This old Enfield followed me home ....

RobSmith · Mar 25, 2006

She's my first .303, so I'm pretty clueless about them. She's in pretty rough shape, the wood was cut down, seems to be missing a lot of the smaller part, as well as the magazine, but the bore seems reasonably decent, if dirty. Dated 1917, what's left of her appears to be all matching (bolt handle, receiver, barrel, and rear sight) and there's an awful lot of markings on her that I've never seen before, all the parts, down to the trigger, are marked with an "arrow", which I'm <hoping?> means she's seen Canadian service. I'm going to need some help figuring out exactly what I have, and maybe a parts list/diagram so I can figure out what's missing to bring her back to a reasonable approximation of the typical rifle that would have been carried by CEF troops during the Great War (I always loved the distinctive "look" of the Enfield, wanted one ever since I was a kid), and of course where to locate the appropriate parts (original or repro, I don't really care about value or collectability, I just want a shooter that looks good).

It'll be a nice project gun, to say the least.

Calum · Mar 25, 2006

Yah just never know, I have been pleasantly surprised time after time by such Enfield finds.

Hitzy · Mar 25, 2006

I think the regular arrow is just standard brit acceptance, needs the "C" in their to be ours.......

BadgerDog · Mar 25, 2006

Hitzy said:
I think the regular arrow is just standard brit acceptance, needs the "C" in their to be ours.......

Hi Rob......

Hitzy is right on......

The two markings are distinctive......

If it looks like this, then it's the British War Department's military acceptance marking.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

1917 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) No.1 MkIII* (lots more detailed pics ... click here)http://imageevent.com/badgerdog/britishservicerifles/1917bsano1mkiiie64149

If it looks like this, then it's the Canadian "C Broad Arrow" military acceptance marking.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

1944 No.4 Mk1 Longbranch .22 Caliber Training Rifle (lots more detailed pics ... click here)http://imageevent.com/badgerdog/canadianservicerifles/1944no4mk122longbranch0l6064

Sometimes you find Enfields with BOTH markings on them.

Regards,
Badger

Sgt Striker · Mar 25, 2006

Hey Badger, that's a nice looking enfield with the "mud flap"..... gee I wonder who sold you that.....(he said knowingly)

Claven2 · Mar 25, 2006

Badger - you show-off! Go back to hiding that yummy accessory lest some of the newer collectors get discouraged...

fat tony · Mar 25, 2006

Hello, RobSmith, I'm engaged in a similar project, the best supplier that I have dealt with is Numrich Arms, otherwise known as Gunpartsinc. The only problem is that you require an item known as an International Import Certificate if you are ordering parts orders over $100.00 US dollars, or parts orders containing: rifle barrels, rifle breech blocks, any kind of sight device, even if the order amount is less than $100.00 US. Other parts like screws, stocks, triggers, springs and pins seem to be exempt from this requirement IF you stay below the $100.00US total order mark. I ordered stuff from an outfit known as Brownell's I think it was about Y2K, the regulatory climate for ordering from them has deteriorated rapidly, if you order ANYTHING from Brownell's you need and International Import Certificiate.

SKScanuck · Mar 25, 2006

Both districorp.ca and marstar.ca have enfield parts. Marstar has the diagram.

fat tony · Mar 25, 2006

Yes, I have dealt with Marstar for the parts for the Lee Enfield No. 1 MKIII* recently, but they did not have a lot of the parts I needed like the woodsets, (didn't have any,) also they apparently don't have anyone tasked to handle any email inquiries, fax orders are accepted though, but before you fax the order, you'd better call ahead and tell the guy what you want, and to physically go and check to see if they got it; (sorry, that's my experience). Their parts inventory may have changed since I last ordered from them about a month ago. I didn't think of Districorp of the once $275.00 Garands now parted out. That's all I think about when someone mentions Districorp.

Ian Robertson · Mar 25, 2006

If you need some small specific parts I may have them. You can have them for the price of the postage. Why? They belonged to a deceased friend and I don't want them to be horded until they end up in the garbage when the hoarder dies!

fat tony · Mar 25, 2006

Thanks, but I have all I need either already or one more order away, maybe the other gentleman will take you up on your kind offer.

Robobogner · Mar 25, 2006

Just be careful! Enfields are highly addictive. Hi my name is Rob and I'm an addict.

RobSmith · Mar 25, 2006

BadgerDog said:
Hi Rob......

Hitzy is right on......

The two markings are distinctive......

If it looks like this, then it's the British War Department's military acceptance marking.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

1917 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) No.1 MkIII* (lots more detailed pics ... click here)http://imageevent.com/badgerdog/britishservicerifles/1917bsano1mkiiie64149

After careful examination the markings look exactly similar to your Bsa No.1 Mk3* . Hey, I call that progress, at least I have an ID now ! I'll try to make a list of what's missing as I go thru the parts lists and your pictures. Working on it, will post it later.

Clearly missing :
priority:
1: Magazine
2: The screw (and possibly a spring IO guess) that goes on the left side of the rear sight "slider"
3: bolt tool
to restore :
4: All the wooden bits in front of the shoulder stock (Stock has been sanded down, but I can live with that for now) as well as the various screws/bands for them.
5: rear and front sight protectors and mounting hardware
6: nosecap and screws
7: Slight swivel and their mounting hardware.

to complete the project
8: the various accessories that would have come with such a rifle back in WW1 (whatever fitted in the butt trap, bayonet and scabbard, sling, whatever else accessory that would have been common issue).

Of course before I send any lead downrange with her i'll have to find someone with the proper headspace gauges etc.. to ensure everything is safe.

RobSmith · Mar 25, 2006

Just gave her an initial cleaning, light surface rust here and there on the outside surfaces and nothing serious, the muzzle crown is also a tad on the rough side. The bore now looks a little worse than I though it would, a dozen patches through and the things are still coming out brown/black... Oh well, since i essentially got the thing for free, I guess beggars can't be choosers !

BadgerDog · Mar 26, 2006

Sgt Striker said:
Hey Badger, that's a nice looking enfield with the "mud flap"..... gee I wonder who sold you that.....(he said knowingly)

Yup, it's a beautiful "all matched" piece. IMHO, I think it's one of the nicest in ~Angel~'s collection, next to the "Long Lee" (click here)http://imageevent.com/badgerdog/britishservicerifles/1896leeenfieldno1serial12542 you sold her as well.

Thanks.........

Claven2 said:
Badger - you show-off! Go back to hiding that yummy accessory lest some of the newer collectors get discouraged...

Sometimes it's the accessories that make the piece! I just picked up at a gun show, an "all correct" WaA marked K98k rifle grenade launcher system. It looks terrific when mounted on the rifle. Unfortunately, we can't shoot tennis balls out of it, like we can with the Enfield grenade discharger cups. That was a blast....

Regards,
Badger

RobSmith · Mar 27, 2006

Just gave the bore a 2nd cleaning, it's definitely improving by now, not "perfect" by any stretch of the imagination but nice deep rifling and quite an acceptable amount of rust. Also hit my first stumbling block, the inner band screw is stuck in place, and pretty much ruined, so I can't remove the fore-end stock. Worse comes to worse I can always cut the fore-end around the offending screw and then use a pair of pliers to take out the ruined screw.

RobSmith · Jul 3, 2006

This old Enfield followed me home ....

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