Picked up SHTle No1 Mk3 last night how did i do?

I picked this rifle up last night for $300
From what i was told by the previous owners is a obviously has a new serial giving to it during reworking though the stock and hand guards are original to the rifle the bolt, nose cap match the new receiver serial

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Nice find. :thup: :thup:

IMA has the magazine shutoff with the screw. Or did you take it off?

No im missing the Magazine cutoff plate but the screw is present in the receiver ill thinking of picking up one from numrich

What a neat old rifle. How it ever escaped all the rebuilds and overhauls that would remove the early parts is a wonder...very nice.

Looks like a Mark 1*** with the Irish prefix ER on the second serial number. Both CR and ER were used as a prefix to the new Irish serial number but I do have a Enfield 1904 Mark 1*** that is on the third serial number which is G 839

A steal for $300

Great find. I'm slightly jealous. Haha.

Tyson

omg3: Yes, that's a bit of a bargain. I won't tell you what I paid for mine! The SMLE MkI*** was an upgrade of the MKI prior to or early in WW1 to make the sights compatible with Mk VII ammunition. Rework dates are often stamped on the left cheek. Very nice find.

Ridolpho

there is a large stamping of NOV 1917 on the left side of the butt stock along with the name TOM

You may have read this already, but just in case...

Milsurps Knowledge Library - 1907 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) MkI*** Rifle

I have a small collection of the Mark 1 variations and in the USA, I find more Mark 1*** rifles with the second serial number and the ER or CR prefix than the non prefix. Also found a G prefix on a 1904 Enfield Mark 1***. The regular Mark 1*** with just the production serial number is very difficult, and I have only found one BSA 1906 matching s/n s over 87176.

Also found a Enfield 1907 Cond 11* with early sights for the Mark V1 cartridge

A few years ago I found two Mark 1** I P rifles that were upgraded to Mark 111 in 1914 and 1917.

On the Irish rifles, I have noticed that the CR prefixes use a lot of Mark 111 parts and wood while the ER appear somewhat original.

photo 1) Enfield 1906 CR 2) BSA 1906 s/n s 87176 3) Enfield 1904 G 839 4) Enfield 1907 Cond 11* 5) Enfield 1906 CR with Mark 111 fore-endAttachment 62288

what would be the proper sling for my rifles?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by om3gad3a7h

what would be the proper sling for my rifles?

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The standard webbing rifle sling covers pretty much all bases with Lee-Enfields:

Weapons: Slings

Although finding pre-WWII marked examples is another matter.

Lucky! I envy you even though I picked up a couple CR rifles for a good deal like you. Now I'm looking for an ER or unconverted Mk1*** too, so careful lest you develop an addiction! Its nice to find an affordable bargain on these since some sellers don't know the difference. Good thing you picked it up first and asked questions later! If you want to learn more than you can shake a stick at about the Irish Mk1***'s check out the threads on them here and on gunboards. That is some really great history on the rifle on the stock also.

Oh trust me the addiction has taken hold in the last 3 months Ive made 5 C&R purchases a few of my collector friends are hating me right now

Well i picked up a okie field gauge and sadly the bolt closes on it fully my question to you all is should i just keep it as a collector piece or should i hunt a bolt head down i want to shoot the rifle but i am a bit paranoid

What the xxxx is an 'okie' field gauge? is it some sort of 'intermediate' gauge between the high and low standard? We need to know before we can go any further!

They look like a coin Peter, here they are. Gauge Sales Page

You i picked up one of the field gauges from there does that help at all?

If that's the case, and you are checking a No1 rifle, then there's only two thicknesses that you need to know about. .064" and the bolt must close. .074" and the bolt must NOT close. But don't get too paranoid about CHS if everything else is good.

Could he use a larger bolt head to get into the correct CHS range?

He could of course but you know by now that the average joe (no offence meant to anyone here) changing a bolt head can cause mre problems than it answers unless you go through the reast of the checks and balances afterwards.

Really nice find. I love all those battle scars. This gun really has a story to tell.

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Originally Posted by om3gad3a7h

my question to you all is should i just keep it as a collector piece or should i hunt a bolt head down i want to shoot the rifle but i am a bit paranoid

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This is just my opinion: You obviously show both caring and curiosity for our beloved Enfields. Restore the gun to operating capacity, even if you don't decide to shoot it (I have done this with all my Enfields. This is a standard of excellence that's the hallmark of a true master and preserver of heritage; and it honours the brave souls like Tom that carried this gun into combat, risking their lives to ensure our freedom.)

The rationale: just imagine someone, one hundred years hence, trying to find parts for this gun. (If you think parts are hard to find now, imagine the poor blokes several generations down the line who inherit this gun and try to find parts!)

Once you get all the insights from the experts, copy the deciphering of all the markings into a file, print it out, roll it up tight like a scroll, and stuff it into the Butt Plate hole for posterity; someone ages from now will cherish you in your grave.

I would probably start by doing the O-ring thing, sandbag the gun on the bench and use my string to pull the trigger. Then inspect the spent cartridge case and compare it to an unfired one.

If you are really paranoid (and you can never be too paranoid ;) ) you could use masking tape to build up your field gauge. It won't be precise, but it will give you a rough idea of how far out the CHS is.

I had a No4T that was so clapped that the CHS was .012 excessive or CHS'd at .086" It still shot the issue Mk7 and HXP OK. Obviously a worn body as nothing would fix it. So don't be tooooo paranoid of CHS faults - within reason - if the rest of the bolt fitting and mechanicals is OK. CHS faults is/are easier on weapons with rimmed ammo than rimless. This was the theory put forward by Boys with his .55 rimless - but belted!

Added later..... I meant to say that rimmed ammo is more forgiving in weapons with poor CHS.

The gauge measures at 0.74 :( hmm i'm thinking i will fire a round and compare for deformation

On the other hand, why not just send the rifle down to Brian at BDL in SC. He's only 1/2" away from you according to my world atlas. He can check it properly with the correct gauges, fit a new bolt head properly or maybe fit a new bolt, get the bearing surfaces correct and set it up properly too.

Now thats i option i had no idea i had thanks so much ill have to give them a call tomorrow sadly they are actually 5hrs away from me

He He, I think if your so worried about it you should just get rid of it by selling it to me!;) (for some profit of course) I'd love an Enfield/ ER instead of a BSA, especially one with some neat history...

... and there goes that pledge not to ever be that "just give it to me, then" forum guy!