Mk. 1 No. III Recommendation

Dear Fellow Enfield Enthusiasts...Having three Mk4 No1s and a Mk5 No1, I feel that my next Enfield should be a Mk1 NoIII. Besides the obvious things - matching numbers, sound bore, proper headspace, correct furniture etc. - are there certain eras or manufacturers I should seek or avoid? After seeing a friends very fine Lithgow - with HT barrel and micrometer sight - which he shot at Bisley in the early 1950s...I was quite smitten! If any of you blokes have a good 'un for sale, please let me know! I'm retired and so now have time to shoot to my hearts content... Many thanks in advance.
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Hi Aqbill, Where are you located? A lot depends on your location, I recommend reading gunbroker.com to a) drool and B) get a sense of whats around for the money, bearing in mind that its a USA site only. If you're down unda then read up on TradeMe.com in NZ, this site is open to NZ and AUS. buyers.
Lithgows are nicely made, there's a lot of panache to the WW1 years, and if you're down unda they are not hard to find with H barrels, you could end up with your dream rifle for christmas ...

The fella I referred to that shot at Bisley happens to be a Kiwi - or was anyway - he's a Yank now. I really do have an inordinate fondness for all things Aussie or Kiwi particularly things relating to shooting and sailing. Have had the opportunity to visit Oz but are looking for an opportunity to visit NZ as well. Have a distant relative that was "transported" with the 2nd Fleet to Sydney...so thought I'd start there first. Thanks for the thoughts.
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WE still dont know where you are.
If you are in the UK I can make some suggestions for you.

aqbill is in the United States.

aqbill, I think you have your nomenclature reversed unless you have some strange rifles. I think you meant to say " Having three No.4 Mark 1s and a No.5 Mark 1."

If that's the case then you are looking for a No.1 Mark III. Small point but it helps to prevent confusion.

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Originally Posted by aqbill

Dear Fellow Enfield Enthusiasts...Having three Mk4 No1s and a Mk5 No1, I feel that my next Enfield should be a Mk1 NoIII. Besides the obvious things - matching numbers, sound bore, proper headspace, correct furniture etc. - are there certain eras or manufacturers I should seek or avoid? After seeing a friends very fine Lithgow - with HT barrel and micrometer sight - which he shot at Bisley in the early 1950s...I was quite smitten! If any of you blokes have a good 'un for sale, please let me know! I'm retired and so now have time to shoot to my hearts content... Many thanks in advance.

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Originally Posted by Alan de Enfield

WE still dont know where you are.
If you are in the UK I can make some suggestions for you.

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From his enthusiasm, opportunity to shoot to his heart's desire, and liberty to purchase multiple Enfields, I very much doubt that he is in UK.....

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Originally Posted by Thunderbox

From his enthusiasm, opportunity to shoot to his heart's desire, and liberty to purchase multiple Enfields, I very much doubt that he is in UK.....

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A fair assumption but both you and I (and several other UK shooters I know) have more Enfields than the OP does. So its not quite a foregone conclusion.

My shooting is potentially unlimited as my own land is cleared by the police for 303 & 7.62/308, and I have a 100yd range set up that could be potentially increased to 500 or even 600yds) I also have an 'open' ticket and the local gamekeeper has over 5,000 acres that my son & I can shoot on. We have also been asked to help an another local farm (2,000+ acres) to control vermin (including Muntjac)
The only problem at this time of year is disturbing the pheasants

In fact T/Box you would have been one of my suggestions if he was in the UK

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Originally Posted by Alan de Enfield

A fair assumption but both you and I (and several other UK shooters I know) have more Enfields than the OP does. So its not quite a foregone conclusion.

My shooting is potentially unlimited as my own land is cleared by the police for 303 & 7.62/308, and I have a 100yd range set up that could be potentially increased to 500 or even 600yds) I also have an 'open' ticket and the local gamekeeper has over 5,000 acres that my son & I can shoot on. We have also been asked to help an another local farm (2,000+ acres) to control vermin (including Muntjac)
The only problem at this time of year is disturbing the pheasants

In fact T/Box you would have been one of my suggestions if he was in the UK

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I thought your land was a golf course? Do your clients just duck when they hear the "crack and thump", or are the bunkers extra-deep...?

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Originally Posted by Thunderbox

I thought your land was a golf course? Do your clients just duck when they hear the "crack and thump", or are the bunkers extra-deep...?

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Correct - but they are not here 24/7 and in fact we have only seen about half a dozen since the middle of November when the snow and minus temperatures began.
If they are golfing and we have the 'urge' we move 'next door'.

Guys, I'm living in the great northwestern part of Alabama in a place called Muscle Shoals - or just the Shoals for short. If you've heard the tune "Sweet Home Alabama" then you've heard us mentioned in the line "In Muscle Shoals they've got the Swampers, an' they've been known to pick a song or two..." In any case, I'm in the States, so if you have recommendations for someone to talk to about getting a Number 1, Mark III that would be great and I'd be forever in your debt.
:dancingbanana::dancingbanana::dancingbanana:

aqbill,

Brian Dick of bdlltd.com is a good source for any Lee Enfield rifle.

Personally I think all the manufacturers of the No.1 mark III are equal but I have a preference for the LSA (London Small Arms) rifles. Walnut stocks are to be preferred if you are a shooter over the coachwood stocks found on many Lithgow rifles ( Ducking for cover due to incoming fire :D )