What is the history of this SMLE MK1***

junkman

junkman

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I recently picked up a MK1*** Enfield rifle. It is full wood and dated 1907. The wood has been coated with varnish but is otherwise in good condition. The bore has very good rifling with no rust or bad spots. The sight, barrel and receiver all had the same serial number at one time. The forestock has been repaired at one time with a piece of steel. It would be interesting to know where and what this old girl was used for over the years. I have included several pictures and hope I can learn something about the rifle.

allleft.jpg

allright.jpg

rightmk1.jpg

sightadjust.jpg

sightback.jpg

sightbacktop.jpg

sightearright.jpg

sightknob.jpg

sighttop.jpg

barrelhv.jpg

forestockrepair1.jpg

frontsight-1.jpg

actionback.jpg

cutoff.jpg

cutoffopen.jpg

frontsight.jpg

muzzle.jpg

safety.jpg

triggerbottom.jpg

windage.jpg
 
I saw British ownership marking (Broad arrow) and an Australian proof mark on the rear of the forestock. I also saw what looks kind of like a C-broad arrow but it looked like just a C. It has all the old features like the Magazine cut-off and the stock is cut out for the volley sights (I think) it also looks like the rear sight is adjustable for wind age as well.. I think those were removed from production midway through WWI. The only thing that looks strange is the stripper clip bridge. It looks like it was partially milled off. Other then that its a nice looking rifle. If your up for it you could strip the varnish using furniture stripper and 0000 steel wool and apply some linseed oil.

As for history, it was manufactured at the Enfield factory in England in 1907, I would guess it was refurbed by the Aussies at some point, but thats just because of the Australian Mark I saw at the rear of the forestock. Other then that I have no clue. Wait for the more smarter people to have a boo.
 
1907 was the year that the No 1 Mark III was adopted by the British Army. It looks like you have a very early one that was refurbbed at some point.

I believe it was in 1915 that the Mark III* was adopted so production could be increased to supply the troops in WWI. The rifle lost the magazine cutoff and the long range sight (the dial on the left side of the rifle) and less attention was given to polishing out tool marks.

It looks like you have an early production No 1 Mark III on your hands.
 
Someone tried to remove the butt stock bolt before removing the forend; that buggered up the forend reinforcing metal "plate" and split the forend behind that plate. That can be repaired.

The varnish should indeed be removed. I would, though, use stripper rather than steel wool - I think it would be less intrusive (which should qualify the approach here!)

Nice rifle!

Lou
 
The varnish has now been removed and I have rubbed linseed oil into the wood. It looks great. I will post pictures soon.
 
Lou, someone tried to remove the forestock before removing the butt stock bolt. The butt bolt, when fully in place (this rifle) pins the forstock in position. Once the bolt is removed the forestock drops away as it should. Interesting repair to that crack or damage in the wood there. I haven't seen one of those before, have you? Varnish was removed by a stripper. Whoever varnished the stock hadn't sanded it first so now, with multiple coats of BLO and turpentine mix, it looks as it should. Very interesting rifle and one of those which fits into the fuzzy area between Long Lee and SMLE. Dave
 
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Can't wait to see the pics with the proper finish. She's already quite nice, she'll be gorgeous!

Dantorth, sorry to insist, but unless things differed significantly between the Mk1 and the Mk3:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ARMOURERS 1931
PART II
SMALL ARMS
CHAPTER I
RIFLES
Drawing Nos. S.A.I.D. 2058; 2059; 2267; 2268; 2269.
Section 1.—Stripping and Re-assembling
1. To strip Rifles No. 1, Mk. III & III*, and Rifles No. 2, Mk. IV.
Remove the nose-cap screws front and back, and nose-cap.
Remove the outer band screw, swivel, outer band, and front handguard with cap and screws.
Remove the inner band screw and spring.
Remove the magazine.
Remove the screws, guard, front and back.
Remove the guard, trigger pin and trigger.
Raise the backsight leaf, and remove the handguard, rear.
* † Remove the fore-end, with stud and spring, and the protector with nut, and screw.
Remove the butt plate screws, butt plate, wad, stock bolt, and stock butt.
* Attention is drawn to the importance of removing the fore-end before attempting to unscrew the stock bolt.
† In No. I, Mk.III, rifles of early manufacture, fitted with long-range sights, raise the aperture sight and, when necessary, remove the dial sight screw washer and dial sight before removing the fore-end.
Remove the bolt from the body—see para. 2.
Remove the locking bolt spring screw, spring, and washer (or aperture sight), locking bolt, and
safety catch.
Remove the sear spring.
Remove the sear screw, retaining spring and sear.
Remove the magazine catch pin and catch.
Remove the cut-off screw, and cut-off (rifles No. 1, Mk III, only).
Remove the sight leaf—see para. 5.
 
Dantforth said:
Lou, someone tried to remove the forestock before removing the butt stock bolt. The butt bolt, when fully in place (this rifle) pins the forstock in position. Once the bolt is removed the forestock drops away as it should. Interesting repair to that crack or damage in the wood there. I haven't seen one of those before, have you? Varnish was removed by a stripper. Whoever varnished the stock hadn't sanded it first so now, with multiple coats of BLO and turpentine mix, it looks as it should. Very interesting rifle and one of those which fits into the fuzzy area between Long Lee and SMLE. Dave
Click to expand...

I have to agree with lou on this one, I have personal experience with trying to remove the But stock before removing the forestock, not to mention Lou has probably stripped as many No.1 rifles as a WWI armorer. The Butt bolt is "keyed" into the rear of the fore end and will not turn in the fore end is still n place because the butt bolt has a square bolt on it. You will notice the strap is stripped from someone forcing the but stock screw.
 
What a beautiful gun..... A piece of history in your hands.

I just bumped into a fellow that showed me a 1865 enfield with perfect barrel....The gun was mint.......London arms... dated 1856 stamped on the breech. You guys have a piece of history that will never be repeated.
 
it's been a while since i played with early no3's but i think the bolthead was the type that had the other side of the stripper clip groove and that it has been replaced with a later type without the groove .
 
SMLE MK1*** Varnish removed, stock refinished.

Here are the pictures or the refinished stock. The varnish came off very easy. The wood has not been sanded. It was refinished with linseed oil cut with turpintine.
woodlu.jpg

woodru.jpg

butt.jpg

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looking good, now you need to look for the rear volley sight arm.

and the proper bolt head with the stripper clip guide would be nice too, but then there is all the headspacing issues with swapping boltheads to worry about.
 
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