Identification of a Lee-Enfield .303

[Peter Laidler]

Judging from the vice marks on the nocks form (photos 3, 7 and 8) an enthusiastic but, alas total butcher (bubba) had had the barrel in a vice for some reason. The next thing we really need to know is the calibre. Is it .22" as the body says or has it been made back to .303".

Nobody in the world can tell you whether it's serviceable because we don't know from pictures

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[CharlesWM]

Judging from the vice marks on the nocks form (photos 3, 7 and 8) an enthusiastic but, alas total butcher (bubba) had had the barrel in a vice for some reason. The next thing we really need to know is the calibre. Is it .22" as the body says or has it been made back to .303".

Nobody in the world can tell you whether it's serviceable because we don't know from pictures

It is definitely a .303 because I have fired .303 ammo through it several times, and it is indeed serviceable.

---------- Post added at 11:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 AM ----------

If the rifle is actually a .303, it is a No 1 MK III, otherwise known as a SMLE MKIII:

Rifle has been sported. Stock has been heavily modified, beyond saving if someone wanted to restore to as issue condition. Even the buttstock has been sanded to require replacement.

Rifle is not worth that much on the open market, though a 1912 action is an early rifles. probably worth around 150 as a sporter or restoration project. That said as a family heirloom it is worth a lot, and if you hav kids you should write down the details of your fathers use, so that it will not be forgotten in a decade or more as is most common with family firearms.

Based on action markings:

That said the action markings indicate it is a rather uncommon .22 cal rifle. Specifically it appears to be a 1914 pattern , No 2 rifles, based on the line of text below factory markings. However the action might have been used to make a .303 sporter. the If the caliber is .22 rimfire and not .303 it would be worth a bit as a restoration project. Unfortunately I do not know enough about the .22 cal market to give you an estimate.

It is definitely a .303, as I have fired several rounds of .303 ammo through it.

[scoobsean]

It is definitely a .303 because I have fired .303 ammo through it several times, and it is indeed serviceable.

---------- Post added at 11:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 AM ----------



It is definitely a .303, as I have fired several rounds of .303 ammo through it.

In that case it is worth around $150.

[Sentryduty]

I have fired .303 ammo through it several times, and it is indeed serviceable.

Not to be obtuse, but able to discharge a round and serviceable are not entirely the same thing.

It is something of a concern when rifles have been tinkered with to that sort of level over the years. There is a lot of evidence of "tinkering" as Peter and Frederick have observed, as a .303 calibre the $150 estimate is probably spot on.