What make of L-E is this?

M

maxim08

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First 08 purchase (gift) is this Lee-Enfield in .303.

The following is marked on the band:

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The barrel is BSA. No bolt.

I have searched the forum but cannot find any information related to these markings. I kind of like the smiling tiger face.

Regards,

maxim08
 
This rifle was one of a quantity made by BSA for Siam in the 1920s. A standard SMLE bolt could be fitted.
 
Yep. Siamese. Excellent picture too.
"...No bolt..." Hope you didn't pay much for it. You or your smithy will need a handful of pricey No. 1 bolt heads to get it working. No. 1 bolt heads are not number stamped like No. 4 Rifle bolt heads are. The only way to deal with it is through trial and error with proper headspace guages to find a suitable one for headspace.
 
A bolt assembly could be obtained easily enough, but as sunray has pointed out, it would have to be checked for proper fit if the rifle is going to be fired. Locking lugs would need to be checked for bearing, and headspace would have to be checked. A replacement bolt might just drop in, fitting might be needed, and different boltheads might have to be tried to get acceptable headspace. When these rifles were originally assembled, the original bolthead would have been stoned until the fit was correct. Fortunately, the limits are relatively generous compared with many other rifles. Don't know where you are in Ontario, but its not unusual for an established gunsmithing shop to have a box of salvaged bolts, and you might get lucky.
 
maxim08 said:
I have searched the forum but cannot find any information related to these markings. I kind of like the smiling tiger face.

Regards,

maxim08
Click to expand...

:cheers:

There's a 109 pic photo montage and full details as to the history of these rare old girls in the England - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here) http://www.milsurps.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12

1920 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) "Wild Tiger Corps" No.1 MkIII* Rifle (click here) http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=1072

(Click PIC to Enlarge)


If you aren't a member you have to join, however, you can register for FREE..... Sorry, but if we don't have people register with legitimate email addresses, we get plastered with posts from spammers sellling on-line presciption drugs and advertising ####ography sites.

Regards,
Badger
 
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wild tiger corps

i have one too,thai serial on the rifle is 2717,2161 on the bolt.mismatched bolt but there's thai numbers on it.do you have an idea about the value? rifling is good,as the wood.i don't know if the magazine is the original one.too bad it has been filed...thank you badger,your site is a very helpful source of infos.
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One must remember the King of Siam was an officer cadet at Sandhurst, which, I would assume influenced his choice of weapons for the "Wild Tiger Corps" just a wee bit.

these rifles are not all that easy to find. AND don't be put off by the fact that it doesn't have a bolt, You should be able to find one without all that much trouble. The only downside is the markings won't match that of the rifle but that is a minor point.
More important is the condition of the bore.
 
Wow, thanks for all the responses.
I have a couple of other enfields and 2 and a bit spare bolts although I don't have the correct cocking piece at this time.
I'll take a couple of photos on the weekend and post them.
Regards,
Maxim08
 
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