Century Arms Import SMLE

[Chicom762]

I recently have been searching for a safe queen collection keeper SMLE. I came across a fairly nice matching example and it’’s import marked. Does anyone know the story behind the century import guns? Where did they get them from? When were they imported? Other collectors would you turn down an import marked gun? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

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[breakeyp]

Importers resist telling where their stock comes from. None of your questions have solid answers. Some buyers angst over import markings and some don't. I think they add to the history of the gun. Welcome to the form.

[Singer B]

Importers resist telling where their stock comes from. None of your questions have solid answers. Some buyers angst over import markings and some don't. I think they add to the history of the gun. Welcome to the form.

I think your comment reference import marks adding to the history was excellent! I never thought of it that way!

[303 Gunner]

I've never had a real gripe with import marks, I just view them as part of the rifle's history. Just as long as they're not the electropenciled billboards I've been seeing on No. 4 Mk 2s lately!

[Gil Boyd]

Certainly a fear I have had for many years and I am sure I'm not alone.
Some of the scribble MUST have been done by men on moonshine or its equivalent, or they have the DT's and served with a Bomb Disposal unit, its all over the place when you consider they had a template.

[MasterChief]

While I don't mind the import marks I do respect the preferences of many advanced collectors who do mind.

In the special case of British small arms, collectors are frequently blessed with (occasionally) abundant markings and dates applied by arsenals, factories, units and individuals which tell the "story" of the weapon or at least inspire the imagination.

From heroic deeds down to the lowliest Tommy on sentry-go, these rifles can transcend the ignominies of indifferent storage conditions and poor maintenance by subsequent custodians and even the insult of an importer's stamp or electro-pencil.

Originalty = $. How much do you want to spend?

[Bindi2]

While I don't mind the import marks I do respect the preferences of many advanced collectors who do mind.

In the special case of British small arms, collectors are frequently blessed with (occasionally) abundant markings and dates applied by arsenals, factories, units and individuals which tell the "story" of the weapon or at least inspire the imagination.

From heroic deeds down to the lowliest Tommy on sentry-go, these rifles can transcend the ignominies of indifferent storage conditions and poor maintenance by subsequent custodians and even the insult of an importer's stamp or electro-pencil.

Originalty = $. How much do you want to spend?

http://www.milsurps.com/images/impor...0/xlarge-1.jpg

There is no such beast as a 1913 Lithgow in original pristine unmarked condition. If anybody tells you they have one rest assured it is a Bubba rebuild. The rifle shown has lost many $ to me because it has been tarted up and has the wrong sling for when it left service and is a repro. Returning a Lee Enfield Rifle to how you think it left the factory is Bubba at work because you have removed repairs and in service upgrades which now make that rifle something that does not exist except in your mind. The originality is how the rifle left service. Many very valuable historical pieces have been destroyed because of this incorrect thinking.

[breakeyp]

I have run into several "Advanced Collectors" who informed me that they only collect original condition guns with no import markings etc. It must be as it left the factory.

I asked then if they would pass on one marked RAF or RCMP. Hem and Haw a statement that those would be special cases. I guess I collect special cases. The history is where they have been, not one that sat in a drawer in the dark.

[303 Gunner]

The history is where they have been, not one that sat in a drawer in the dark.

Exactly! I have a friend who is convinced he "must" have a new No. 4 Mk 2 as his first Enfield, and he wants to shoot it. My counter was that he should find a good seasoned No. 4 Mk I that has some history in it

[smerdon42]

There is no such beast as a 1913 Lithgow in original pristine unmarked condition. If anybody tells you they have one rest assured it is a Bubba rebuild. The rifle shown has lost many $ to me because it has been tarted up and has the wrong sling for when it left service and is a repro. Returning a Lee Enfield Rifle to how you think it left the factory is Bubba at work because you have removed repairs and in service upgrades which now make that rifle something that does not exist except in your mind. The originality is how the rifle left service. Many very valuable historical pieces have been destroyed because of this incorrect thinking.

Bindi , I agree with you ,it is like hens teeth to find a original rifle . I like to restore the sporterized rifle s I have back to original spec.i have a 1913 Lithgow that was sporterized and I have worked on finding all the parts from Lithgow to make it a restoration as close to it left the factory. Mine unfortunately had to be restocked with volley sights original plate but I don’t have a lithgow small star nose cap and will continue to look for one to match , everything else like the sight ,bolt magazine and even the bolt head are original to the rifle . But I don’t reperesent it as original .i have 3x 1914 lithgows one is sporterized and went into the Austrian police force after ww2 , one went to India and was restocked and has Indian parts on it but numbered to the original rifle serial and the last one is one that was put into the British army during ww1 and remained there during ww2 and some how ended back up in Aussie hands during ww2 if this one could talk it would be a interesting yarn .i leave my unsporterized ones as is as it is good to keep the history .intact .if someone else has messed with it I enjoy the challenge of collecting and restoring them.