Combining a DP Enfield, a Shooter and a Gunsmith ended up with catastrophic failure!

[Old Joe]

Hello again folks and thank you for your Get Wells..

I went to go several hours ago and retrieved amung other things my DP MK3.. The Gun shop owner,a friend, was truely sick.. My Injury makes sence now ( Please understand after the bang I didn't really see the rifle.)

Someone in Demilling the Rifle removed the Barrel and drilled through the receiver, when they placed the stock back on the rifle the holes were say 60 percent obscured. Being inexsperienced with the Enfield I simply did not pick up on this. It was a beautifull rifle with a real nice bore.. As I bought the rifle the man who put them on consignment there said the reason they were so nice as the wepon was used for drill and the firing pins were removed.. A gunsmith looked them over and replaced the pins. DP was stamped every where and there was twp painted white bands on the rifle (I remember thinking it added character to the Rifle..)

Quite excited, I bought it from the shop and me and the man who owns the shop went firing the next day (I had run a brush through the Enfield the night before..nothing else).

When I fired the Enfield the the propelling gas simply used the new holes burning /blowing the top half of my thumb off along with the partial wood of the stock obscuring the hole. It is unusual that the Man had two DP Enfields at the store and the other had no such hole drilled through it.

If some one can show me I will post the pics...

Again thanks for your kind words..

Old Joe

Moderator Edit: Old Joe emailed pics and asked that we post them here for him. I've requested he try and get clearer, more focused ones, but these are a start.

Second Moderator Edit: Old Joe emailed pics better focused pics and I've those to the current ones for him.

[Alan de Enfield]

A gunsmith looked them over and replaced the pins. DP was stamped every where and there was twp painted white bands on the rifle

Old Joe

What qualifies you to be a 'gunsmith' in your country ?
Surely by any law / legislation a 'gunsmith' returning a 'wall hanger' (DP Rifle) to a 'usable' condition bears some responsibility.

In the UK we have legislation that covers "fit for pupose", your gunsmith was returning this to a shootable rifle that should have been 'fit for purpose' but obviously wasn't.
This legislation covers any goods, from a pen to an automobile, to toilet paper - it is nothing to do with 'proof' testing or any other firearm legislation.
Surely in the US (I presume you are in the USA) you must have something similar ?

[sardaukar]

Wow, seriously sorry that you had to get hurt for others to learn.

I beleive those holes were put there precisely to make it obvious that the rifle was now only a drill prop. Really incredible that a gunsmith simply replaced the firing pin and sent it along. Those are large holes and you can see clear through the chamber!

[Brit plumber]

No disrespect old joe, but when you examined the bore of the barrel, did you not see the hole drilled through the breech?

[enfield303t]

Old Joe, seriously this should NEVER have happened and please get legal advice on what you should do.

[Maple_Leaf_Eh]

I have a Pattern 1914 marked DP, but it has been thoroughly remanufactured (by Century no less) to be a very satisfactory 300 Win Mag hunting rifle. There is very little of the original rifle left, except the bolt, trigger and receiver.

But I also have a No.4 DP marked rifle that had a gorgeously figured maple stock that somebody woodrasped into a European toothpick style with deep reliefs off the stock wrist. It is deplorable, but it was only $25 for parts.

[Edward Horton]

Your Enfield is a Century International Arms import and these rifles were clearly marked before sale as being DP rifles. The gunsmith who replaced the firing pin is at fault for not knowing what DP means "Do not fire".

Product ID: RI009DP-G
Enfield No. 1 Mk III British Deactivated Enfield Rifle, Cal. .303

These Enfield No. 1 Mk III rifles have had the firing pins broken and bolt faces welded. Some of the receivers have had holes drilled in them, others have been cut. 10 rd. detachable mag. “DP” has been stamped into various parts of these rifles. The rifles ARE NOT TO BE SHOT. These are still rifles under the GCA, so an FFL is required. Sold as a super parts value or historical wall hanger only. Condition: Good.

Click on the Century International Arms link below.

Home Page

[jrhead75]

Joe...do you know who this "gunsmith" is? He needs to be held accountable. I'm glad it wasn't any worse for you or anyone else, but it was in no way, shape, or form a catastrophic failure of a Lee Enfield. It behaved entirely as it was meant to if fired.

[Old Joe]

No disrespect old joe, but when you examined the bore of the barrel, did you not see the hole drilled through the breech?

Thats a good question, so I will give you the checkered steps to my tragedy. I go to the Gun Shop and the owner who knows I love Milsurp says Mr Nameless just dropped off a Enfield and it just feels tight..(Nice)..I marvel at the outside of the rifle and drop the bolt looking from the muzzle with a bore light in the chamber..Beautiful rifling..I close the bolt and say "Wow nice piece" when Mr Nameless starts talking..I ask what DP means..I get the line of They are in such nice shape because they are Drill rifles and all he had to do is have a gunsmith ( I have used before)replace the firing pins ( Makes sense).Mr Nameless is famous for Springfield and Garand Parts and is was credible..I simply with that quick bore inspection from the muzzle did not pick up the holes..which where partially obscured by the stock...Now it is raining like hell outside so I pay for the rifle and tell my friend I will grab it tommorrow..He say "Hey let go to the range the day after tommorrow and fire it and some others"..So the day after I pick it up and dropping the bolt just run a brush threw a couple of time and a patch..I have three other rifles to get ready so this was in no way your down and dirty lets play with and figure out all the new parts on the Enfield (Oddly I would have researched the markings as well and saved myself a thumb).If I truly sat down to clean it I should have been sparked by the holes but again this being possible dmiled was the fathest thing from my mind...I may have had the rifle in my possession twenty-four hours..Next morning chamber a cartridge and bang..

I certainly feel like an *** myself..live and learn....

Old Joe

---------- Post added at 06:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:18 PM ----------

Joe...do you know who this "gunsmith" is? He needs to be held accountable. I'm glad it wasn't any worse for you or anyone else, but it was in no way, shape, or form a catastrophic failure of a Lee Enfield. It behaved entirely as it was meant to if fired.

I absalutely agree to both your points...

Old Joe

[Amatikulu]

Well, that rifle was bought by the previous owner and he clearly knew it was drill purpose.
He admits to having someone replace the firing pin.
He's also the one who put it on consignment at the gun shop.
He's responsible for misleading you based on his statements that he sent it to a gunsmith.
You're responsible for believing him and not having your own knowledgeable gunsmith check it out.

He probably paid $80 for that rifle if he bought it direct from Century and who knows if he really paid someone to replace the firing pin.

I'm sure you paid more than $80 for the rifle but his profit and your loss equal legal action to me.

This isn't a simple accident based on what you've posted.