Enfield 303 1915 Mk III* - ID Help

[EnfieldQuestions]

Hello, new member here. I'm not a collector, just someone who inherited an old enfield and would like to know more about it. I know its a sporterized 1915 Mk III*, but there are so many markings on it, I don't know where to start.

Lets start with the pics.

Information

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[SpikeDD]

Welcome to the forum!

What you have is a No.1 Mk.III* rifle made at the RSAF Enfield Arsenal in 1915. This is the only year that both Enfield and BSA ( Birmingham Small Arms ) made both the Mk. III and the Mk.III*.

In the first pic, the "E" and "D" superimposed over one another is a Enfield marking. In pic 4, you can see the letters F.T.R. ( Factory Thorough Repair ) which indicates this rifle has had some degree of rebuild/repair at some point in it's life. Pic 6 shows the barrel date of 1945 which obviously indicates a barrel change at that time with pic 9 showing the number matching the receiver number in pic 8. Pic 7 shows what I believe is the number "22". The 2 digit numbers stamped in this area are known as "view" dates which indicate the rifle had been inspected by an armorer that year.

The rest of the markings are various inspection/proof markings which can be found on most every component of the rifle. Some of the inspectors markings,( a crown, over a letter, over a number ), will indicate a particular inspector, with the "number" indicating the specific individual.

That's the small nut shell of it. Keep it clean and enjoy it!

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Pic #9 shows a British commercial proof done after it left government service. .303 (caliber), 2.22 (nominal length of case) and 18.5 TONS (of pressure).