BSA-Sparkbrook SMLE

[dg2004]

I received this rifle today.

It's a BSA-Sparkbrook SMLE. It was made in 1906 as a SMLE Mk I*, and sometime later converted to SMLE Mk III. You can barely see the overstamped star. I had to hold the rifle at an angle to the light to see it. It took a bit of work, but I got the overstamped star in a picture.

The metal parts except for the barrel match. The forend bled a little cosmoline when I handled the rifle. The bore needs cleaning but is rust free. There is rifling. I have not looked at with my bore scope, but to my naked eye it looks near mint except for some fouling/dirt I need to finish cleaning out.

There is rust, but all on external parts.

I have not taken anything apart beyond removing the handguard.

The serial number doesn't line with the BSA-Sparkbrook block according to Skennerton. If I remember correctly, BSA-Sparkbrook was Q, and this is R.

It's very hard to see, but it looks like the two opposing R mark is on the top of the receiver. I didn't see this in the pictures the seller took. I almost missed it when I first looked over the rifle. The picture I have of it is the best one I could take. It took a bit of work with the light.

Information

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