Can anyone tell me the history and value of this rifle, any help would be appreciated.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZCRU7o8LHD83TbB67
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZCRU7o8LHD83TbB67
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SMLE identification
- Thread starter Rocket_James
- Start date
MoreMilsurpMoreFun
Member
Im no expert but with the lack of anything else other than BSA on the wrist would indicate its a commercial make (made for civilian sales). However the unit disc would say its military... Is "ENGLAND" stamped anywhere? Maybe someone restocked it with an old military stock?
Cottage Hill Bill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Pensacola, FL USA
BSA commercial production, mismatched bolt, looks to have been restocked in a military stock. Do numbers on rear sight leaf and nosecap match receiver?
No crown or England. I think you are right that it is a commercial version unless it was scrubbed for some reason.
Rear sight matches reciever, nosecap has no number, bore is very strong, the safety is marked with III but with no star.
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As mentioned, it's a commercial production BSA. Apparently the 5###XX series were made in the '30s for a/some Gulf states. More recently sold off wholesale as surplus - and very common to have mismatched bolts.
According to an article I read, if you remove the rear hand guard there may be a date (or date code) near the BSA proof mark(s).
According to an article I read, if you remove the rear hand guard there may be a date (or date code) near the BSA proof mark(s).
Thanks, any idea on the value?
Any idea what it's worth?
It does look like a contract rifle - probably sold to a friendly foreign government, or dependant state post WW1. The knox form (under the rear upper handguard - very, very carefully since the wood looks like it was dry roasted) would be the place to look for more relevant info.
Here are the pictures under the upper handguard. It is marked H.V. near the rear sight.
Appears to have Australian Lithgow proof marks but I can't see any record of any date or where it was used. It is in excellent condition, I think it is 100 percent original configuration, as issued from the factory with very light use.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JNjhLP8EtXsQiEsq8
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Cottage Hill Bill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Pensacola, FL USA
Most assuredly not as it left the factory. The mismatched bolt is proof of that. The two wood pieces that have been inlet into the rear handguard are typical military repairs for a cracked handguard. The marking disc in the butt may or may not have come with it but the font and style of number on it are not typical British ones. The stock have been heavily and coarsely sanded or wire brushed as evidenced by the incredible number of scratches/gouges. If you remove the fore-end there may be a date or additional marks on the lower side of the barrel. I suspect it is a commercial rifle that has been restock in a military stock at some point in its life.
If the bore is good, there's no reason why it shouldn't be a good shooter.
If the bore is good, there's no reason why it shouldn't be a good shooter.
Apparently the 5###XX series were made in the '30s for a/some Gulf states. More recently sold off wholesale as surplus - and very common to have mismatched bolts.
Cottage Hill Bill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Pensacola, FL USA
Might be common for the ones that are turning up to have mismatch bolts. Apparently the great stockpile of no.4s that came out of Italy a few years ago all had mismatched bolts because the bolts had been pulled and thrown in one big pile, when they were put back together it one bolt, one rifle, who care about numbers. Something like that may have happened to yours but I guarantee it didn't leave the factory with a mismatched bolt.
Decent looking rifle and probably in its original forend. The wood looks much like that on my supposed "Bahrain contract" rifle (although mine hasn't been sanded or wire brushed). Mine also has a butt disk with number in similar font. Mine is all matching and original but the wood was incredibly oily and the draws were gone, requiring repair prior to shooting. There are BSA marked codes that may reveal the date of manufacture but you probably won't find the date under the wood. I've heard guesses from 1928 to the early 30's.
milsurpo
milsurpo
The original pictures in this post were from when I bought the rifle last week, I spent a few hours cleaning it, here are the new pictures with scratches removed. I really like this rifle and I really appreciate all the feedback from people with a lot more knowledge than me.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/usewygcTdNkgcy9w8
Not yet, but the action is like glass, even with a mismatched bolt. The quality of these guns amazes me, today everything is cheap and plastic. These guns are pushing 100 years old and IMHO are better quality than most rifles available today.
Lee-Enfield actions in general are very smooth, and certainly fast - with the #### on close helping. I've been under the impression that while both the No.1 and No.4 have lovely smooth actions, that the No.1 is just a tad smoother - most likely being a bit older and just a little more worn than most No.4s.
