Inherited Enfield MkIII* - Thoughts?

[BoulderChris]

I've inherited several rifles from my grandfather (see 1903a3 here and K98 here) with the final one being this Enfield MkIII*. I don't know the "nuts and bolts" of these rifles, just the broader general history of the makes/models, so how does this one look?




I can take more pictures if needed. Thanks in advance!

Information

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[Stumblebum]

Very nice looking! Have you figured out when/where it was manufactured? (It should be under the bolt handle when closed, on the metal "wrist" between the stock pieces.) Any idea how your grandfather came by it?

[NRA]

looks more original than the other two. Grampa sure liked to tinker with his rifles.

[BoulderChris]

I have no idea where/how/when he acquired his rifles. I know he used to have dozens of them. I also know he had at least two M1 Garands that I found out about long after he had sold them, and think he recently sold a No 4 MkI not knowing I was interested in it...It's a little tougher now that he's still back in MI and I'm now out in CO. I believe he also has a M1 Carbine that I'm hopeful to get someday...

Here are some pics showing the markings, let me know if they're not clear enough

[Stumblebum]

BoulderChris: I'm hardly an expert, and there will hopefully be lots of other helpful souls chime in with appropriate details, but here is what I'll observe... The rifle appears to come from an armory in England in 1916 (can't say off the top of my head exactly which armory produced it but someone undoubtedly can offer that shortly). The bolt does not appear original to the rifle - the style of the squarish cocking knob is not consistent with a rifle made in 1916 - so perhaps the rifle has been through a factory refurbishing process in subsequent years. There would typically be markings on the rifle somewhere to indicate if this is what was done, but it'll take someone more knowledgeable than I to help with the specifics of what and where to look. Additional nice clear closeup photos of other markings on the rifle and stock would prove helpful to anyone trying to decode more details for you! It would be worthwhile to note how many of the parts of the rifle have "matching" numbers on them. But just about no matter what, here's something else I'd offer: You've got yourself a nice appearing and nicely symbolic relic that will be 100 years old very soon. Not bad!!!

[Stumblebum]

Oops. Okay, I believe I stand corrected. Apparently the style of cocking knob had been changed by the time your rifle was manufactured, so my thought it isn't original to the rifle may very well be incorrect!

[Ridolpho]

BoulderChris: Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield. It's a III* which means it has the modifications implemented during WW1 to simplify production. Other than the varnished wood looks pretty nice.

Ridolpho

[BoulderChris]

I think this is the rifle I've actually had the longest, but am just now getting around to figuring out all there is to know about it. A bit over 10yrs ago I think I cold blued the bolt while I was in highschool as it came from my Grandfather white and I knew that wasn't right. I've shot it a few times, and it's a good shooter.

After exploring this forum, and others, it seems the best way to remove the varnish is to find a mild furniture stripper and refinish with a few coats of linseed oil? The little nicks and dents don't bother me but it would be nice to remove the sheen from the stock. I wouldn't think alcohol would be strong enough. I don't want to strip everything out of the stock, just make it look more natural.

[muffett.2008]

You're supposed to drink the alcohol while waiting for the paint stripper to work.

[Neal Myers]

I have an Enfield Mk 2A that I stripped with Formby's furniture stripper, then refinished with Formby's tung oil. I used 3 coats plus 0000 steel wool between coats, & after the final coat. It turned out well.

Neal