1915 Sht LE Stock Markings

[zaitsev44]

It has been quite a few years since I last posted here, but I have a Enfield-related inquiry and figured this would be the best place to get an answer, if anywhere at all. I just picked up this 1915 LSA ShtLE at auction and I personally feel like a scored decently. It is all matching, including the rear which isn't force matched, and still retains the magazine cutoff as well as previsions for volley sights, although the apertures have long since been removed. There is a good bit of paint splatter up at the muzzle, removal of which will be my next project. One thing I did notice that my 1918 BSA doesn't have is the multitude of stamps and proofs at the bottom of the wrist behind the trigger guard. I can make out a few of them, like the Enfield/broad arrow proof, but most I have no clue about. They seem nice and legible, which is a plus. In addition to the wrist proofs, I was wondering if there was anyone who knows what the paint stamp on each side of the stock correlates to. If it were only on one side of the stock I would just chalk it up to more paint spatter/spillage, but since both sides have the same mark in the same place there is reason to believe there is a meaning behind it. A helpful reply over on Gunboards said it is an "FR" mark, which I can kind of make out an F and R in the paint blotches.
Anyways I was just wondering if anyone out there knew something about the proofs/markings that I don't know. This particular rifle is seeped in history, which is exactly what I wanted for an early-WWI example. There are also 3 inspection dates on the wrist band, 1926/28/36, which is interesting given the fact that the base for the front volley sight as well as the magazine cutoff assembly are both still present. One would assume these features would have been removed in one of those trips back through the armory. All in all, for $336 I'm happy!
Thanks for all feedback!

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[Singer B]

You should be happy! Great rifle at a terrific price.

[Surpmil]

Looks like an "old sweat" for certain, but the marks on the Nock's Form would be worth looking at too. My guess would be written off post-WWII as not worth FTR. A long and varied life you can be sure.

[zaitsev44]

I’ll pull her out of the stock this weekend and check the Knox form. I’ll also try to tackle some of the paint splatter.

[browningautorifle]

Better take a few close pics first, there are a couple things of interest...looks like a vertical line at the back of the front volley sight plate like there was a join there. What color is the paint "Splatter" at front? Red? Yellow? I wouldn't take the figures off the stock either, they're more than meets the eye. "FR" I don't believe. Maybe identity figures from a far east country...

[zaitsev44]

For browningautomaticrifle, the paint up front is white. No question that the buttstock paint markings will stay. They do look like “FR” when held level though.
As for the pictures on the Knox form, they look like your standard Enfield affair. Looks like it was proofed (possibly rebarreled?) in early 1922, tonne proofed, stamped as rust found in bore, nothing entirely unusual that I can see. The barrel did have a very nice, even coat of old cosmoline under the wood, so it’s nice to know that hasn’t been messed with since she was in English possession.

Attachment 105532Attachment 105531Attachment 105530Attachment 105529

[browningautorifle]

the paint up front is white

Several colors were applied meaning different things, I just wondered if this might be the remains of one of those.

[Surpmil]

We've seen those letters dipped in paint used to put scope numbers on No.8 cases for example post-WWII.

It may have been gauged for Factory Repair at one location and then failed inspection when it got to where that work was being done. Result: no further work and out the door it went(?)

Looks like it was through the workshops in 28, 32 and 36.

The barrel is the original IMHO.

[RobD]

You may be able to get a dial sight pointer, screw and washer from a helpful forummer. If not, they are available here though at quite a price
Lee Enfield Rifles for sale - EFD Rifles - the Lee Enfield rifle specialists

[zaitsev44]

So a much belated update: I removed the paint splatter on the front half of the rifle using a rag, cotton swabs, and acetone. The acetone only removed the paint and just the very top layer of oil and grime, not stripping by any means. Afterwards I inspected the newly exposed wood and counted a total of 7 repairs/splices on the handguards and fore end, one of which is pictured below. Then I hand rubbed a little lemon oil into the wood to replace the oil that came off with the paint removal. Overall it came out great. My question on the pictured repair is: Why would the front volley sight base be spliced in? Were they done this way originally? Seems strange to me.








Edit: I forgot to take close of pictures from before I cleaned the paint, but here is the best picture I have from the auction listing. That isn’t light shining off the nose cap and surrounding area, it’s paint.