What is the difference between a MkIII* and a MkIII?

[EnfieldNutt84]

I just picked up a barreled receiver, it is a pre-WW1 "No1MkIII* FR 47" retaining it's magazine cut-off but with updated charger bridge, I am curious what the star (*) significance is. Honestly on the rebuild I'd rather clad it as a Mk1No1, the looks of the MkI I much prefer and can barely find a single one in the states. Would the * indicate the updated Charger Bidge? With the FR in 47, maybe was a MkI which was updated into a MKIII? Thanks in advance.

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[Alan de Enfield]

I just picked up a barreled receiver, it is a pre-WW1 "No1MkIII* FR 47" retaining it's magazine cut-off but with updated charger bridge, I am curious what the star (*) significance is. Honestly on the rebuild I'd rather clad it as a Mk1No1, the looks of the MkI I much prefer and can barely find a single one in the states. Would the * indicate the updated Charger Bidge? With the FR in 47, maybe was a MkI which was updated into a MKIII? Thanks in advance.

Hope this helps :

[Beerhunter]

With the FR in 47, maybe was a MkI which was updated into a MKIII? Thanks in advance.

I can't think why that should be the case.

It sounds as though it is a between the wars No1 Mk.III* that was Factory (Thorough) Repaired in India in 1947 - look for the "Ishy Screw".

So to be honest it should be rebuilt as a No1 Mk.III* with cut-off.

[Alan de Enfield]

look for the "Ishy Screw".

It was a 'barreled action' so the ishy screw wont be there.

Here is a pic of my (originally a Lithgow) No1 Mk3* that was Ishapore FR'd and scrubbed in '46
Is the 'font' on yours similar ?

[Beerhunter]

It was a 'barreled action' so the ishy screw wont be there.

Oops. My brain must have thought that it was Monday morning.

[bigduke6]

EnfieldNutt84,

Can you post some pics or the date of the rifle, Although its designated as a No1 Mk111*, (this doesnt always mean you get what it says on the tin)

If you look at at Alan,s post it says, "may embody any of the following modifications"

These mods didn,t takeplace overnight so a lot of rifles would still be found with some of the features.

[bradtx]

EnfieldNutt84, There are two variations of the Mk.III that may become confusing. The WWI version with fore ends milled for the volly sights and other items in Alan's list and the interwar version where only the magazine cut off was employed. While the action bodies are available in two styles, milled for the cut off (MK.III) and those that weren't (MK.III*), some Mk.III action bodies were originally assembled as Mk.III*, then when FTR'd a cut off was installed and the * lined out.

Brad

[Alan de Enfield]

Just found this old post by someone called Peter Laidler - it was a few years ago on the Jouster forum :

In one of the last No1 Mk3 EMER's (yes, EMER's WERE issued in respect of the No1 rifles in 1956) it 'sort of' clarified the position of whether a No1 Mk3 was a Mk3 or a 3*. It ignored the odds and sods to explain that in the interests of standardisation, that all rifles made without the provision of a cut-off would be regarded as Mk3* rifles and so far as practicably possible (lovely choice of words isn't it....) should conform to the current (presumably latest) specification.

All rifles provisioned for (made with ...) a cut-off slot (Mk3's), where the cut-off has been removed, WILL be fitted with a fore-end that covers the otherwise open slot to prevent the ingress of foreign matter (I think they mean ****e and rubbish.....). These rifles shall be advanced to and marked Mk3*. But a rifle so advanced shall not return to its former status for any reason. Where practicable, these rifles should conform to the current specification.

I take this to read this:
that a Mk3* rifle remains a Mk3* for ever and always regardless of the different this that and the other that it's fitted with.
a Mk3 rifle that has had the cut-off removed in the past will be fitted with a high sided fore-end and THEN be advanced to and marked Mk3* regardless of the fact that it still has a cut-off slot albeit under the wood. BUT thereafter it can NEVER revert to low wood and its old Mk3 spec.

Is that as clear as mud? Luckily we didn't have too many No1 rifles except for the hundreds of EY's and those with the Cadet Forces.

This probably explains why some rifles are marked Mk3* but have cut-offs and some could(?) have the little star barred out.

[GUNZABLAZIN]

Here is a picture of my 1918 Ishapore No. 1 MkIII with the * lined out.



RIF in 1928



Magazine cutoff reinstalled, no Ishy screw, no import marks