Noobie owner - Lee-Enfield
- Thread starter torgoen
- Start date
Well, it is a Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle, Mark III* and it was built for the British Government (Crown and Royal cipher: GR for HM King George V) in 1917 by Birmingham Small Arms Ltd.
Yes: the motorcycle people. They were in the gun business almost 20 years before the motorcycle was invented.
It would have been built in the old Small Heath plant which was "renovated" into a parking-lot a few years ago.
Your rifle still has the original 1917 barrel, which is very nice.
At some time the rifle was through the Birmingham Repair factory at Sparkbrook. Likely this would have been during or just following WWI; the Trenches were hard on rifles as well as men.
The rifle has been mounted with an American-made Redfield sighting system of some sort, likely back in the 1950s.
Can't tell any more without full-length photos of both sides. Does the Bolt number match?
Hope this helps.
Yes: the motorcycle people. They were in the gun business almost 20 years before the motorcycle was invented.
It would have been built in the old Small Heath plant which was "renovated" into a parking-lot a few years ago.
Your rifle still has the original 1917 barrel, which is very nice.
At some time the rifle was through the Birmingham Repair factory at Sparkbrook. Likely this would have been during or just following WWI; the Trenches were hard on rifles as well as men.
The rifle has been mounted with an American-made Redfield sighting system of some sort, likely back in the 1950s.
Can't tell any more without full-length photos of both sides. Does the Bolt number match?
Hope this helps.
If you are SERIOUS about learning about the rifle, this is the place to start. There are some VERY good people hre.
If you want a history of the design and development of this SYSTEM of rifles, scoot over to milsurps dot com, take out a (free) membership and download a FREE pdf of "The Lee-Enfield Rifle" by Major E.G.B. Reynolds. It is the best introductory book ever written on these rifles, but it has been out of print for 50 years now. Milsurps is the ONLY place you can download a LEGAL copy of this book.
ALSO download a pdf of "Rifle - 1942", which covers this rifle rather well.
There is a HUGE amount of information available in the Military Knowledge Library. You can skip to it from the STICKY on the Directory page of this forum.
Have fun!
If you want a history of the design and development of this SYSTEM of rifles, scoot over to milsurps dot com, take out a (free) membership and download a FREE pdf of "The Lee-Enfield Rifle" by Major E.G.B. Reynolds. It is the best introductory book ever written on these rifles, but it has been out of print for 50 years now. Milsurps is the ONLY place you can download a LEGAL copy of this book.
ALSO download a pdf of "Rifle - 1942", which covers this rifle rather well.
There is a HUGE amount of information available in the Military Knowledge Library. You can skip to it from the STICKY on the Directory page of this forum.
Have fun!
Thank you! Thank you! I can't believe it is really built in 1917, this is the oldest thing I own, by far.
The bolt number is matching as well.
Here is a full-length photo, and yes, it seems have some sort of old sight removed from it. Thanks again, I will start downloading and reading when I get home.
The bolt number is matching as well.
Here is a full-length photo, and yes, it seems have some sort of old sight removed from it. Thanks again, I will start downloading and reading when I get home.
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Cool rifle OP. If you hunt this ought to be your "go-to" from here on out. The Lee Enfield is responsible for dropping more Moose, Bear and White tail than any number of Hun.
Your rifle has been modified to hunt game with. The rifle would look a bit different in military configuration. Aside from full wood, it would have a charging bridge to facilitate loading of the magazine and the sights would have been a graduated ramp v notch that reached out to 2000 yards {yea that's like 2 kilometers} and a front blade.
enjoy and shoot that gun!!
Your rifle has been modified to hunt game with. The rifle would look a bit different in military configuration. Aside from full wood, it would have a charging bridge to facilitate loading of the magazine and the sights would have been a graduated ramp v notch that reached out to 2000 yards {yea that's like 2 kilometers} and a front blade.
enjoy and shoot that gun!!
Well you have the original front sight, bolt and butt stock at least!
The butt pad has actually been fitted as well.. always good.
I'd say your rifle could use a little fresh blueing. At least a good oiling!
Have a good time with it. They are a LOT of fun to shoot.
The butt pad has actually been fitted as well.. always good.
I'd say your rifle could use a little fresh blueing. At least a good oiling!
Have a good time with it. They are a LOT of fun to shoot.
