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I picked up another oddball (an Enfauser! :madsmile:) for the collection and it followed me home from the shop today!
It's all matching numbers (from the Turks at least) built on a 1912 Enfield-made Mk III which once belonged to the 6th Battalion of the Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment. They served in Gallipoli from August 1915 to January 1916.
Looking forward to hearing your impressions!
Attachment 107474
That is pretty impressive! A lot of work gone into making that one. Kinda wonder if buying .303 ammo wouldn't be a lot more economical, given the cost and time required to fiddle around with the steel and furniture.
I'm guessing that this would have been a training rifle, or a second line issue? If so, my thoughts on retaining .303 are reinforced.
Very interesting. You've proven that in the world of Lee Enfield, one must quickly dispense with the words "always" and "never" from their vocabulary. :D
It's really amazing how fond the Turks were of fiddling about with non-standard captured and contract equipment. I'd definitely second it being some sort of second line issue, as it has a very fresh looking bore. You'd really think leaving it in .303 would've been easier!
Very nice! I would love to have one; never seen one here on the west coast even after 25 years of collecting.
Especially neat that it's marked to the Yorkshire Regiment. Assuming the disc is original to the rifle (which it appears to be) the Yorkshire Regt did see service in Gallipoli, and were then withdrawn in 1915 to the Suez, then the western front in 1916.
thanks for posting
That is an absolutely fascinating piece of history and a wonderful addition to your collection.
I've only ever seen pics in books, never seen one in the flesh, I would love one.
wow so cool to find . More pictures please
Every now and then you see one of these Turk mods but as stated, usually not in the flesh. I'd like to get my nose right over it to see what they did. Looks like they modified the charger guide too? Wouldn't mind shooting it too...
Great find! I think my 1914 lithgow turkish capture bayonet is as close as I'll ever get to having one.
I took it out back this afternoon and got some more photos of it. The modifications I've noticed so far, aside from the obvious front end:
- The magazine well has been attached directly to the trigger guard with a Mauser-style release for the floor plate.
- The floor plate looks to have been adapted from an older rifle, as the numbering is in Ottoman script. From what I've read, Turkey eliminated that style of script in 1928. It additionally leaves two small gaps on the corners at the back of the plate.
- The oft mentioned "reinforcing bar" is actually hollow and attached to the receiver only along its lower edge. It looks to serve as a guide for the bolt head, which has had a deep slot cut into it which runs along the bar.
- As this rifle started life as a Mk III, it would have had a rear volley sight prior to conversion. The spacer that replaced it looks handmade, but analogous to the factory-made spacers seen on standard Mk III*'s
- Good eye on the charger guide. It looks like they built it up and recut it for 8mm Mauser chargers. There are also what look to be a couple metal pins in the left side of the bridge with some additional metal filled in on the left rear.
- The receiver ring has had a notch cut to allow for the longer 8mm Mauser cartridge.
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Great rifle. Will you be shooting it?
Most likely! Just need the ranges to open up!
Well, who's afraid of a little 7.92x57? We wonder about the ability of the old SMLE to handle 7.62x51 and there the Turks go upping the ante, even after silver-brazing on a new charger bridge - did they re-harden the lugs or re-temper the actions after all that?
Curious how they left the marker disc on. I think that can only be a little triumphalism.
Here's mine!
It started life as a LE1* 1900, then converted to Mk11 SMLE in 1908 by BSA and last issued to 4th KSOB who served in Galipoli and then converted by the Turks in 1935 to 7.92. Serial number 37, it came from the Charnwood Ordnance collection auctioned by Bonhams in the late 90's. I shoot it occasionally with handloads - it has passed British Proof!
Very nice indeed. Another rare beast. Along with the OP's rifle this is a very interesting thread showing two seldom seen rifles with history. Thank you both for sharing.
What a neat and interesting rifle it is too. Bayonet converted and cut down as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Patt14 No2
Wow! That rifle has lived quite the life! A rare conversion of a rare conversion to boot. Thank-you for sharing it!Quote:
Originally Posted by Patt14 No2
If there's two, there must be more. Otherwise why the expense? Where are they and what happened to them?
Mine is the lowest observed serial number 37 and the highest seen is in the 700's which gives an indication of how many were converted. To the best of my knowlwdge mine is the only one with a new fabricated charger guide (being a MK11 SMLE it had the charger giude on the bolt head), it has had considerable use and the bore is well used but still shoots well. It's always a talking point at the range!
Took the rifle apart today to get her all cleaned up, so I figured I would take a few more photos. Interestingly, the "reinforcing bar" is not actually welded/brazed to the receiver as is often reported. It is slotted into the cutoff slot and appears to be secured with the cutoff screw.
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I watched this one with much interest until it passed the $2k mark. Thought it would add some context around value to the thread.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/877433625
Sorry, I'm late to this post, but is this rifle actually intended for firing 8 mm Mauser, or only a drill/instruction aid for recruits? Has the barrel been bored out and rifled for 8 mm Mauser? As is, it is certainly amazing.
Thought I'd add a pic of the basic sale of this on Gunbroker as the ad will disappear with time and we'll want to look back...
They were intended for it, but I don't know that I'd want to be the one to actually pull the trigger! That said, I've read reports of them still in use in places in Turkey as police rifles, so they can't have had too many of them blow up.Quote:
Originally Posted by NORTHOF60
Providing it looked ok after inspection, I would be sorely tempted to put a few rounds through it, even if it was just the once!
It's such an interesting piece, I've had the pleasure to own or shoot the majority of Enfield variants over the years and I would love to tick shooting one of these off the bucket list..