New to me Mk1*** Need Sliding Charger

[N8Gunner]

Greetings all
Am writing to ask info and advice on a rifle that I purchased yesterday from my local gun store.
I paid $600USD "otd"- they wanted $700+ tax. How did I do price wise ?
It is an Lee Enfield dated 1905 SHTL Mk1 ***
It is wire wrapped, the wire secured by brass screws and nails ( not soldered)
The original serial has been lined out-was "ER 6576" also has ( lined out) 532
The current serial number is G1053
Under the rear sight is 6576L and I can see an "HV" just rear of the sight base
The nose cap appears to be No1 Mk 1, and is force or remarked G1053
The volley sights are on the rifle
The safety is marked III
Stocks appear to be Mk1
The bolt is mismatched, marked G1107
The bolt appears to be No.1 Mk 1
The bolt head appears to be Mk 1 , but is missing the charging ( tube ?) adaptor
The magazine cuttoff is missing
Bore is good no pitting that I can see
Overall condition is good+



My questions are
Does the Mk1*** take the same smle magazine cutoff that seems to be readily available in parts for sale online ?
What are the going rates for these rifles nowadays ?
Should I pursue an earlytype magazine for this to be closer to correct/original ?
Before I searched here for information, I was half a mind to unwrap the wire from it.
I soon realized that would probably be a huge mistake,and have since decided not to unwrap.
Will continue my quest for a sliding charger guide, either original or repro, and enjoy this rifle for what it is

Many thanks for any insight and advice

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Emb145]

Nice Rifle and good price
Its a SMLE MK1
all correct for its last user the Irish Military
Set up as a gernade launcher Apex gun parts has them in stock
Carl

[tatou]

double post, my bad

---------- Post added at 12:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:28 PM ----------

The rifle started out as a Mk I in 1905 (could have been a Mk I* or even a Mk I** too but at this point it would be almost impossible to say for sure)
In the 1920's it was ''upgraded'' to Mk I*** to be sent to Ireland.
That mostly would have involved the sights. Altough the rear sight looks like it was reverted to the earlier model, or never changed.
It was also given his new serial number with the ER prefix.
Sometime later it was again modified to be used as a grenade launcher rifle, given a G prefix and steel wire wrap.
Most of them had the magasine cut-off removed, so yours woudl be correct and it woudl also be impossible to reinstall one as the screw for it is put in from the bottom.
You made a good decision by not removing the wire has it would destroy all of it's great history.
And it would be very hard to put back on... trust me i know, i restored one of those.
The sliding charger guide is often missing on them too, no arm in installing one as it is not a permanent modification.
They do show pop up at times but are a quite expenssive bit for it's size.
Samething for the magazine (and safety) they were probably swaped when it was upgraded to Mk I*** (an upgrade to bring it to some of the MK III standards, mostly sights)
Again you can install an earlier mag model, has it is not a permanent alteration.
Personaly if i do something like that, i like to keep the old parts with the rifle in case i later change my mind and wish to revert to the state i got it in.
Lastly some other guys have done a ton of research and if the Irish Mk I*** subject interest you more i suggest you do a bit of research on the forums.
They explain all of this in more details and more eloquently than i do.
Nice rifle btw

[N8Gunner]

[RCS]

Mine was wire wrapped but converted back to standard issued. My serial number G839 (bolt is G837) is the third serial number, bore is excellent.

My photo shows the charger installed