1918 Enfield Small Arms Factory made SMLE No.1 Mk.III* converted back to No.1 Mk.III

[Roy]

I don't think that finish is original 1918, it looks to me like its been bead blasted, the finish is very rough, and in my experience sight leaves were left bright. The bolt and nose cap stampings look a bit light and fresh to me as well. The clincher for me is the tip of the for end near the piling swivel has no serial number, a properly matching SMLE has a SN there.

The woodwork looks to me like the Late/Post WW2 SMLE spare woodwork produced by RSAF Enfield and is the only new old stock wood on the market for SMLE's

A recent post mentioned that the Indian army re installed cutoffs in to Sht Le III's RSAF Enfield certainly was not using cutoffs in 1918 and the supply of old actions would have bee used up by then.

The British liked their bayonets bright too, so the sun glinting off them would strike fear in their foe. (at least one ww1 attack was made at sunrise rather than first light because of this)

My 2c is that it has been refurbished in civilian life from a sporter with a load of new parts on it. but saying that, it has been beautifully done and i'd be happy to have it in my safe as its about as close to having a new SMLE as you can get. And as one of our Gurus say, with Enfields anything is possible.

Added.

Thats a BSA commercial barrel not a military issue, (you could buy a BSA SMLE from any outfitters for may years)
The 5's on the barrel have curved tops the ones on the nose cap and bolt don't.