an Inspector's PERSONAL punch mark there to attest that HE checked it.

The '18 is the Barrel Date; this barrel was installed in 1918 and so is the original.

NOW we come to the post-War-Two markings which were applied when the rifle was sold off. These were applied at the Birmingham (commercial) Proof House and amount to a re-Proofing of the rifle, from scratch. 'Crown-BNP' is the marking, Body and Barrel, for 'Birmingham Nitro Proof'. .303" is the BORE diameter, 2.222" is the LENGTH of the casing, "18.5 TONS/" square" means that the rifle was tested with an overload and approved for a working pressure of 18.5 Imperial Long Tons (2240 pounds each) per square inch for a total of 41,440 pounds per square inch WORKING pressure.

Hope this helps.
 
Smellie

Forgive me but isn't 18.5 tsi the equivalent of 46,000 cup or 49,000 psi in American English. The 18.5 tsi was the British base crusher system where the copper crusher was located at the base of the cartridge.
 
Oh yes that helps a lot Smellie. The guy that I got it from all those years ago had it drilled for scope mount. Would have been nice if it wasn't but has been turned into a sportster so doesn't matter now. I shot a lot of deer and moose with it before it had a thirty year rest. I never did use a scope back then but then again my eyes were also 40 years younger. Was hitting a 6" gong at 150 yards a few weeks ago so it still is shooting good. I tried taking a picture of the bore as it is in really good shape but no luck.

What do you suggest to used on trigger assembly for a lube as it was packed with a thick brownish grease. I have switched to frog lube on my pistols and other newer guns but not sure about using it on this one.
 
Head for your GM dealer and pick up a 1-pound tube of Lubriplate 105.

It is a type of grease, quite thin, completely waterproof, will not be fluid-displaced, does not freeze. Used to use a lot of it in the oil patch, wirelining.

It is ALSO an excellent grease for the M-1 Carbine, M-1 Garand, M-14, Ruger Mini, all of which NEED grease in several places. It handles impact very well, protects locking recesses. I use a dab in the locking recesses of Lee-Enfields and on the locking-lugs of Rosses.

A 1-pound tube (sorry, guys, but metric it ain't!) will last you about 300 years, so you end up using it for just bout everything... and it works!

Hope this helps.
 
I use Lubriplate a lot as I am a mechanic and have tons of it. Thanks a lot for all the information Smellie and all others.
 
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I just finished bringing what was a pile of parts back to life..... I started with a bare, previously drilled and tapped 1920 Lithgow receiver , everything you see is custom , including the modified to fit #4 monte carlo stock. made the scope mount too ;)
 
45ACPKING said:
I just finished bringing what was a pile of parts back to life..... I started with a bare, previously drilled and tapped 1920 Lithgow receiver , everything you see is custom , including the modified to fit #4 monte carlo stock. made the scope mount too ;)
Click to expand...


That's a nice looking gun.
 
Reeferman said:
What do you suggest to used on trigger assembly for a lube as it was packed with a thick brownish grease. I have switched to frog lube on my pistols and other newer guns but not sure about using it on this one.
Click to expand...

The brownish grease is cosmoline and is what the rifles were packed in for storage.
 
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