1912 ShtLE- restoration project

[Catch22]

I've had a lot of luck with this forum, so I figured I'd give it another shot.

I'm going to a local gun shop to have another look at a 1912 ShtLE III I saw there the other day. The stock has been cut down, with the forend cut to sporter length and the forward hand guard is MIA. The disk on the butt stock is also MIA. However, the barrel is intact and everything I saw a SN on matches, even the magazine. If I can get it for a good price, which I think I can considering the asking price on it, I'm going to likely come home with it as a restoration project.

As I understand it, the 1912 should have a magazine cutoff and volley sights. Is that information correct? As I understand, it was around 1916/17 when they removed them from production rifles. However, I can't find definitive information in that regard.

I didn't see the remnants of the volleys on the forend, but I didn't look at the receiver to see if anything was there. The same with the magazine cutoff. I've found a couple of places with the magazine cutoff, but none with a forend with the volley sights or the piece of the volley's that go on the receiver.

Am I going to be on a major quest to find the forend and the other pieces for the volley sights? Working on the assumption this rifle would have had them, of course.

I'm also doing what research I can to find out some history about these rifles. I have a No 4 Mk I and other milsurps I've thoroughly enjoyed researching the history of, and it's become one of my favorite parts of owning these guns. Any links or resources of interest are always appreciated.

Information

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[Maxwell Smart]

Yes, a 1912 would have been fitted with the volley sights, and magazine cut-off. It would also have had the milled rear sight ears, and the windage adjustable rear sight.

[RobD]

Go for it.

[Roy]

Question Regarding Volley or Long Range Sights on the No 1 Mk III

This recent thread directly relates to your project. Good luck and have fun.

[RobD]

Hope you can get it cheap and re-build the stock set. When looking at the price, bear in mind that the early type SMLE magazine with the hinged front alone is valuable - see SMLE No. 1 Magazine Early Type - BRP CORP Store

[RCS]

On your 1912 Sht LE, do you have the HV or SC stamps behind the rear sight ? photo of my 1909 BSA showing both HV and SC. Yours should have the HVAttachment 58617Attachment 58618

The fore-end with volley sight is very difficult to locate

[Homer]

Hope you can get it cheap and re-build the stock set. When looking at the price, bear in mind that the early type SMLE magazine with the hinged front alone is valuable - see SMLE No. 1 Magazine Early Type - BRP CORP Store

Standard No4 type magazine would be equally correct for this rifle.

[browningautorifle]

No4 type magazine would be equally correct

How would that work? For a 1912 rifle? You mean it would fit...

[Catch22]

I haven't checked this thread in a couple of days. I appreciate all the input!

I went by yesterday to have another look, but the owner of the store wasn't there and the guy covering him wasn't able to haggle at all. They're asking $189, but I'd like to be closer to $150 or less on it considering it's a restoration project. I honestly don't know the fair value on one this old, but it seems most sporters are around there.

The magazine at closer look has had the SN changed. The previous is crossed out and the SN to this gun has been stamped on it. The SN on the rear sight matches, but it doesn't have the windage adjustment (though I have found a place that appears to have one for replacement). It has the mag cutoff slot, but the cutoff has been remove (have located several of those).

The forestock matches in color and all to the rest of the wood on it, but I don't see any indication of there ever having been a volley sight on it. I also don't see anything on the safety area that indicates there was one there. But I have no idea what that should look like had there been one. The No 1's are new to me, but I've been wanting one.

I didn't pull the magazine, but I will when I go back, assuming they still have it. The bore is dirty as hell, but the rifling looks good. I couldn't get a real good look at the end of the rifling, but it almost looked like it had been counterbored. Did the Brits do that? It might also be that dirty. My No 4 looked like it barely had any rifling, but when I cleaned it it had great grooves left.

If anyone has a line on the proper stock with the volley sights, let me know. Thanks again!

[Maxwell Smart]

How would that work? For a 1912 rifle? You mean it would fit...

The SMLE magazine with the fixed front feed lips is marked as "4".