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Sun came out this afternoon so thought I'd take some pics to share of my 1915 LSA MkIII. I'm not sure how rare this is but it is all original with matching numbers throughout, intact volley sights and rear sight ramp calibrated for the MkVI 215Gr RN round.
Only part I have changed is the front sight blade as I try to find something that works with my batch of Kynamco 215Gr RN ammo (still have original).
A grand old lady! Hope you like her!
Interesting rifle.
Your rear sight ramp is the first I have seen that is that "proud", it almost looks like some one has welded some metal and re-machined it. Below is a couple pic's of my Mk VI and Mk VII sight beds. With the Mk VI the ramp goes about half the thickness of the rear sight arm, the Mk VII ramp goes through about a quarter.
Lance
Lance,
Aren't both of your sight beds actually MkVII? They both appear to be in the range that occurs due to slight variations in the way the rearsight slider sits at the end of the ramp.
I'm familiar with OxfordAndy's rifle (it was in my collection for a few years); the ramp is definitely not modified, and I recall it is marked to the rifle.
Does the slide have the clearance groove machined in underneath?
The ramp difference between Mk VI and VII is tough to see at first. My pic's are not at a perfect angle but just study how far the ramp goes through the thickness of the sight leaf. Check out page 156 in Skennerton's new book for a different perspective. I have attached a pic of my second Mk III still set up for Mk VI ammo and a set of Mk VI and VII examples from a SMLE Mk I and I***
The two Mk VI ammo SMLE Mk III's in my stable both do not have the clearance groove on the leaf slider, good question.
The above LSA's ramp to me looks very shiny compared to the rest of the rifle, there appears to be a matching set of splice lines on the ramp's edge just before the hinge pin base and a horizontal line of pits which could be from an incomplete weld. The leaf is original, just base looks fishy
Thunderbox - many thanks for your post and confirmation that you were a previouis owner ("keeper") of the rifle. I'd love to know a little more about it if you can let me know...such as it's origin.
Re: the rear sight ramp, yes..your recollection is correct. It is marked with the same serial number as every other part of the rifle, also has all parts have clear "X" LSA inspectors marks. I tried to show this in the picture of the rear of the leaf...but it is not clear in the pics.
On closer inspection of the inside of the sight, on each of the inside "walls" there appear to be "extensions" added raising the bump/profile - there is a clear difference in the colour of the metal of the higher portions.
Lance, if the rear sight seems a little shiny it seem this is because most of the blue has worn off - similarly on the bolt.
If I get a chance tomorrow I'll try to post some clearer pics.
In any event, it looks like a nice and rare rifle. mostly unaltered MkIII (no star) rifles just keep getting more valuable.
As promised a couple more pics of both sides of the inside of the rear sight showing what appears to be additional metal on top of what looks like a more "standard" ramp profile
To my eyes, the "standard" part looks looks similar to the MkVI profile that Lance mentions and is shown in Skennerton's book as referenced above - rather then the MkVII?
You can just see the top of an inspection mark half way along the ramp on the left side (first pic below). This seems to be below the join line of the "added" part but appears to show no signs of having been machined after being struck (the edges of the crown appear sharp). So I'm guessing the whole part is as originally fmanufactured/fitted?
I've also tried to get a better picture of the underside of the rear leaf.
Not sure what you guys make of this...or if anyone has seen anything similar? Or even why this would "modification" be made - different/heavier round to either the MkVi or MkVII? Trials?
Any comments or input welcomed!
Hi OxfordAndy
That's a lovely rifle and LSA rifles always seem to have such a 'quality' build! I'm lucky enough to have an unaltered 1914 dated 'Enfield' SMLE, which is the pride of my small collection.
Certainly your rifle should have been sighted for MkVII ammunition from 'new' and (with the introduction of MkVII ammunition in 1910) they were converting MkI SMLE rifles from MkVI to MkVII ammunition prior to WW1. The conversion involved reducing the height of the sight bed, so yours does look like a conversion back from MkVII to MkVI ammunition...
Not sure whether some contemporary target shooters preferred the MKVI round, perhaps it was a customisation for target use?
Hang onto it, they are very difficult to find in that condition!
All the best
Mike
Thanks Mike! Yes, even if she is a bit of an oddity I intend to hang on to her.
Would love to know more, but guess I never will now!
Andy