Just bought it today at the Markham Fair Grounds!! My first Lee-Enfield!

R

RAYdiation

Regular
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Location
Toronto, ON
Hi everyone,

Just thought I would post pics of my first Lee-Enfield I bought at Markham Fair Grounds. Apparently, the seller wasn't going to sell it and then decided to when I asked. I'm a total amateur when it comes to the markings, so I hope I can get some help, since I want to learn more about this rifle. (I'm also new at posting photos, so I hope this works!)

As7Rd98.jpg


Below, you can see the serial number. Is there some significance to the "X"?
jMFSWBb.jpg


I have no idea what this means. Located on the right hand side of the sight.
3aDoify.jpg


Well, at least I know it's a No.1 MkIII*
vONBH6g.jpg


The seller told me that this is a Regimental stamp?
HBszcgg.jpg


TMogLFS.jpg


This is where I REALLY get lost!!
IWQoXvZ.jpg


The seller also told me that this is "DP" for "Drill Practice"? I know it's well worn.
9mevfZ6.jpg


And he gave me these. Basically, Training Rounds?
QF4XDdt.jpg


Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
Last edited:
You have a 1918 SMLE that has been grit blasted and reblued or painted black and probably restored from a sporter with a new looking forend and rear handguard. The back sight protector is Lithgow made and not original. How is the barrel? The "legs" are missing from the rear of the longer handguard, but that was not uncommon. Usually they were removed from both handguards rather than just one. If the bolt is matching and the bore is very good or better, you have a good shooter.

Can't say anything about your BP blanks, except they've been packaged for commercial sale for some application unknown to me.
 
That's a fine looking rifle. Not sure what you paid, but parts for restoring them are getting harder to find. If the wood was bedded well and the barrel is good you will have a million hours of enjoyment with that rifle. If it's not, you have a great opportunity to learn to properly set up a SMLE and then you'll have a million hours of fun with it. The guys who are really good at doing these restorations seem to have no trouble moving them for $500. If you paid anything under that and it shoots well I think you did very good for your first one.

P.S. from the little bit I can see in the pics it looks like whoever did the restoration at least had a clue. There is a small gap between the front edge of the wrist of the butt and the butt socket. This is needed for a couple of reasons. Also the rear of the fore end sits up flush with the butt socket and I don't see an air gap. This is also a good sign. If you take your hand guards off you can do a few more quick checks. The barrel should touch under the chamber, then float from just ahead of that to about 6" back from the nosecap, then should sit on the bottom of the channel to the end of the channel. You should be able to run a $5 Bill under there to check it out. If all the proper springs are there and it's bedded correctly it should shoot half decent pretty well no matter what. I had one with a pinched crown that I never noticed once. The new owner said it shoots very well still. Also the barrel on that one was well worn. Proper set up is everything.
 
Last edited:
RRCo. said:
You have a 1918 SMLE that has been grit blasted and reblued or painted black and probably restored from a sporter with a new looking forend and rear handguard. The back sight protector is Lithgow made and not original. How is the barrel? The "legs" are missing from the rear of the longer handguard, but that was not uncommon. Usually they were removed from both handguards rather than just one. If the bolt is matching and the bore is very good or better, you have a good shooter.

Can't say anything about your BP blanks, except they've been packaged for commercial sale for some application unknown to me.
Click to expand...

The barrel looks to be in good condition to me, but I'm no expert. Before I fire, I will be sure to take this to a gunsmith and have it checked out. Also, I don't know what you mean by "legs"? Can you describe it or point to a pic?

Claven2 said:
The wood is stamped DP, meaning it was off a drill purpose rifle. Verdict = Restored sporter - hope you didn't overpay.
Click to expand...

From what I saw at the Gun Show, Spoterized version were going for about $400-$500. Other Lee-Enfields were going for about $1000. This one was at the $650 mark. I just didn't like the look of the sporterized versions and thought this was a good price. Although, I guess I should have researched more about the Lee-Enfields, but live and learn.
 
the sight ears are on the wrong way they need to be turned 180 degrees..not a bad looking rifle ..as mentioned its a restore but as long as you didnt pay a ton of money thats fine ...make sure the bolt serial number and reciever match
 
flying pig said:
That's a fine looking rifle. Not sure what you paid, but parts for restoring them are getting harder to find. If the wood was bedded well and the barrel is good you will have a million hours of enjoyment with that rifle. If it's not, you have a great opportunity to learn to properly set up a SMLE and then you'll have a million hours of fun with it. The guys who are really good at doing these restorations seem to have no trouble moving them for $500. If you paid anything under that and it shoots well I think you did very good for your first one.
Click to expand...

I guess I might have jumped the gun on this one, since I was stalking SFRC's site when they were going to post their LE's. I ended up looking in the wrong section and went with this one. Well, if I paid more than I should have or I got an OK deal, it's a learning experience. And I'll get to learn more about her when I examine her more closely.
 
36 hamon said:
the sight ears are on the wrong way they need to be turned 180 degrees..not a bad looking rifle ..as mentioned its a restore but as long as you didnt pay a ton of money thats fine ...make sure the bolt serial number and reciever match
Click to expand...

I guess I now have a good reason to start examining her! :)

From what I can see the bolt, receiver and sight have matching numbers.
 
dony fret enjoy it use it when you find one thats correct ..buy it and sell this one to recoup some coin ...Lee Enfield are very habit forming you cant have just one
 
The prices you quote on the sported and full wood are way out of line. Sporters go for $150 average unless they are a commercial sporter, then they might get up to $350. Full military start at $350 for a beater. The cost of restoring is usually more than what the going rate is for full wood unit. It's just fun to resatore. Your's looks very nice.
 
points said:
The prices you quote on the sported and full wood are way out of line. Sporters go for $150 average unless they are a commercial sporter, then they might get up to $350. Full military start at $350 for a beater. The cost of restoring is usually more than what the going rate is for full wood unit. It's just fun to resatore. Your's looks very nice.
Click to expand...

Magellann said:
I agree with your prices^^^^^ Either way it looks nice.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm......I might be mixing up the prices with other rifles. My first Gun Show, so I never been to a building with so much to look at with so little time! :)
 
RAYdiation said:
The barrel looks to be in good condition to me, but I'm no expert. Before I fire, I will be sure to take this to a gunsmith and have it checked out. Also, I don't know what you mean by "legs"? Can you describe it or point to a pic?
Click to expand...

If you look at the rear handguard, which is the short wood piece to the rear of the rear sight, you'll see it has "legs" that extend forward on either side of the rear sight bed. The forward, longer handguard on yours should have matching "legs" that extend rearward to meet the "legs" from the rear handguard, again alongside the rear sight bed but yours are missing.
It won't affect it's ability to shoot, it's an aesthetic thing. Like this:



 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom