1917 Enfield Help

[millertime021]

My uncle found this 1917 Enfield, which was previously my great-grandfathers. All we know is that my great-grandfather bought it many many years ago.

I have been researching it and would like some assistance from a more experienced person. Here are a few links to photos of the Enfield. And yes I know it's not in perfect, restored condition but we believe it to be all original.

Any input on what some markings mean would be great. Thanks.
(uploaded via imageshack, so click on the photo to make it bigger)

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/4114/img2278z.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/9237/img2266.jpg

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/3646/img2268r.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3290/img2270j.jpg

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/5136/img2271.jpg

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/182/img2272.jpg

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/476/img2273.jpg

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/294/img2275.jpg

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/5013/img2276.jpg


-Miller

Information

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[John Kepler]

Not sure what you're asking. You have an FTR'd (probably in the late 20's....you posted photos of every part of the rifle except the left-side of the stock-socket where that cartouche will be located) 1917 Enfield Lock No.1 Mk.III* with typical markings to match. Nice rifle....keep it....it's worth a lot more than your relative paid for it, and the value is only going in one direction....but they made millions of'um!

[millertime021]

Thank you very much.


Anyone know what the "K" by the serial number represents. It's stumped me so far.

[John Kepler]

RSAF Enfield used a letter prefix followed by a 5-digit number in the SN. Letter-groups were assigned to the various manufacturers per year..."K" was one of Enfields (though not in 1917!).

It was also customary to re-number the entire rifle during FTR's (Factory-Thorough Repair). The FTR of your rifle is indicated by the "strike-outs" on the right-side stock socket above the new SN...the FTR dates should be on the left-side of the stock-socket.

[millertime021]

RSAF Enfield used a letter prefix followed by a 5-digit number in the SN. Letter-groups were assigned to the various manufacturers per year..."K" was one of Enfields (though not in 1917!).

In his collection it was marked as a 1914, but on the rifle (as can be seen in the third picture) it was marked as a 1917. Can anyone hypothesize on what that could be all about. Is it from the FTR or a mistype on the original manufacturing?

[louthepou]

Hi Millertime,

Any chance you would have more info about the "great-grandfather acquired it" portion of your story? That would likely be really interesting.

Where are you located on our planet? This also will have influence on current market value (hope you don't want to sell it since it has family value, but just because it's another interesting aspect).

A complete No1Mk3 is a beautiful rifle, period.

Lou

[millertime021]

Lou

I have heard bits and pieces of stories, so I will try to talk to more relatives to get info, as he died before I was born. Also, my uncle and I have no intentions of selling any of the rifles we have found (all from different parts of the world and older than 1936 I believe).

I am located in Arizona.


--Miller

[louthepou]

Hi Miller,

I've often seen errors here in Canada with registration of Lee Enfields. From the looks of it your rifle was indeed made at the Enfield arsenal in England in 1917. Now as far as I know, the letter of the serial number is just... a letter from the alphabet - i.e. the No1Mk3 Lee Enfields I have here (and those I've bought and sold) all had a letter and four or five numbers making their serial number.

The other markings mean a variety of things - start with this page, there's a lot of info about marks found on Lee Enfield Rifles:

Government*Ownership*Marks

Lou

[Amatikulu]

Summarizing,

1. You have a Lee Enfield Rifle of the Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) type, which was offically designated the No.1 Mark III*

2. It was made at the Enfield factory in 1917

3. The butt stock disk has the letter "N" stamped on it all by itself. I believe that indicated issue to the Royal Navy at some pint in time.

4. The 1914 connection might be a reference to a completely different rifle known as the Pattern 14 Enfield - this would be a misidentification.

5. The one picture shows a stylized "B" stamped in the metal - that indicates it was made by Birmingham Small Arms (BSA).

[millertime021]

Sorry Lou. Don't have an exciting story. He just liked to collect rifles. Sadly, that's all that anyone remembers.