target rifle ?

[chuck]

Found this at a gunshow last weekend. BSA, 1911,ShtLE, #1 MkIII. Matching numbers on bolt, receiver, barrel and nose cap. Had rear sight removed ,one piece handguard and volley sights. Metal had thin sticky brown film like thinned cosmoline. Used soft rag and oil to clean revealing deep blue finish. Furniture has smooth glossy finish, cleaned up really nice. Couple of people have stated probably target rifle. Here's some pics.

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[RJW NZ]

Zowee thats nice!
Here's a thought; rear sights were removed down under because generally a rear sight mount with a large through hole to fit an H heavy profile barrel was hard to find, not to mention that aperture sights were being used.

It begs the question, does this rifle have a heavy profile barrel? (based on those serial numbers, maybe no, unless barreled that way from new as a target rifle)
Very nice find, and a nice year date too, also hard to find.

[Son]

Very nice! The rear sight bed removed and one piece handguard are characteristics of a target rifle. It has been set up that way since leaving military service, but without a few more markings, like >S< and date, or even view marks, it would be impossible to tell when as it still has it's original barrel fitted as well.
The markings look to me like they have had the sharpish edge generally left by stamping taken off. Some edges even look worn rounded, so I would assume it has had a total buff off and re-blue.
Looking at the stock finish and the quality of the handguard (which were available at one stage as a spare part) I'd say someone had a lot of love involved in this conversion/ restoration.

A truly nice piece! I hope it shoots as good as it looks. Take good care of it.

[jmoore]

So what to use for a rear sight (unless its purely "long range" volley rifle)? A PH folding aperature w/ the built in side peep seem to usually be for the MLEs rather than the SMLE, but target sights are a bit out of my area.

[Son]

I have a commercial BSA SMLE that belonged to my great uncle. He always had a Central sight on it, but by the time I inherited the rifle, the Central and his range box were gone. I fitted it with a PH5a with a six hole dial aperture. These are probably the Rolls Royce for the SMLE due to their robust design, precision manufacturing and overall finish.
Earlier in the history of target shooting, sights like the Mues, AG Parker's designs and BSA's own line (and others) all did the job from a simple fit up at the volley sight post pivot, or with a side plate also secured at the dumbell screw. The windage arms on these all pivoted up flush with the main upright so they were able to flip down, most forward, some rearward, to protect the sight while not shooting, but reliably returning to zero.
Later sights were mounted on a rigid fixed side plate and usually locating on a spigot or shoulder. Having the sight attached with a thumbscrew to the sideplate made it easily removable and it returned to zero. A row of fitting holes also allowed for adjustment to eye relief. There were many brands, all differing slightly. Central was/ still is probably the most recognized and popular. Others include the Rawson, Lane (my personal preference), Austral, Premier and the Kings Mues.

Looking back at what I have written, and it would seem all the later sights were Australian, probably because the SMLE wasn't used in the UK so much post WW2. (comments?)

Here's some pics to go with what is only a brief outline off the top of my head. One of the Gunboards guys put together a booklet on aperture sights if anyone is interested. More info at request....

Pics, L to R BSA Range Rifle with PH5a; AG Parker 9G and BSA No9; Mues on an MLE; Central and side plate; Rawson (w/o plate); Lane on my Slazenger Mod24; Premier; Austral and Kings Mues.
Chuck- I'd look for a PH5a or a Central with side plate, but almost any in good cond. should do nicely.

[jmoore]

The BSA no9 is what I had pictured in my head, w/ the volley sight incorporated. Seems appropriate w/ the front part of the assembly still intact. Utility of a "precision" volley sight? Right low, but it gets points for style.

[tbonesmith]

Hey nice collection of range sights Son...

[Son]

The BSA no9 is what I had pictured in my head, w/ the volley sight incorporated. Seems appropriate w/ the front part of the assembly still intact. Utility of a "precision" volley sight? Right low, but it gets points for style.

The was a reason behind incorporating the volley sight post. As I understand it, the rules actually stated that the rifles own sights had to be present and functional. The volley sights were included in that, so anything that replaced the volley sight had to include a replacement for it. The rules must have changed with the advancement through to the Sht LE MkIII*.

Here's the BSA No9 on my MLE MkI*, in the up position without the side plate. then on the side plate , folded down. A better pic of the Lane on an SMLE, and another BSA- the 9C on my MkI***

[Son]

The BSA no9 is what I had pictured in my head, w/ the volley sight incorporated. Seems appropriate w/ the front part of the assembly still intact. Utility of a "precision" volley sight? Right low, but it gets points for style.

Hey nice collection of range sights Son...

Still got a few, some had to give way for other Enfield interests, but I seem to be gathering more again- two fullbore rifles this year with sights included!

[jmoore]

That's the only time I've seen the BSA N9 sight- on MLEs. I reckon it would work on SMLEs but the range marks would be even more useless.