SMLE WWI Sniper with PPCo dovetail mount and scope

First of all (and most important): this is NOT an original WWI Sniper rifle. But it was made up using an original WWI scope base, an original scope with its original mount (that I've had for years, also comes with its matching numbers scope can) and an original Enfield made 1911 dating ShtLE Mk.III that is all matching numbers (the one that fitted the condition of the base the best). But since finding those is impossible, nearly all I've seen are anyway made up (either the same way or with reproduction bases) and I anyway had all parts required I decided I'd have it done myself. And I'm posting this here since who knows what will happen once I'm gone, therefore for all to see, even in future, this is a sniper assembled on original parts in 2022.



The "conversion" was outcarried by a very skilled friend of mine. He manually filed the receiver to accomodate the base, then soldered it to the receiver and finally affixed them with the correct threaded screws (thanks again at this stage to Roger Payne for helping me out with screws, saved some work!) and filed the ends perfectly so it is invisible from the inside of the receiver.


Having it in hands it is quite weird and one wonders how they were actually able to aim with a scope offset this much. No surprise the British Snipers in WWI preferred the No. 3 T :). What though is quite surprising how tight and well a scope mount with simply a dovetail and some springs can hold a scope tightly in place - plus even will interchange with what isn't its original base. Also for those who look close, check the original Enfield Examiner stamp on the scope base, located between the second and the third screw (from left).



PS: the original base back then came with the original scope ring as well, interestingly one of the very few ones PPCo made for Aldis scopes. So if one day a correct pattern Aldis turns up I might be tempted to reunite the base with its original rings.


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Nice, I'd love to shoot one to see how it goes...

Your chap made a nice job of fitting the base.:thup:

Very nice work Promo! Looks like a perfect match for that rifle. Are you planning on taking it out to the range? Would love to hear about how it shoots!!

The telescopic sight is over a hundred years old. The mastics that glue/seal the lenses can fail and the scope be damaged in recoil. Repair parts are not available let alone someone qualified to repair it. Somewhere there is an account of a Pattern 1918 sight reticule destroyed when fired. Your toy, your call. It looks beautiful and deserves a place over the mantel saved for the next generation.

Great job Promo! That looks spot on! Very envious as I love that setup but have never scored any mount or base parts.

I’m ready you build a couple of WWI SMLE snipers myself (Purdey mount with Aldis scope and Whitehead A5) as well as a Winchester P14 with 1918 scope. I just don’t know of any gunsmiths here in the US that can do this sort of work. It’s a lot different than standard German or Russian sniper builds. If anyone knows a great Enfield gunsmith in the US please let me know.

Thanks

To agree with Paul... Breakeyp
Even the No.32 is over 75 years old now and I have had a number in for ocular lens separation in the last few years.
I had 4 in a row in last fall and I was beginning to wonder if it was almost as if there was a timed age limit with the balsam..........
The other one is the CTS No. 32 Mk. 3 around the 24900 to 25100 serial numbers with the unknown cross hair material.
The wire just crystallizes and breaks into sections.
I cannot ID it, and nor can anyone else, and under the digital microscope it looks like crystallized sugar on a stick. (for those of us old enough to remember that confection)

By chance I've just had a go at re-cementing my first ever ocular lens doublet from a No32. I've gone with Canada Balsam as I gather these new UV curing cements are very good but if you don't get it perfect at the first attempt the lenses are almost impossible to separate. If this works & the Canada Balsam lasts another 75 years then I shan't need to worry about it the next time it goes!

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Nice, I'd love to shoot one to see how it goes...

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Lovely job Georg, looks superb, a credit to you.....

Same here Jim, I would love to put a few rounds downrange.

Credit should go to the friend of mine who did the job. He's not a gunsmith btw :).


No plan to actually shoot this rifle. While I can understand the interest in how one like this would perform, the potential risks and lack of spare parts though are not in favor for it. Additional to that is the fact the rifle does not have a CIP valid firing proof, hence any damage would not be covered by an insurance plus I might get additionally sentenced for intentionally risking something. So not really worth it.


To the rest, I still need some other WWI SMLE sniper variants myself, especially H&H (shoutout - actually also need a scope with rings for it, if someone has one or knows one, send me a PM ..). I am very fortunate to already have the Whitehead mount, the great rifle formerly owned by our admin Doug. A possible next project might be an Evans Double Mount, already have scope with rings ...

