Lee Enfield no1 mk3* id help

E

Estano

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Prairie, Maritime, Shield, Maritime, (soon back to
I've done some looking, but I haven't been able to id this rifle beyond the fact that it was made at ROP Maltby, Yorkshire. Mostly, I am interested in the markings on the wrist and the base of the barrel.
I should mention this has been sporterized.

The wrist has these markings:
M
PH
Enfield 1917
ShtLE
III* =

The base of the barrel has:
W
9127

22
'upward facing arrow'

F

(and the most interesting to me)
>-<
GI

Thanks for any help you can give.
 
Sasquatch807 said:
That stamping means it was "struck from service" because of rust in the barrel.
Click to expand...

Well, that just sucks.
Funny though, I just gave it a really good cleaning and found no rust in the barrel. It doesn't even seem to have any pitting at all.
Also funny that someone would go through such trouble to do a rather beautiful sporterizing job if the barrel was doomed anyway.
I'll try to get pictures up soon.
 
The wrist has these markings:
M
PH
Enfield 1917
ShtLE
III* =
Click to expand...

thats a crown (kings crown)
GR (George Rex, King George)
Enfield (enfield royal small arms factory)
ShtLE (short LeeEnfield)
III*= (Mk III* rifle that was later converted to the Mk III standard)

I see nothing that would indicate rust (*) or sold out of service (-><-)

as for bubba sporterized, thats not bad and looks like all you need is a bit of wood and some metal parts.
 
Estano said:
Well, that just sucks.
Funny though, I just gave it a really good cleaning and found no rust in the barrel. It doesn't even seem to have any pitting at all.
Also funny that someone would go through such trouble to do a rather beautiful sporterizing job if the barrel was doomed anyway.
I'll try to get pictures up soon.
Click to expand...

I don't see the struck from service sign in your pics, I got my armourer's marks mixed up, here's the one I meant (-><-) with * and not the >--< in your pics. I don't know the significance of that one. Sorry for the mixup. Here's a pic from one I had.

Lee-Metford010.jpg
 
Woodchopper hit the markings right on, you have yourself a WW1 SMLE made at RSAF Enfield in 1917.

Did you guys notice the barrel of 1922 that is matched to the receiver ? This may be when the conversion back to Mk III standards was performed as well.

The rear sight has also been re-matched to the rifle probably during the 1920s overhaul.
 
Well, I am kind of excited. I was wondering about the rear sight, as it does have the windage adjustment that mk3* were not supposed to have. Did you guys notice the nice filling job of the band notches and rear sight guard notches? I do believe someone cared about this rifle.
I don't have a picture of it, but it has a brass butt plate from the fifties too.
Thanks for all the information!
 
The rifle, with the modifications, is a standard commercial conversion done in England. Would be a good hunting rifle as is, or it could be restored to service configuration. Before twisting the windage knob, make sure the sight hasn't been staked to prevent the knob from being turned.
 
tiriaq said:
The rifle, with the modifications, is a standard commercial conversion done in England. Would be a good hunting rifle as is, or it could be restored to service configuration. Before twisting the windage knob, make sure the sight hasn't been staked to prevent the knob from being turned.
Click to expand...

I have already turned the windage knob and it works just fine. Thanks for the advice though.
I bought it to use as a hunting rifle. I had intended to use the no4 mk1 I have as a hunting rifle, but after taking it to the range I just don't think I can bring myself to risk it in the wild. It is in awesome condition.
I will use the no1 mk3 as a hunting rifle until I get the itch to restore it some day.
 
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