magazine for No.1 Mk.3 rifle

[rondog]

I bought a sporterized No.1 Mk.3 rifle last Sunday, which I'll do a separate thread on later. But I don't think it has the right magazine in it, at least the mag won't come out of the rifle. I'm afraid I'll have to knock it out with a piece of wood. I don't plan to mess with it until I take it to the range, if it'll load, feed and shoot OK, then I'll leave it in for now.

So, where can a feller buy a magazine or two for one of these old girls?

I've already bought a stock set for it on eBay, probably paid too much and it looks beat, but all the pieces are there with all the metal parts.



Thanks!

[BushyFromOz]

Had the same problem last week, turned out to be the trigger guard had been made to "spring" by shortening the collar that the front trigger guard screw runs thorugh, and when it was tightened down it bent the trigger guard enought to foul the lip of the auxillary spring on the magazine.

Of course, it could be it has a no4's magazine jammed in there, but even then you shoule be able to get it out.

remove the trigger guard and the mag will come off with it, youll get a better idea then.

[rondog]

I don't know that much about the Enfield magazines, but the one in there now looks a little "off". I think it might be the wrong kind, or a bootleg. The seller said he'd paid $50 for that magazine, but I took that comment with a grain of salt. I only paid $100 for the rifle, it looks to be correct except for the butchering of the front stock.

Kind of odd, the date stamp is 1917, but the "7" is lightly overstamped with an "8". The "8" certainly looks to be a match with the other numbers, I have to wonder why it's overstamped. I need to take some photos.

[buffdog]

Number 4 Lee Enfield Rifle magazine on the left. No. 1 SMLE Rifle magazine on the right.
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[rondog]

Thanks bullfrog! I definitely have the wrong magazine, and a cheap copy at that. Mine has an open seam running the length of the bottom, from front to back.

[Mohawk]

May Not be a copy. I have a couple of Savage marked ones that look that way. I think they were made in a hurry to fill a need...

[rondog]

I'm sorry buffdog! I have no idea how I came up with "bullfrog" as your username, guess I just read it too fast. But anyway, thanks again for the photo! Gives me some clarity as to what I'm looking for.

[Bearclaw]

Mohawk is right, sounds like a Savage No4 mag in there.

[rondog]

If that's what it is, will it work in my No.5 carbine? I haven't really tried to get it out yet.

[Bearclaw]

Sure will unless it has been damaged somehow.