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What can you all tell me about this rifle?
Nearly 15 years ago, before my grandfather passed away, I was cleaning out his house and found this gun in a closet. It has sat in my garage unattended since then. I recently got the itch to clean this thing up.
I see quite a few markings on it. Some I have discovered the meaning behind on other threads. However, I haven't found a thread or any info on this exact model. Its probably here and I missed it.
Thanks in advance for the help!
There's not a great deal to tell except that your rifle is an "Old Contemptible" who may have served in any number of campaigns during the Great War and then got a rebarrel in 1936, and I suspect a full Factory Thorough Repair at the time - someone else may know for sure - I have a 1913 BSA that was overhauled and re-barreled the same year and it has a most beautiful "Enfield blue" with oil-blacked and lacquered trigger, cocking piece, safety lever etc. Probably yours got the same treatment at that time, but later had a more recent overhaul and a phosphate and Suncorite(?) coating applied.
Overall, one of millions of low-budget sporters churned out in the 40s, 50s and 60s in the UK and North America. A cheap Parker Hale base has been fitted. These rifles must have been cheap and the labour even cheaper, to make it worthwhile sporterizing them at all.
Those were the days when everybody and his uncle had either packed a full-wood Lee Enfield around for King and Country, or had avoided doing so by means fair or foul, and neither had any wish to be reminded of the fact by seeing a full-wood example again.;)
Welcome to the forum, looks like it's been painted black at one time...fully sporterized for a hunter... What's the barrel like inside?
Here's a 1917 BSA in the MKL with a 137 pic virtual tour ... ;)
1917 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) No.1 MkIII* (Mfg by BSA - Birmingham Small Arms)
Regards,
Doug
The foresight LOOKs like the foresight conversions done by (i THINK) Harrison and Cogswell who sporterized a bunch of these. they added a bit ON to the existing sight to give it a new (sporty) profile rather than fitting a new sight. I have one somewhere i might find over the weekend.