Would it be an obstacle to get the rifle CIP proofed Promo? I am regularly back & forth to Birmingham Proof House with SMLE's..........In fact I have three there (plus a No4) being done at the moment. I only take in the metalwork so as to avoid the risk of damage to forends/butts & so on.

My Evans mounts came from the same place as my SMLE/Aldis/H&H rifle body - Fultons' junk box, although admittedly that was thirty years ago & I doubt there's much WW1 treasure left in there now. More recently a most kind Aussie forummer let me have a super set of rings as those on my Evans scope had been slightly modified & then functionally, but not very prettily, repaired.

You mean you're not going to try & buy the Evans single mount from the IWM?!*?;)

IWM you say Roger, you bring the ski masks and crow bars and I'll supply the fast car....

It's the only known surviving example on the planet, or at least to the best of my knowledge it is................could raise some tricky questions when we come to sell it!;)

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Originally Posted by Roger Payne

Would it be an obstacle to get the rifle CIP proofed Promo?

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No. But it is a risk too. Over-pressure. And what for? I would not be concerned on factory .303 Ammo. Not on the rifle, but on the scope. And after all, this only to be able to shoot it once or twice? Plus knowing that many collectors (at least over here) would not want a rifle with CIP proof? So basically spending money to have something worth less money.


Maybe UK could issue the Evan's Single Mount to some unit who looses it in the field ... ? I'd be there to capture it and bring it to somewhere where it isn't to be issued again ;). Nah, just kidding. Was referring to the Evan's Double Mount. The Single Mount would be impossible. I mean I'd really dare to copy the mount, but would already need a scope for this. Maybe I'll therefore go with the No. 42 mount for the P.14 first, if I really want to go into the weird stuff :).

I may have been lucky Promo but I must have submitted a few hundred SMLE's to Proof over the years & have yet to have one fail. Mind you, I'm saying that with my fingers crossed in view of the rifles that they have of mine currently!
They get thoroughly cleaned, bore inspected for any serious pitting, bulges etc., & head spaced before I take them in........saves disappointment later.

I know some people are offended by current civvy proof marks but it is an offence over here to transfer a firearm that is not in proof. I have long accepted it, it is just a legal requirement, end of. Mind you, if you ask the Proof House nicely they will often position the markings as discretely as they can.

A British weapon with British CIP proof may not look as disturbing as a British rifle with a foreign CIP proof ;). Not going to shoot this rifle anyway, so I will not have it proofed and I'm perfectly fine for being able to keep it this way!

Yes, I understand your feeling entirely. I have a few rifles that are not in proof & that are valuable, but, ironically, before I come to part with them I will have to get them proofed (& accept the risk) in order to sell them legally under current UK law.

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Originally Posted by Roger Payne

Yes, I understand your feeling entirely. I have a few rifles that are not in proof & that are valuable, but, ironically, before I come to part with them I will have to get them proofed (& accept the risk) in order to sell them legally under current UK law.

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You could always 'give them away' and no need to have them prooved.


The Proof Acts lay down that no small arm may be sold, exchanged or exported, exposed or kept for sale or exchange or pawned, unless and until it has been fully proven and duly marked. The maximum penalty is £5,000 for each offence. Higher penalties where, for instance, the sale of a number of guns constitutes one offence, can apply.

Give them away? I don't think so............my wife's already got the money spent!:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Roger Payne

It's the only known surviving example on the planet, or at least to the best of my knowledge it is................could raise some tricky questions when we come to sell it!;)

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Sell it Roger, I'm thinking I can use it Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, you Thursday, Friday and Saturday and each of us every other Sunday....

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Originally Posted by Roger Payne

I may have been lucky Promo but I must have submitted a few hundred SMLE's to Proof over the years & have yet to have one fail. Mind you, I'm saying that with my fingers crossed in view of the rifles that they have of mine currently!
They get thoroughly cleaned, bore inspected for any serious pitting, bulges etc., & head spaced before I take them in........saves disappointment later.

I know some people are offended by current civvy proof marks but it is an offence over here to transfer a firearm that is not in proof. I have long accepted it, it is just a legal requirement, end of. Mind you, if you ask the Proof House nicely they will often position the markings as discretely as they can.

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I regularly drop items in to London Proof House, their proof marks are quite discrete & a lot smaller than they used to be. I put an Early Luger in to then a few weeks ago & it was a struggle to find the Proof Marks, Charles there took the time to put them in places that didn't show

I'll better not tell you how much the proof is over here since then you'd ask me the next time to get it done here before I ship something to you Simon ... ;).