1928 dated BSA Iraqi No.1 MKIII*

Being knee deep in Lee Enfields it is very rare that I find one of interest. However, a local shop recently had two Iraqi marked No.1 MkIII* rifles. The military receivers are dated 1928, military inspection marks, no commercial proofs, and serial numbers L4107 and L4274. There are no importer marks like the Iraqi guns imported in the 90's by Federal Ordnance. They do have the Iraqi triangle mark on the receiver flat and the barrel knox form.

The BSA history, "After the Battle", reportes that they had an order for 16,000 MkIII*s for Iraq beginning in 1935. There is no mention of a 1928 run. Perhaps the start of the order was filled with already marked 1928 receivers.

The $400 gun was complete but missing ID stock disc. I bought the $100 model missing seven screws and the magazine. It had the stock disc that seems proper for the gun as the inventory acceptance date is October 1928. I have yet to find out what unit S.N.P. was.


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why do people always sell these interesting things round you Paul. All we ever get are black pointy plasticky rifles and the odd century imported No.4 or JJovino speshial . Grrrrrr.

Could the 28 be stamped later? looks that way to me....and yes fasinating, soooo much fun.

:D

First 1928 dated English action I've seen. Did English factories manufacture SMLE actions every year between the two World Wars?

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Originally Posted by breakeyp

The BSA history, "After the Battle", reportes that they had an order for 16,000 MkIII*s for Iraq beginning in 1935. There is no mention of a 1928 run. Perhaps the start of the order was filled with already marked 1928 receivers.

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Your gun has come via the UK Government because it has Government ownership marks - Crowned GR and date. If it was part of an order from Iraq to BSA it would NOT have those marks and WOULD have British Proof marks - Crowned BM in this case.

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Originally Posted by Homer

First 1928 dated English action I've seen. Did English factories manufacture SMLE actions every year between the two World Wars?

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The BSA History book laments that they had no government orders from 1920 to 1936 and the tooling was mothballed and staff let go. Lack of experienced workers was a big problem when they had to tool for WWII. British factories did not make a receiver or bayonet matching every year.

The rifle was shipped with a blank disc and the receiving unit marked it with what they wanted. I would not expect the disc to have the same size shape marks as factory production markings.

Is does seem strange that the number 2933 and date appear to be pretty well washed or buffed out, while the SNP is not quite crystal clear, it's far better/clearer than the remainder of the markings

I see the know form has been linished too.

Looks like a butcher has tried to unbreech it with a stilson spanner THEN linished it!

I have a similar one. I have come up with the two best theories, at least for me. One is during the British mandate period of the 1920s it was captured and proofed. Or after the initial 1930's contact more surplus was sold to the Iraqis' and then proofed.