Standard Small Arms No1MK3* with Australian Markings - My second Lee Enfield

[BushyFromOz]

Hi

I spotted this in a store a short distance from here a few weeks back. Not having much time to have a good look at it, i basically went :"Bolt, action, barrel, rear sight, nose cap - matching number - check.... bore pretty good? - check...how much?? To much...sorry...." and drove away. Had a change of heart that night, (maybe the beer?) rang them back the next day and said "yeah, here's a deposit"

And then spent the next 6 weeks paying it off while carrying a heavy dose of buyers remorse....

Anyway, i paid for it and brought it home today. I took out of the bag i had it in was kind of shocked to see SSA on the in the butt stock socket (i just assumed it was an RSAF Enfield), so i thought i had had a better have a proper look at it

Its a 1917 Standard Small Arms No1 Mk3* with a low 4 digit serial number. Matching bolt, matching barrel (changed in 1920) as well nose cap, rear sight (that has come off 2 other rifles and still has the windage adjustment) and....... a matching serial numbered forearm (not clear in pictures) with a nice looking armorers repair on the left side and the rear hand guard.

The butt stock had been sanded by some do gooder, and the whole thing has been covered in some god awful varnish that will be coming off. However, despite the sanding, i can still make out the HV and III* marks, as well as make out a 3 over 6 digit serial number that is also stamped into the receiver ring with DOD marking on the barrel and receiver, so i take it the butt stock was changed in Australian service. There's also an armorers repair in the heel

Here's some pics, will post updates as the stripping and cleaning comes along. It needs a couple of screws replaced and a new spring for the safety. it is also missing the fore end spring / stud assembly is missing from the nose cap.

I'm very excited, my 1923 Lithgow has a stable mate, and that buyers remorse is gone

1917 SSA No1 MK3 Slideshow by bushyfromoz1 | Photobucket

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[browningautorifle]

Yep, no buyer's remorse, that one looks good. As you say, a couple small pieces and it'll be perfect again.

[BushyFromOz]

Yep, no buyer's remorse, that one looks good. As you say, a couple small pieces and it'll be perfect again.

I got lucky, i deserved to get stuck with a lemon after not performing a thorough look of it

[browningautorifle]

I got lucky,

Perhaps so, I'd still be glad and perhaps more careful after.

[Roger Payne]

Yes, a nice looking rifle. Excellent find.

[mike16]

Buyers remorse? I always feel at first that I paid too much but always upon closer scrutiny i find the turd polishes up pretty good.

your enfields are like your children, no matter what thier faults are, you always appriciate thier qualities more (than other people do).

my only remorse when I buy an enfield is when other bills dont get paid.

[BushyFromOz]

Buyers remorse? I always feel at first that I paid too much but always upon closer scrutiny i find the turd polishes up pretty good.
i
your enfields are like your children, no matter what thier faults are, you always appreciate ther qualities more (than other people do).

I liken buying rifles to going to the pound though. That cute puppy might turn out to be a vicious little bastard you have to move on

[BushyFromOz]

2 more pics, found a marking under the barrel i have not read about before "VSM", any ideas?


Some more butchery to the buttstock to lighten it up i guess

[BushyFromOz]

I just learned the "VSM" mark on the barrel is for "Vickers Sons and Maxim", sounds familiar for some reason. Nice to know the barrel is also part of the peddled scheme

[CINDERS]

Then again B F O a real clean looking one can be a money trap having brought one as it was on the otherside of Oz I took a persons word on its condition in fact they actually stayed with us whilst on holiday over here so I kitted him up with my 2nd shooter No.4 and took him to the local gun club for a service shoot whilst the girls went shopping.
He did not miss me on the price either and when I tried the thing on the range at a 100m it has about a 20 moa group and for a 1944 sniper T that was pure sh*t, I have had the issue repaired by a master stock maker familiar with the lee enfield's it will never need doing again and it now clover leafs at 100m......