Mysterious LSA No1Mk3

[louthepou]

Hi folks, I posted this on milsurps.com but I thought it'd be interesting to post it here as well.

I recently visited a man who had to deal with his deceased father's extensive collection. I showed reasonable self-control and came back with only three rifles. Among them, a rather new 1950 LongBranch No4 But I digress.

One of them is this LSA No1Mk3. At first glance, I thought it's simply a No1Mk3 who was refinished by some guy in his basement. But the metal refinishing shows precision. Sorry about the bad picture of the markings, it's LSA Co, 1918. The numbers match, even on the nose cap. Not sure what the story could be behind this one. It was bought then stored away by the previous owner, well greased and wrapped for the past 20 or 30 years (or maybe more), and there's no clue beyound this...

Lou

 

[shredder]

That rifle is in such good condition, I wonder if maybe it was set aside as a Honour Guard rifle of some sort?? I've never seen a No1 Mk III in such good shape.

You lucky sonomabeetch!!!!

 

[canuck98k]

It almost looks as if a previous owner went a little crazy with the BBQ paint and varathane.

There looks to be some "masking" on the bolt.

 

[smellie]

London Small Arms was the smallest of the "regular" makers of the SMLE rifle in the Great War, producing a mere FIVE percent of British-built rifles. They did not make rifles during the Second War at all.

It was a gun factory without a factory, if that makes sense. The parts were made by all the London "best" gunmakers working more-or-less in concert, one making Bodies, another making Bolts, another making woodwork, that kind of thing. It was work for the Trade and some makers used the small Army contracts to train their apprentices on, but they were all gauged with genuine Enfield gauges. Finished parts were moved from the individual shops to their "factory" where they were assembled into rifles.

Lou, ANY London Small Arms rifle is well worth collecting. But to find a BRAND-NEW one, which is what you appear to have, is nigh fairy-tale stuff. Go out RIGHT NOW and buy yourself a lottery ticket. When you're hot, you're hot....... and you are hot right now!

Congratulations, Lou!
.

 

[desporterizer]

It does look painted. Good looker though!

 

[louthepou]

I hear you Smellie, but I can only hope I was this lucky. The markings on the butt socket do look worn out, so a refurb job is more likely. So in my mind the jury is still out on the legitimate status of the job done on this one. One feature which is worrysome is a weird shape on the butt stock. Here's a pic I just took of this area of the forend. This wouldn't be acceptable right out of the factory (I assume), but as a refurb, I guess it could pass, since it wouldn't affect function?

 

[RangeRover]

Hey Lou. Very interesting rifle. Are you wondering about the "swale" in the fore-end. If so, possibly just an early fore-end that would have otherwise had the volley sight? Looks like the fore-end also has the cut-off cut-out too.

I have to admit, though, I've not looked at the fore-end on my SMLE, which does have the dish for the volley sight, from that perspective.

Here's a pic I just took of this area of the forend. This wouldn't be acceptable right out of the factory (I assume), but as a refurb, I guess it could pass, since it wouldn't affect function?

 

[plinker 777]

Caused by a Hot hand load methinks is the barrel bulged too?................................................................

now that that's out of my system, Nice rifle Lou, is it oil or varnish on the stock? looks well preserved but not cosmo.

 

[Lee Enfield]

I hear you Smellie, but I can only hope I was this lucky. The markings on the butt socket do look worn out, so a refurb job is more likely. So in my mind the jury is still out on the legitimate status of the job done on this one. One feature which is worrysome is a weird shape on the butt stock. Here's a pic I just took of this area of the forend. This wouldn't be acceptable right out of the factory (I assume), but as a refurb, I guess it could pass, since it wouldn't affect function?

Your stock is an early non-volley sight forend, ie) the original blank was intended for the volley sight, but they had been dropped before it was assembled. Your forend is @1916-1918.

Your rifle shows as painted? and sanded so I would say it's probably done post service unless it shows some 1940-@53 FTR markings.

Still looks like a nice rifle.

 

[BadgerDog]

LSA did production and presentation showcase items ...

1903 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) Mk1 Riflehttp://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=162-1903-ShtLE-(Short-Lee-Enfield)-Mk1-Rifle
(Mfg by LSA - London Small Arms)

The rifle shown in the picture virtual tour is in "like new" museum quality condition. It's an LSA (London Small Arms) pre-production rifle marked Patent 19.145/90. It was a presentation piece that came complete with matching bayonet/scabbard/frog & original black leather sling. It is double serial number marked with LSA's commercial serial # 66 and also with a military serial # 37E.

Regards,
Doug

 

[Riflechair]

I doubt it's a FTR job. Looks to me like a basement enthusiast restoration job.