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Hey everyone! I found this rifle in the closet when my signifigant other moved from her house. It has just been laying in our closet for the last 25 years. She says it belonged to her grandfather. I am in no way a collector but I do have an interest in the history and maybe running a few rounds through it.
I did fire a couple of 30-30 rounds but acquired some 303 185 grain rounds.
Would anyone like to educate me on all of the terminology and markings?
Sht Lee Enfield MkI*** converted from MkI by resighting for MkVII ammo as indicated by HV stamped on barrel. Bad idea to shoot 30-30 in it as split cases and gas blowback resulting in damage and injury can occur.
Congratulations ... :beerchug:
It's a relatively rare early Enfield and would be valuable to a serious Enfield collector.
You may want to go over it in detail for markings etc., just to see how original it is, as well as see the official modifications done to it over time that converted it from a Mk1 to a Mk1***.
Check out the example MkI *** in the England - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here)
1907 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) No.1 MkI*** Rifle (click here)
Regards,
Badger
STOP SHOOTING .30-30 IN IT!!! You'll shoot 'yer eye out! (literally).
Also, stop shooting it in general and post A LOT more pics here. If proper and matching, that is a $1000+ collectable rifle, few of which were ever made.
:confused: OK no more 30-30 rounds:dunno: I have proper ammo now.
I am figuring out how to use the camera now so I can maybe post a whole bunch of pictures
What is the lever with the increments 18-19-20 and so on for ? It is behind the front band.
more pics for now.
The "lever" on the forestock is used in conjuction with the flip up peep sight located by the safety. They are the volley sights, used for long range plunging fire.
The concept was for massed riflemen to use the volley sights for indirect fire. They were removed with the SMLE MkIII* as the doctrine did not prove practical or useful.
I was looking at the pictures of the 1907 and the 1903 rifles and noticed that this one is closer to the 1903.
It doesn't have as many stamps and the magazine cutoff is not there. The slot for it is there, was this not installed on earlier models?
If I am posting a lot of pictures would I put them in this forum ?
Sure, if the pics relate to this topic, feel free to add them to this thread.. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by lawrence253
That's a nice looking 1905 and again, I believe it is very valuable .... :thup:
Regards,
Badger
:runaway:I don't think I can put too many pictures with the allotted space I have left
Pictures can be hosted at Photobucket.com for free and linked into your posts as well.
Maybe this will work, it's myspace.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...9-1f8f810cb2c6
if the link doesn't work maybe copy and paste??
Quote:
Originally Posted by lawrence253
I don't think MySpace hosting works unless everyone here is a member? :dunno:
PhotoBucket has free hosting, as does ImageEvent.
If you want, either email them to me at badger@milsurps.com and I'll host them for you, or if you want to obtain your own greatly expanded capabilities here at milsurps.com, plus support our site, please read the thread titled How do I become a "Contributing Member" (click here)?
Regards,
Badger
Noone is left that actually knows any history on the rifle:crying:
The grandfather came to the US from Scicily but the year is unknown or even which war. :dunno:
OK , heres a rundown for you ,
you have a nearly complete specimin , and it is quite valuable to a collector , although you loose a little value for condition , and a little value for the cutoff ,
it has the correct bolt with charger head , it has the correct backsight with bone buttins , it has the correct rear handguard - and i think front one as well , it has the correct stock and that includes the volley sight complete , it has the correct rear volley arm , its got matching numbers on the bayonet boss and receiver-you need to look at the back of the bolt arm/handle and the back of the rear sight -they should match as well-i suspect they will ,
DO NOT CLEAN IT UP , let the collector do it , you could destroy it very easily ,
the ER serial number was put on and the old serial number struck out when it was refurbished [the addition to *** configuration] it was then sent to the irish ,
E-mail me id be pleased to purchase that one and pay a fair price ,
you are correct on all of the numbers. I was reading that Reynolds book and think the cutoff was only installed in the Navy weapons for some reason.
How did that 30-30 fire-form?
I wasn't aiming at anything in particular. I just hung it over the fence and fired into the ground to see what would happen. The brass did expand to fit the chamber and it was REALLY loud which was what I was going for. Now that I have had my a*& chewed for that I can't wait to go to the range and see what I can do with it there :-D
I shouldn't be preaching to anyone but really, is it necessary to shoot it? Being as interesting a piece of history as it is it would be a shame to ruin it. If you are not a collector of Lee Enfield rifles you really should consider finding a home for it with a serious collector. Lovely rifle. Thanks for sharing it here.
The missing cutoff doesn't really matter, most of these rifles were issued without them. The stock and action were cut for them, but they were only fitted in NAVAL service. Great looking old rifle!
weren't these rifles built for shooting? I know it is old but I don't think it can hurt to fire a few rounds just to see how accurate it is . I bought some stripper clips and think I will check for a range to try it out on OH BOY !!