LSA rifles had a distinctive big asterisk

[BigBadDog]

I have read on several occasion that LSA & Co Mk3* rifles had a distinctive big asterisk.

Is anybody able to provide a photo of such?

Many thanks

Information

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[BurtonP]

Just checked my LSA & Co and it's a 1916 No III, not a No III*. Lovely rifle and shooter though, by far the best SMLE I've got. One of my early restoration jobs.

[BigBadDog]

Thank you, lovely looking rifle by the way.

[HighlandGunner]

Just checked my LSA & Co and it's a 1916 No III, not a No III*. Lovely rifle and shooter though, by far the best SMLE I've got. One of my early restoration jobs.

Beautiful rifle, I also have a 1916 LSA mk3 (no *) it needs a new forestock in order to finally return it to original. My question is, not being a mk1*, should it have the volley sight and cut off or not. I heard that LSA kept them past 1915 but I'm not sure.

Cheers!

[BurtonP]

I think 1916 rifles were a mixed bag of features and I'd be surprised if there is a definitive answer. For my restoration I went with cutoff, early rear sight protector, and windage adjuster, but not the volley sight. Partly this was due to the repro stocks not having a place for it.
Cheers,
Burton

[Kiwi]

Attachment 116402Attachment 116403

[BigBadDog]

Attachment 116402Attachment 116403

Interesting first picture from Kiwi. The date stamp looks like a poorly struck 8 and the star is totally different from any other LSA & Co star I’ve seen so far.

Could it be a LSA & Co 1918 Mk3 officially upgraded to Mk3 star by another manufacturer/ person hence the different star? I have read, can’t remember where, of people upgrading their 3’s to 3 stars as they were worth more.

The answer might be compounded by a 3* could have very feasibly been built on existing 3 bodies just without the cutout bring utilised, good economics. I understand that some 3* were returned to 3 standard but in this case the * should of have been barred out.

From all my readings LSA did not start producing 3 star until 1918, however with everything Enfield never say never, certainly makes for interesting collecting.