Lee Enfield 1905

r.j.medals2

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... I have this 1905 Lee Enfield ? and was looking for more info , It has the C broad arrow mark and mag cut off. Any experts out there can lend their 2 cents ?
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The jealousy is strong... your gonna have a great rifle once it is restored! That's a rare bird alone, but with a C broad arrow it makes it even better!
 
You have a Sht.LE Mk 1 made by LSA that was DP (drill prupose). Is that a star or a punch mark next to the 1 ?
Nose caps are rare, the forend and handguards are almost impossible to find.
Trigger guard is wrong and you would need a first variation mag with chain link.
The cocking piece is also wrong, early No1 Mk1's cocking piece where round with a ''button'' instead of a screw.
The early butt plates were metal with no trap doors and the rear sling swivel was just a screw with the swivel attached to it.
If you can find the wood and the other parts, the restoration could cost $1000. It will be very hard but totally worth it, like Kman303 said.
 
There are 2 C broad arrows , another on the left side forward action.
There is a unit on the fore end of the bolt which moves back and forth , charger guide ?
It appears to be a period . then a star beside the 1
I have no plans to restore this gun and was going to offer for sale.
 
$2000.00 rifle if it wasn't chopped!

All the good parts are there and the barrel hasn't been cut.The hardest part is finding a MK1 forestock and front handguard.

I restored a 1904 a few years ago.I will post a pic later.
 
The part on the bolt head is the charger guide, when the bolt is retracted all the way the 2 sides align and a clip can be use to load the rifle.

If it's a Mk 1* then the buttplate and swivel are correct. I think the trigger guard would also be correct.
If normal sporter's sell easily for $250 i dont see why you could not get $ 400 and probably more.

I have never seen one with Canadian markings so you have something special, great find.
 
Never heard of a Canadian issued Mk.I... has anyone else ever seen or heard of such a beast?

I have an Irish Mk.I***, had to import it from the US!
 
This arm has had the sight bed ground down to make it correct for MkVII ammo so it should be a I***.
 
This arm has had the sight bed ground down to make it correct for MkVII ammo so it should be a I***.
I thought just that for many years but the *** indicates the rifle has been fitted with a blade front sight & the rear V notch converted to a U notch, the only markings that indicate the upgrade to MkVII is the HV behind the rear sight bed & the front Volley sight being reworked & stamped LES2
You are of course correct about the sight bed.
 
1914 dated barrel which would fit well since everything that could be found was dragged out of store and refurbished once the war began.

It could have been a Canadian issue straight from the War Department, or it could be a rifle gleaned from the battlefield by the Canadians in 1915-1916 and then stamped with the C broad arrow. Sort of a "finders keepers" thing.

Neat piece either way.
 
Thank-you all for the information. Any other opinions on a value for this rare bird? and this model of magazine ?

The original (type 1) magazine for the Mk1 SMLE had a link loop attached to the front of the case & a loop on the front of the trigger guard & a single link to attach the mag to the rifle just like the Long Lees, in 1906 the Mk1* SMLE was introduced & that had the type 2 mag which did away with the link loop & was made deeper in the front to help with Charger loading, the type 3 mag is a conversion of the earlier type 1 & 2 cases to enable their use with the new MkVII ammo & its pointed projectile, the most obvious difference is the addition of the left feed lip riveted to the case that is clearly visible in your photo, there were other small changes involving the follower & auxiliary spring.
Type 4 mag was a new design for use with the MkVII ammo & is the most common found mag for the SMLE

Type 1, no numbers stamped on case, auxiliary spring or follower (loading platform).

Type 2, the number 2 stamped on the lower part of the back rib & on the auxiliary spring, no number stamped on the follower as both types 1 & 2 used the same pattern of follower.

Type 3, the number 3 stamped on the lower part of the back rib & on the auxiliary spring & the number 2 stamped on the follower as it was modified to clear the new LH feed lip.

Type 4, the number 4 stamped on the lower part of the back rib & on the auxiliary spring & the number 3 stamped on the follower.

Types 1,2 & 3 all had the rotating RH feed lip.

My 1904 Mk1 SMLE

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With the type 1 Magazine
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