Printable View
It's so hard to figure out what's service related or what's been swapped out and changed in 70 odd years of public ownership.
If its seen Australian service (coachwood is a strong sign it has) then you would expect to see the typical Aussie markings on the butt.
I would imagine among the ex Italian Navy examples, there must be some really good original sleepers.
Astonishing they kept them in store for so long really, the Italians clearly arn't fans of the spring clean!
The Brits returned the same No of rifles after WW1 that Australia sent them at the beginning. These rifles were rebuilt and returned to stores, this means there are British rifles with Australian furniture and other parts with Aussie marks, that rifle maybe one of those. The Butt will have the rifles history stamped in it so photos of the markings will tell us. I should also say that Aussie troops also came home with Brit rifles on their shoulders.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
There are indeed some very nice rifles amongst the 'Italian' batch. I am very fortunate that one of the bigger dealers (no names mentioned but they sell most of their stuff deactivated), now & then allows me to go through his supplies to select nice examples. I picked up a 1905 Mk1*** to Mk3 conversion a couple of years ago, as well as one of the first FE prefix No5's off the production line shortly after. I've known the proprietor for thirty-odd years so he trusts me enough to leave me in the cellar with 500 Enfields & to pick out what I want in my own time. I even get a cup of coffee brought down to me periodically! I suppose it's a sort of Enfield heaven! Just a shame that you know all along that nearly all of the rifles which you don't buy are going to get chopped up!
But to stick to the OP's posting - he has a nice complete fairly early Mk3* by BSA. It's all there & a nice looking rifle, even if it has been re-stocked & acquired some black protective paint in places at some point in the past - it was well worth what he paid for it!
Absolutely agreed and understood. Nothing wrong there either...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindi2
It was given to me by a very good friend of mine several years ago. No money changed hands. Cheap is good but free is better. As it sits, with my reloads it will group under 2" all day long at 100 yards as long as I do my part. Not sure trying to "accurize" it will do much good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Payne
Jon
---------- Post added at 07:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:40 PM ----------
Unfortunately, there are no stampings whatsoever on the butt stock.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindi2
Jon
Unfortunately, there are no stampings whatsoever on the butt stock.
Jon[/QUOTE]
Has it been sanded back. The wood should be proud of all metal not flush or the metal proud.
It doesn't appear to have been sanded. The grain is not smooth as if sanded or handled a lot. I'm thinking maybe modern replacement wood.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindi2
Jon
It sure looks to have been sanded and covered with something...