Enfield No 1 Mark III* 1917?

[cpc]

My BIL’s uncle brought this rifle back from WWII and he asked me what it is. I collect Garands so don’t know much about Enfields. The bolt matches the receiver but it appears to have gone thru an Arsenal rebuild based upon the small patch in the stock and all the different markings on the butt of the stock. Maybe someone can decipher those markings. It appears to be a typical rifle used during WWII. Any comments would be appreciated. I can add more photos if desired. Regards

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[mnmkeller]

Looks like a fine rifle with lots of character.

[Surpmil]

Australian ownership marks on the receiver ring and the butt. One of our Australian members can tell you exactly what those represent.

Perhaps the "22" refers to this battalion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2/22nd...ion_(Australia) but purely a guess on my part.

Stock has been stripped relatively recently by the look of it which is a pity.

Tracing where your relative served in WWII might help pin something down.

[cpc]

Thanks for the comments. He wiped the stock off it has not been stripped if you see it in person. His uncle was on a supply ship. He was in the Navy. He brought this rifle and a Japanese rifle home. He really doesn’t know what ship. Does being an Australian rifle make it more desirable or unique?

[Singer B]

Beautiful rifle. I think you are correct reference the re-arsenal process occurring as your rifle has the later flat cocking piece and not the round one that was original for the rifle. What happened to the Japanese rifle?

[cpc]

My BIL has it too. Little easier to identify as it’s a type 97 Nagoya.

Beautiful rifle. I think you are correct reference the re-arsenal process occurring as your rifle has the later flat cocking piece and not the round one that was original for the rifle. What happened to the Japanese rifle?

[5thBatt]

Beautiful rifle. I think you are correct reference the re-arsenal process occurring as your rifle has the later flat cocking piece and not the round one that was original for the rifle. What happened to the Japanese rifle?

That pattern of cocking piece was introduced in August 1916 so is correct

[Singer B]

That pattern of cocking piece was introduced in August 1916 so is correct

Good info, thanks. My all-matching 1917 has the round one.

[mrclark303]

Good info, thanks. My all-matching 1917 has the round one.

You could get either in 1917, they just used supplies as available to the production lines.

Same reason you can get cut of slotted action bodies and dished volley sight forends on 1917 '*' production.

Production was at its peak and all the stops were pulled out to maximize production for the front line.

[Bindi2]

The 11/22 refers to when it went to stores, the number on the butt is the inventory number which is also on the action above the serial number . The 3 is the MD it was issued to. That rifle more than likely a replacement for the rifles Australia gave the Brits at the beginning of WW1. Not more desirable just more history.