Lee Enfield Sht III info

[Ed Smurf]

Been going through some old items in my gun locker. I have a Lee Enfield with the following details

Model Sht L.E. III
s/n K52548 on receiver
s/n K 52538 on bolt
Crown with GR B.S.A. 1916
Also shows small stamp on top of receiver 78/GA
Safety latch has III stamped on it.
The rifle was sporterized with mismatched wood butt and forestock.

Aybody tell me the history of this one.

I can send photos if needed.

 

[woodchopper]

not much to tell

B.S.A Birmingham Small Arms, manufacture in 1916, mismatched bolt

 

[Nabs]

Made in 1916 in England and more than likely saw WW1 service. She may have stayed in England after WW1 and sometime after WW2 was sold into surplus (see any "BNP 2.222"...etc markings on the barrel ?). She was likely sporterized sometime during this point.

That bolt serial number is seriously close for a mismatch, are you sure the numbers don't match ?

How sporterized is the rifle ? Chances are she may be restorable to complete military configuration.

 

[woodchopper]

s/n K52548 on receiver
s/n K 52538 on bolt

I missed that somehow. 10 serial numbers apart wow

perhaps its a typo

 

[Ed Smurf]

Did some more checking on my Mk III.
No mistake...mismatch is close no typo. Anymore info , where, when ,why?

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[cantom]

It's a very common item, a sporterized SMLE. Millions just like it.

Worth about $100-$150. Less if the bore is dark.

You can find (not easily) the right wood and parts for it, which will cost about $200 or so and then you'll have a rifle worth about $300-$350.

 

[buffdog]

Markings

In your pictures, the "NB" in the circle is "NP" for Nitro Proof, and might be "BNP" for Birmingham Proof House or if it has an arm with a sword raised, it would be London Proof House. The ".303 2.22" is part of the commerical proof marks and is ".303 Calibre, with a 2.22 inch length of the cartridge case."

The "18.5 TCNS" is actually "18.5 Metric TONS," or the pressure that the rifle was proofed at. There may be an "England" or "Made in England" stamping on it, either the barrel or the receiver.

Where the "Crown, M, 29, 3" is stamped, if the "29" looks like it has been stamped with individual number stamps, it was possibly fitted with a new barrel in 1929.

Otherwise, this rifle is typical of the many thousands of rifles that were sold off as surplus to the "Trade" and sporterized by a company in England for resale.
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