My Lee Enfield No. 1 MK3 -PIC HEAVY!-

T

TheRiverRat

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Waterloo Region, ON
So I got a new rifle!

Not too long ago I had a Mauser k98 I posted about and got lots of great helpful responses, feedback on it and learned a lot. I am out for the same thing again as I have another rifle I know little about besides the model. It's a Lee Enfield No.1 MK3. Just looking to learn all I can about it. Origin, history, notable attributes from production or in the field and of course value.

I will add many pictures to get the best assessment I can on it I hope it isn't too much!

































Curious about this bolt going through the middle of the stock. On the other side it appears to have been grinder off. Here's the bolt head



And here's the grinder end..





Thanks for the help everyone I really appreciate it and look forward to learning more about this beauty!
 
Last edited:
Ishapore (India). I have a 1920's one and love it. Shoots like a dream. I have been told The metallurgy used in the Indian rifles is way above british standards.


Same with carcanos, they look like absolute ####, BUT italy bought only the $$$ high end metals from the czechs to make em.


They stamped GRI on the receiver... means George Rex Imperator... After 1949 they changed this to RFI (Rifle Factory Ishapore)

The indian smellies are the only ones with that odd screw through the stock as well.


the paint on it is Suncorite #4227... Its now Henkel Bonderite something or other. Just use BBQ paint if you are going to refurbish it. Looks like that one may have had the wood redone at some point. I might be wrong. Its late and im tired. At work waiting to go home.

Also if you take the rifle apart. Under the forend there is a spring and a stud that push up on the barrel. If you lose this your rifle will pattern like a shotgun. You absolutely need it. So make sure it doesn't go flying somewhere.
 
Last edited:
See I never would have guessed it's origin! I mean I'm sure I can find out a lot from Google and going through pages of info but I know i can get a fairly sure thing answer here. Thanks!
 
The "Ishy Screw" was at one time a dreaded sight. In reality, it is a very good thing and stops these rifles from developing fore end cracks that will also effect bedding and accuracy. As for the Indian rifles being made of better steel, that was to my knowledge true for the models they manufactured in 7.62x51 but the steel used in the 303Brit models was to my limited knowledge the same steel prescribed and used by the British.

That little spring and saddled plunger mentioned is critical to accuracy. It is a "harmonics" stabilizer and does its intended job very well. Many of the NoI MkIII rifles of all marks were turned into sporters at one time or another. The ones that were done properly either retained the plunger/spring system if the barrels weren't cut back or as in many I've seen had pressure pads of wood added to the fore ends.

From the shape of the butt grip I would say its been sanded and refinished because it's to round. Don't get me wrong, the Indians are very good at making these old war horses last for a long time and I believe many are still issued to militia and police. They were still making them in one form or another into the 1970s or even later. I could easily be wrong on the date so if someone else has better stats chime in please.

I have seen these in all sorts of configurations and condition. Most of them are indistinguishable from their British counterparts. This shouldn't come as a surprise considering their combined history and that the rifles were made under British tutelage until India became self governing.

Check your bore diameter. I have one of these rifles in excellent condition that is RFI marked with a .3095 bore diameter. I also have a POF No4 MkII with the same bore diameter. Not sure why but it makes sense. The Indians were making their own copies of AK47s and likely adopted the same .310 bore diameter as a standard. Again, just my own theory.

India made bayonets for these in different configurations as well. They are getting difficult to find though and expensive.

There is way more to find out about these rifles and I suggest you do a Google search.
 
Wow thank you for all that! Lots of info here I appreciate it. Interesting to learn about all of these little details. Did some Google searches and saw a lot of the same stuff mentioned above. I will have to have a gun shop check the bore, I assumed 303 brit but after what you said maybe it's best to check I'm sure it's 303 but worth looking at.

The butt plate has that spot on it that looks as though it's a peice that can pop open, is that the case? I'm not about to just try and force it but it looks like a spot you can sneak your finger under or a tool and pop the rounded spot in the middle open. If that's the case what was the purpose? Somewhere to store ammunition?
 
I wouldn't let mine go that cheap. These rifles are every bit as good as UK/Australian built No1 MkIII rifles. Some may guffaw at that but I've owned several examples of all of them and as long as condition is similar, finding any difference between them is almost impossible.

Like the Australians, the rifles were built under UK tutelage and in some cases supervision. Both the Indians and Australians only made changes that were supported/approved by the UK.

I have one in a bit better condition than the one in your pictures. I wouldn't sell mine for less than $750 if I were to sell it.

The Indians made their own bayonets as well as using lend lease/surplus bayonets. They used to be available at reasonable cost. No longer.
 
TheRiverRat said:
The butt plate has that spot on it that looks as though it's a peice that can pop open, is that the case? I'm not about to just try and force it but it looks like a spot you can sneak your finger under or a tool and pop the rounded spot in the middle open. If that's the case what was the purpose? Somewhere to store ammunition?
Click to expand...

The compartment in the butt was used to store cleaning tools, usually an oiler and a pull through. You should open it and see if it contains anything still. Sometimes you are lucky and can still find something in there.
 
Is it all matching (i.e. the parts that should be matching on a No. 1 Mk. 3* are the bolt, receiver, barrel, nose cap, and rear sight (from the photos the rear sight and bolt match, didn't see the other locations)?

If all matching I would say 500-700$. If not all matching I would say 350-500$
 
Thanks folks I'll have a closer look tonight and check all the numbers match. And I did pop open the butt compartment and it was empty but still pretty neat, I assumed it would be for storing cartridges when I first looked before the post here stating it was generally for cleaning tools.
 
I suspect that since the bolt and rear sight serial numbers match then the receiver will be matching, that only leaves the nose cap as the last important serial numbered part. the forestock should also be matching but it might not be marked.

$500-$750 is the price range I would put this one in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom