Enfield 1906 I*** Question??

[winston94]

hello all,

found this in a local cabales... my question is... is this a #1 Mk1? or what is it...??

Barrel is rough and looks shot out and the stock has been cut but other then that it looks ok... i was thinking about buying an trying to restore... they want 250USD... which i think is over priced but was wondering what value would be?

thanks...Mike

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[smle addict]

well, from the photos, I can see the rear volley sight arm and the sliding charger on the bolt head. The unique nosecaps do come up on auction on ePay$ fairly regularly. Hard part will be finding the front volley sight (if it is missing). Other difficulty will be finding a forend. I did manage to put a Mk I*** back together in a similar state only because I had squirreled away a Mk III forend with the volley parts.

Being Cabelas, they should be able to cut away the zip-tie so you can view the bore. For whatever reason, most of the Mk I*** rifles have excellent bores. I have three, and all have mirror bores. That price doesn't seem to far out of line. I paid $300 for the one I put back together, but that's a California price, and everything costs more out here.

If you don't mind a little scavenger hunt for the parts, I say it's a fair deal. If the bore is awful, I would pass on it.

Good luck

[winston94]

yeah this is my 4th time looking at it... I had presioly looked at the bore an it was defiantly dirty and/or maybe shot out... they offered it to me for 175 but i passed... that was during xmas time so i wanna go back an see if i can get it for that again and then use some of my points... but wanna do little research first u know...


another question for you...are #1's hard to find or rare?

thanksallot,
mike

[smle addict]

Pretty common. I guess a bunch came into the US in the 60's. Right now, I think there are a couple of Mk I***s on gunbroker. If you really want it, take a bore snake and run it through the barrel. If it cleans up, might be a nice score. If not, and it truly is rotten, there are more complete and nicer ones out there. A lot of times, those rifles just sits for years and the barrels accumulate dust, spiders, etc.

[RCS]

Most of these rifles that are in the USA have the new Irish serial number, difficult to find just a Mark 1*** with the original serial number. Also to have to look around for along time just to find a Mark 3 fore-end for the volley sight plate to use in your restoration. I believe Springfield Sporters in PA still has the Mark 1 nose cap. It is possible to assemble a rifle from Mark 3 partsAttachment 69000

Here is a photo of an Enfield 1904 Mark 1*** with three serial numbers ! the first two were lined-out, the new serial number is G 839 (bolt is G 837)

[winston94]

ok thanks all... i will let u know if i get...

[Frederick303]

Having examined a number of these rifles, I am pretty sure that no MK III stocks were ever used on the Irish ER and CR MK I*** SMLE rifles. That is not to say you will not come across these rifles so set up in the US of A, but it is very unlikely a SMLE MK I*** rifle set up with a MK III forend was ever issued that way in Irish service.

[Smellymarkfive]

Nose caps are $35.00 from apex gun parts. If the forend is good up to the outer band you can graft a piece from a mkiii and save you a bunch. BRP has early magazines for $50.00. According to another thread repo stocks might be available soon, they'll be at least $300.00. Volley sights go for about $100.00, if you're lucky to find them. If it needs a back sight three went for between $50.00 To $100.00 on ebay. Having the parts it has already will save you quite a bit but you'll probably spend $500.00- $600.00 at least to make an $800.00 rifle, which means breaking even. IMO the value of these guns will improve it's just right now they're showing up everywhere becuase people know what they are now.
If you're an enfield loony it's a labor of love, I think if you're not an enfield nut it's probably not worth it.
Oh I forgot the rear handguard............(not needed if you do it to CR spec).

[Frederick303]

A near correct SMLE MK I*** restoration with a MK III forend is around 500~575 dollars retail (at most) here in eastern PA. By at most I mean a well done one that looks period correct, but is correctly represented as a restoration, which an SMLE MK I*** with a MK III stock should be assumed to be.

Putting 500 into a restoration is not really worth it. If the cost of a restoration, including the forend and bits is on the order of 500, that might be worth doing. By the time you are done you will learn a thing or two about SMLE bedding, worth the entrance cost.

Right now the cheapest nose caps is from Springfield Sporters, I think it is 20 dollars. The cheapest forend is the Enfield one milled for a lobbing sight (incorrect look by the way) from nurmrich for 58.30.

---------- Post added at 07:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:19 PM ----------

Oh if you doubt me on the restoration cost, I have a ER and a CR, both look pretty close but both are restorations (I think) would part for 550 each in a heart beat.

[Smellymarkfive]

I agree F303, there's some pretty wonky restorations cropping up so it's a good idea to track gunbroker to see what people are asking and what people ar buying. I thought the Springfield Sporter nosecaps were all gone? studying up for my first restoration was a real eye opener and now I can spot a ringer a mile away.