Where you seeing this mark smellie?
Post 1, Photo 3, Receiver ring, Marking "Crown 55 B". The "B" is in Italic type, indicating Birmingham Repair. It is stamped deep and is mushed sideways a bit, but it is still Italic. I think.
The missing Bridge Charger Guide is not a huge problem; they are around. Riveting the thing on is the hard part!
The old Redfield aperture sight is a collectors' piece on its own.
Correct wood for this one would be Walnut, either English or American would do the job.
Lot of SMALL parts need to be found, but they are out there; even I have a FEW. Gun shows are great, junk bins a wonderful source. Trouble is that you have to KNOW what you are looking for; it would be a terrible SIN to try to adapt a MAUSER rear-sight base to an SMLE!!! The parts appear similar if all you have to go by is a picture..... but they are MARKED entirely differently. The British marked all parts VERY thoroughly and their stamps cannot be mistaken for anything else.
While getting together the parts you will need for a restoration (which can be a lengthy process if you don't want to spend a ton of money; it's also more fun) there is no real reason that this should not continue as it has for the last 50 years: as a hunting rifle. It WILL down anything in North America and it WILL keep the Freezer full.
Parts-getting-together time is also well-spent learning about the rifle..... and learning to load your own ammo for it (saves 60 cents on the dollar or more AND gives you more accuracy).
Be sure to re-read Post 3. THAT is the BEST advice I can offer to a New Pal. The rest is just technical!
The SAFETY does have an issue: none of mine do that. They promised that they would not; I promised to feed them better than I eat, myself, and so we have an agreement! Likely wear on the safety CAM. Several reputable places have the parts. Also COULD be faulty Trigger/Sear/Cocking Piece engagement, depending on how much out-of-spec the parts have been allowed to get over the last 96 years. It is a safety issue, but it is repairable relatively inexpensively.
Anyway, hope this helps.
The missing Bridge Charger Guide is not a huge problem; they are around. Riveting the thing on is the hard part!
The old Redfield aperture sight is a collectors' piece on its own.
Correct wood for this one would be Walnut, either English or American would do the job.
Lot of SMALL parts need to be found, but they are out there; even I have a FEW. Gun shows are great, junk bins a wonderful source. Trouble is that you have to KNOW what you are looking for; it would be a terrible SIN to try to adapt a MAUSER rear-sight base to an SMLE!!! The parts appear similar if all you have to go by is a picture..... but they are MARKED entirely differently. The British marked all parts VERY thoroughly and their stamps cannot be mistaken for anything else.
While getting together the parts you will need for a restoration (which can be a lengthy process if you don't want to spend a ton of money; it's also more fun) there is no real reason that this should not continue as it has for the last 50 years: as a hunting rifle. It WILL down anything in North America and it WILL keep the Freezer full.
Parts-getting-together time is also well-spent learning about the rifle..... and learning to load your own ammo for it (saves 60 cents on the dollar or more AND gives you more accuracy).
Be sure to re-read Post 3. THAT is the BEST advice I can offer to a New Pal. The rest is just technical!
The SAFETY does have an issue: none of mine do that. They promised that they would not; I promised to feed them better than I eat, myself, and so we have an agreement! Likely wear on the safety CAM. Several reputable places have the parts. Also COULD be faulty Trigger/Sear/Cocking Piece engagement, depending on how much out-of-spec the parts have been allowed to get over the last 96 years. It is a safety issue, but it is repairable relatively inexpensively.
Anyway, hope this helps.
Italic "B" is the BSA inspectors mark that appears on all parts by BSA, the number differs from inspector to inspector but they all have the Italic "B", just like "X" for LSA & "E" for Enfield.
Welcome to collecting Enfields... :
Here's what she looked like when she was in original condition...
1917 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) No.1 MkIII*http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=161-1917-ShtLE-(Short-Lee-Enfield)-No.1-MkIII*
(Mfg by BSA - Birmingham Small Arms)
Regards,
Doug
Here's what she looked like when she was in original condition...
1917 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) No.1 MkIII*http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=161-1917-ShtLE-(Short-Lee-Enfield)-No.1-MkIII*
(Mfg by BSA - Birmingham Small Arms)
Regards,
Doug
- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
Other thing to remember is that if they are Parker-Hale commercial sporters then they are collectible in their current state as well.
