Just closed the deal on one of my Enfield holy grails. Would you believe with all the Enfields I've owned (dozens and dozens), I've never had a nice matching SMLE made by NRF?
That changed today. I have acquired a matching No.1MkIII made at NRF with a perfect bore
It will look great next to my SSA made MkIII (con'd to No.2MkIV*).
The good: perfect bore, all matching, NRF, and very A-typical markings (more on this later).
The bad (sorta): It's one of the 1953 BSA FTR's done on the few unsurplused SMLEs left in inventory when the Korean War highlighted that not enough rifles were in war reserve. The SMLE had already been declared obsolete in favor of the No.4 rifle, most had been sold as surplus. In 1953, the MOD countermanded that order and had BSA FTR all available MkIII/MKIII* rifles for war reserve. Most got a new BSA bbl with the stacked rifles logo, replacement wood (usually made up of a mix of walnut, birch, beech and mahogany), and the typical suncorite finish. Not too bad a thing considering the rifle is, in most respects, "as new". though not as collectible as a non-FTR NRF (good luck finding one!).
The weird: the buttsocket has no crown and cipher. Only the BSA stacked rifles logo and a somewhat crude "III" stamp. I don't know why this is. It's possible (I suppose) that the original markings are there, but were totally obscured by suncorite prior to remarking, or that the buttsocket was surface ground at refurb to remove damage, or possibly that the rifle has always been commercially marked. For all I know, BSA could have acquired the unfinished receiver in 1919, built it into a sporter, sold it, and then rebuilt it as a SMLE circa 1940 during the weapons shortages after Dunkirk. I have no idea. Closer examination later tonight may shed some light.
I've been examining Enfields a LONG time and this is the first time I've seen one marked like this. Though admittedly, I've only ever seen a very small number of NRF made guns, and most of those were sporterized WW1 rifles surplused in the 1920's.
More to follow, but I'm psyched and you guys KNOW you're jealous For those who don't know, NRF is/was there rarest maker of the ShtLE MkIII*. they are truely rare today. The only other one I've held in person that was still in military trim had been converted to .410 in India - and I've handled ALOT of SMLEs.
That changed today. I have acquired a matching No.1MkIII made at NRF with a perfect bore
It will look great next to my SSA made MkIII (con'd to No.2MkIV*).The good: perfect bore, all matching, NRF, and very A-typical markings (more on this later).
The bad (sorta): It's one of the 1953 BSA FTR's done on the few unsurplused SMLEs left in inventory when the Korean War highlighted that not enough rifles were in war reserve. The SMLE had already been declared obsolete in favor of the No.4 rifle, most had been sold as surplus. In 1953, the MOD countermanded that order and had BSA FTR all available MkIII/MKIII* rifles for war reserve. Most got a new BSA bbl with the stacked rifles logo, replacement wood (usually made up of a mix of walnut, birch, beech and mahogany), and the typical suncorite finish. Not too bad a thing considering the rifle is, in most respects, "as new". though not as collectible as a non-FTR NRF (good luck finding one!).
The weird: the buttsocket has no crown and cipher. Only the BSA stacked rifles logo and a somewhat crude "III" stamp. I don't know why this is. It's possible (I suppose) that the original markings are there, but were totally obscured by suncorite prior to remarking, or that the buttsocket was surface ground at refurb to remove damage, or possibly that the rifle has always been commercially marked. For all I know, BSA could have acquired the unfinished receiver in 1919, built it into a sporter, sold it, and then rebuilt it as a SMLE circa 1940 during the weapons shortages after Dunkirk. I have no idea. Closer examination later tonight may shed some light.
I've been examining Enfields a LONG time and this is the first time I've seen one marked like this. Though admittedly, I've only ever seen a very small number of NRF made guns, and most of those were sporterized WW1 rifles surplused in the 1920's.
More to follow, but I'm psyched and you guys KNOW you're jealous
For those who don't know, NRF is/was there rarest maker of the ShtLE MkIII*. they are truely rare today. The only other one I've held in person that was still in military trim had been converted to .410 in India - and I've handled ALOT of SMLEs.
, came back down to the computer and it was sold 
