Trying to LEARN about inherited Springfield and Enfields
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Greetings everyone.
I am hoping you can help me with a rifle project I am trying to accomplish.
I have 3 rifles I need to sell.
And... although I have had a long and fairly wide and deep association with firearms throughout my long life,
military/surplus rifles is an area that has pretty much escaped me.
And that is what I have here: 3 military (maybe 2 ½ if you wish to parse it thus) rifles that I inherited from my father.
I have sat down here and gone over each one and noted the condition of and the markings on each one as best I can.
I have not taken pictures.
I can, but rifles are SO hard, IMO, to photograph well.
(they are big and have so many surfaces!)
And... I was just thinking that y’all can pretty much see Enfields and Springfields in your sleep, so I was wondering if I could start with a good description or each.
Then... if necessary, maybe I could take a close-up of any particular area that you might want to see.
My hope is that you can tell me clearly what I’ve got, so that I can advertise them accurately and properly.
And, of course, your guess as to about what each one is worth, if possible.
I have no allusions of retiring to the Caribbean on the proceeds from the sale of these.
But on the other hand, I don’t want to just “give them away.”
I’d like to get what they are worth.
I list them here.
Please tell me what you think.
And ask me questions, what does it say here, does it have this, or that, etc.
Thanks.
Oh... and btw: I don’t remember ever seeing these, as a lad, or recall my father talking with me about them.
But I knew my father pretty well, and... I could be wrong but I would bet that he got all of these right after WWII. There was Army/Navy surplus stores everywhere and they were selling everything but the kitchen sink. Or... maybe an ad out of the back of “American Rifleman”, he subscribed to that. Something like that, is where I think these rifles came from.
(note: ? marks = I can’t really make something out very well; half guessing)
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Rifle #1
Enfield
On Receiver: No.4 Mk. 1
On “band” around wrist of rifle: 1944
and maybe: W1167X (s/n?)
stamped into the wood right behind the “wrist band”:
HM
0 (?) Ltd
M.813 (???)
and
\|/ VNS (???)
and right just behind the crown of the barrel, it has:
.303
and
2.22”
and
some other stuff very teeny and incomprehensible regardless
fairly large and deeply impressed into the right side of the flat of the stock about half way back a big
F R
Not shot but:
Bolt, safety, trigger all seem to cycle/function nicely.
Bore looks... pretty dang bright and shiny I’d say (better than I was expecting!)
It has 2 grooves (which I sure am not used to seeing but that’s what I see).
Metal looks... like what you’d expect for a rifle that’s been carried and used a lot.
But no rust or anything “bad”, just... normal? for age and use? would be my assumption.
Wood: it’s got dings and dents in it! It got used. But no cracks, splits, rot or anything.
Just... “noble wear” is what I call this.
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Rifle #2
Sporterized Enfield
Marked:
Produced by the Santa Fe Division
OF GOLDEN STSTE ARMS CORPORATION
1941 SUPREME
On the barrel, right where it meets the receiver, it’s marked:
03 2.222”
(/\ did something get poorly marked here? or “contoured off?)
s/n# 455501
Plastic Butt Plate with “Santa Fe” on it.
Bore looks “dirty” hmmm... I thought I cleaned this at some point, just to.
So... more than “dirty” maybe ? ? ?
(Maybe... shot 70 years ago and never cleaned, burnt powder fossilized???)
Barrel has 5 grooves.
Not shot but:
Bolt, safety, trigger all seem to cycle/function nicely.
Wood is nice.
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Rifle #3
Springfield
On top of receiver, right in front of the ejection port:
U.S.
SMITH-CORONA
Model 03-A3
3628149
A big circle with a P in it impressed in the wood, underneath, right behind the trigger guard.
On the top of the barrel, right behind the front sight:
SO
{flaming bomb}
143
( /\ date ? ? ?)
Wood: it’s got dings and dents in it! It got used! But no cracks, splits, rot or anything.
So... no “issues” just been used and knocked around a bit.
Metal looks fine. Doesn’t look “new” by any means.
But... normal for this gun, its age and use maybe?
Bore looks... pretty nice!
Has 6 grooves
Not shot but:
Bolt, safety, trigger all seem to cycle/function nicely.
Sights: sharp damn front blade! with rear peep on ramp
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Thanks.
Looking forward to replies!
JamesD
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