SMLE questions

Gary D

Gary D

Regular
Rating - 100%
9   0   0
Location
Gagetown NB
OK I just purchased my first SMLE, a 1918 MkIII*. Sad thing is Bubba got to it, but he wasn't the first apparently. It's furnished in Beech which wasn't used until late WWII.

I'm thinking of replacing the wood that was chopped or removed and the other removed hardware. I'm thinking of returning it to Beech as it would have been on the rifle at the end of it's service history. (still has rear hand guard). Anyone have any ideas where I could find a Beech frontarm and hand guard?

Good thing is that all serial numbers on the action, the receiver and the barrel all match. The barrel also has the stamp indicating it was Draw Lapped. Does anyone know if this was being done in the original assembly or what time periods were they doing this if afterwards?

Lastly there are some marks on this I can't identify, it looks like a property mark that would go with all the export markings, but I'm not sure. It looks like S/l\J and a 50 (possibly the export date?).
mark.jpg


and this on the wrist of the butt stock S possibly indicating service in India although I haven't found any Indian ownership marks I'm familiar with. And what's the mark below it?
mark2.jpg


Thanks
Gary D.
 
Been a while but the restoration is complete. I was able to find a beech fore end in the US after a bunch of searching. Russ wasn't able to help on that front. Shortandlong: the original # under the rear sight has been struck out and the matching one re-stamped.

So here it is back to former glory.

IMG_0021.jpg


Next project is to restore another No1 which has a LB barrel and Canadian ownership marks. I haven't seen many Canadian # 1's.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Paulinski, there are so many sporting rifles out there it's a shame to deface a two war veteran for this purpose. Understandable when times were still tight and surplus was plentiful, but it's time to give the ol' man back his dignity.
 
Nice job Gary!

BTW, Longbranch just sold an SMLE with LB barrel...



IMG_0021.jpg


Next project is to restore another No1 which has a LB barrel and Canadian ownership marks. I haven't seen many Canadian # 1's.[/QUOTE]
 
Glad to hear of another. I know there have to be a number of them floating around somewhere as they were the main battle rifle of the Commonwealth for the first part of WWII. they just don't show up all that often.
 
That stamp 50 would be the year that the rifle was inspected and perhaps FR or FTR. The renumbered rear sight is an indicator that it did get a refit or repair.

Any other interesting markings.

Oh and it looks good, I might have tried to find a nose cap with the cutouts for the front sight but with enfields sometimes you use what you can get. :)
 
That's the funny thing about that 50, Other markings clearly illustrate the FTR was in '44. It could be a date the rifle was exported to India however although there are no GRI cartouches or other Indian ownership marks stamped on the metal. just the S on the wrist and the evidence of an ishy screw on the butchered forearm. But while this is reasonable it is still speculation. It may have something to do with the other unknown mark in the same location. The nosecap with or without the cutouts appears to be accurate either way for a '44 FTR that did not go to the pacific theater.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom