advice before buying LSA mk III 1915

[Jsne]

Next week I am going to look at a No1 mk III LSA 1915.
this will be my first no1 (if I buy it)
I have only a little information of the gun and 3 picture.
one pichture from both side and one of the right side of the action socket.
Picture from left says that there is no volley sight on this one.
picture from right says that there are magazine cut off and vindage ajusteble rear sight.
the socket picture tell it is a mk III without any stars.
the seller tels that the bore is in werry good condition (dont know if he meen good shooting condition or "good" for a 101 year old gun)
The picture also show a flat style cocking piece? I will espect the round one.

Now quistions: can the flat cocking peeice be correct? When do the flat ones comes?
I know about where serianumber should be. But dont know if there any inspectors mark.
If so. What should it bee?
I dont know if serianumber match.
anything I should bee aware of?

The price will be about £ 450.

Jsne

Information

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[CINDERS]

If you could post the pictures you have of it and try to get more detailed ones those in the know will let you know about how it fits the bill, like if it has been FTR'ed at some point in its service.
At $450 British pounds is fairly steep price it had want to be something pretty good for that price JMHO

[Jsne]

Than you for your answer.
it is not posible to get more pictures before i se the rifle by my self.
I think it is dificult too compare prices from diferent contrys.
Theres are not that many no1 in Denmark. But I also think 450£ is a bit high.
thats why i ask for some notes about inspecters marks, factory codes ect.
i maby will use it to press the price a little.
but anyway if the rifle are in overall good condition with a good bore I will take it.
then I maby have to find correct parts to rebuild it.

Jsne

[Mk VII]

Ideally the bore will be in good condition without much cordite erosion. For this to happen you may have to accept that the barrel has been replaced at least once. Bolt serial number should match. I would have difficulty accepting any L-E where this was not the case, but maybe we are spoilt for choice here.

[jrhead75]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the cocking piece, they were a fairly high attrition part. I don't remember exactly when the flat sided ones were approved since I'm not by my books and have a terrible memory, but the time frame is close enough. LSA inspection marks should be a crown over an X over a number. Serial numbers would normally be found on the right side of the receiver ring, and just forward of that on the barrel reinforce, the back of the bolt handle, the end of the bayonet lug, the underside of the back sight leaf and the underside of the forestock, just behind the nosecap. Typically LSA didn't date their barrels, so a dated one is likely a replacement.

Thant's all I can think of at the moment. Anything I missed will get covered by the experts. Best of luck. Hope it works out to be a good one.

[Jsne]

Thank you jrhead
I think you gave me what i need to know.
if it turns out to be a good one I will upload pictures here.

Jsne

[bigduke6]

For a 1915 SMLE, I think £450 is a reasonable price if in good condition, starting prices are around £350 and up.

[Flying10uk]

I paid more than £450 for a LSA SMLE of similar age in deactivated form about a year ago. From memory I think that it was about £550

[55recce]

My 1916 LSA No 1 Mk III (no star) has a flat cocking piece. Bolt number matches receiver so it is original..

[Parashooter]

Since the cocking piece can be replaced more or less at will, a matching serial on the bolt hardly ensures that the cocking piece - or any other un-numbered detachable bit such as bolt head, striker, mainspring, etc. - was original to the bolt or receiver. Or am I missing something here?