SMLE info Requested

[kirbodog]

So I’ve got an SMLE that I know very little about and hope some of you Enfield experts can chime in.
Appears to be a civilian market version that I would assume is from the 1930’s ? The intriguing part is the extra “band” between the front band and the front sight. Is this to enhance accuracy ?
Any thoughts ?

 

[tiriaq]

The extra band, and the work done where the forend meets the butt socket suggests that the rifle may have been worked on for target shooting. Have you had it apart? Any bedding work or packing done internally?

 

[kirbodog]

No I haven't taken it apart as I'm worried about disturbing that band and the repercussions of doing that. The build up of grease / dirt around the band seems to suggest they've been there for many years. Any idea as to vintage ?

 

[englishman_ca]

The rifle has been regulated. Wise move in not disturbing the wood work. Unless you were worried about corrosion below the wood line, leave it be.

Shoot the thing then reevaluate when you know how it shoots. I would be very curious to see what is inside there for bedding too, but if it shoots well, just give a good clean. It is far too easy to disturb something to the detriment of accuracy.
The clamp is legit. I'm just trying to remember who did this, it was a British company.

 

[tiriaq]

BSA commercial, '20s, '30s.
Have you removed the rear handguard? Any interesting stamps on the barrel breech? I suspect it was a target rifle - adding the additional band was common.
Look how the handguard doesn't contact the forend at the extra band. Bet there is packing around the barrel. Is the muzzle crowned square?
How is the bore?
If my suspicions are correct, you might be in the market for a PH5A rear sight.

 

[mr.e moose]

Did you get that from the Stoney Plain show? PM me.

 

[jtaylor]

Hi Kirbo. I have seen similar several times. The front hand guard has been slightly bored from the inside to accept a spring with
semi-circular plunger that puts pressure directly on the barrel in a downward direction. The idea is to stabilize the barrel against the
upper pressure of the nosecap spring and nosecap. Once this additional hole has been put in the front handguard it now makes a weak spot with upwards pressure which needs to be reinforced by an outer band or the handguard will warp and eventually crack. This system controls barrel whip much better and does stabilize the barrel making the rifle more accurate. This work is typical of A.J. Parker. There may also be a barrel packing as opposed to a spring in the handguard in a similar fashion which, depending on the material (I have seen cork used), which will accomplish the same principle. To disassemble this rifle properly remove the nosecap prior to the
new additional band first, then the lower band, then this new addition band last. The entire idea of this new band is to reinforce the
front hand guard in the same position as the modification inside. John

 

[kirbodog]

Thank you gentlemen for all the great comments . The info sharing on this site is just one of the many great perks of being in the CGN community!
In an effort to fill out the rest of the story I took a couple more pics to share.
There seems to be an orange type “paint” under the hard guard which I assume is a preservative. No really special markings on the barrel. On the left rear of the receiver is a scuffed up area around a screw head. I’m guessing this is where a target sight would have been mounted.

 

[tiriaq]

The barrel is dated 1923, so there is a bit of a hint about age.

 

[enefgee]

That would probably be more historically correct with a Type 'G' sight.