No1 Mk3* HB Rear Sight

[xa-coupe]

I am going to look at a sporterised/bubba-ised No1Mk3* with a decent heavy barrel tomorrow. It looks like only the wood has been touched so I am happy to nurse it back to health by finding good full wood for it.
I can't tell for sure but it looks to have no rear sight or any drilling for central / peep sights. Does the HB take a regular rear sight? I kind of assume not but I can't seem to find a definiative answer.

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[Maxwell Smart]

The standard SMLE Mk 111 rear sight bed has to be reamed out to fit the larger diameter of the heavy barrel; if you are going to fit standard forends and hanguards these need to be adjusted as well.

[xa-coupe]

Thanks, I figured about the wood and never thought about the sights till now. I have another part I need reamed out a bit so I might have to take the bits to a gunsmith once I get it all.
I will just get the wood when it comes available, I want it to look real purdy and shoot well to boot.

[Demo]

I'm not sure that all gun smiths would be able to do that job. The correct tapered reamer is required and if it's pushed through to far by the slightest bit it will be too lose. I've seen some absolutely dreadfull attempts at this in the past.
Good luck.

[tbonesmith]

I've reamed and fitted a couple of rear sight bases and I found the procedure not too dramatic. Just need the right tools and patience. I've brought some range rifles back to standard configuration like this, and before you go looking for a new forend to replace the one with a central cutout, consider better shaping the cutout. I did one recently where I shaped the cutout into the forend, and you really couldn't tell after reoiling the lot.
Also if you're using the rifle, if you do as I did and keep the cutout but shape it into the stock, then when you realize that you actually prefer to shoot through a micro adjustable peep sight sometimes, you can just slap the old plate on and screw on the sight, too easy.
The possibility of this "repair"/integration depends on just how far the previous owner went with the cutout.

[xa-coupe]

The forewood is sporterised so I have to replace it. Funnily enough I can't see in the pictures where anything else was screwed in.. central or scope mounts. I will be having a look at it today and find out. I donl;t know how they aimed it without a sight but I will get my hands on it and have a look.
Next thing assuming all is okay, is to find some no1 wood to restore it. I have most of the hardware required already.

[tbonesmith]

I might be able to help you out with some wood if you buy the rifle. Not new though.

[xa-coupe]

Thanks TBone, appreciate it. Once I get back ( assuming I get it ) I will post pictures and we will see what I have to do.

[xa-coupe]

so I now have possibly the ugliest sporterised no1 in history.


Tomorrow I will pull it down and give it a thorough clean. As suspected, no rear sight but at least the central sight wasn't drilled on as it used the safety hole. I'll track down a rear sight base and see how much work this will actually be.

A couple more pics




If there is anything interesting with the markings tomorrow I wll post more but it looks to be a run of the mill 42 model with a new barrel in 1955.

[Demo]

I think I've seen worse.