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    Contributing Member Thunderstreak's Avatar
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    Question BSA Commercial No1 Mk3.

    I’m interested in the BSA commercial rifles.
    Wondering how common they are and whether they are comparable in value to a military No1 Mk3.
    Any other information or comments are most welcome!
    It seems every time I think I know of all the SMLE versions out there I discover another one!
    Peddled Scheme, Dispersal, Commercial, etc.
    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.

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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Contributing Member Sapper740's Avatar
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    I have a commercial (no Royal Cypher) BSA No.1 MkIII that was regulated by Fulton and Son of Bisley and is in excellent condition, very accurate, and sports a PH5A micrometer peep sight. I was the high bidder of a Gunbroker auction for it and held off some spirited bidders. I paid a little more then $2,000usd for it and was delighted to be the winning bidder.

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    Advisory Panel tiriaq's Avatar
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    Three sold at auction today in Canadaicon. $650, $700, $900, plus commission and tax. Had been set up for competition. One had the extra band added behind the nosecap, so it probably had a packed barrel.
    I have one, also set up for target shooting. Decent shooter, although the throat has cordite erosion.
    It seems many of these rifles were used for target shooting.

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    Legacy Member Daan Kemp's Avatar
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    By commercial you meand sold to the public? BSA also supplied many to armed forces all over the world.

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    Contributing Member Thunderstreak's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Apparently BSA produced rifles in between the first and second world wars that weren’t meant for military service. They look the same but are marked differently. I believe many were used for target shooting.

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    Legacy Member Bindi2's Avatar
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    BSA built no1 Mk3 and Mk3* rifles to military specs without the crown stamp. To shoot at Bisley you needed a rifle of military spec to compete. The only way to do this was by buying a BSA get it passed and stamped so you could compete.
    BSA also supplied other countries these rifles as well. who applied their own stamps.. This has created a huge area for collectors.

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    Contributing Member Sapper740's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bindi2 View Post
    BSA built no1 Mk3 and Mk3* rifles to military specs without the crown stamp. To shoot at Bisley you needed a rifle of military spec to compete. The only way to do this was by buying a BSA get it passed and stamped so you could compete.
    BSA also supplied other countries these rifles as well. who applied their own stamps.. This has created a huge area for collectors.
    I'm working on collecting all the models BSA made for competition rifles and so far have found a M.L.E. MkI*, a C.L.L.E. MkI*, and a No.1 MkIII. I'm amazed at how well cared for these rifles are and some have almost as varied a history, judging by the stamps, as a service rifle had. Interestingly, the M.L.E. despite being rebarreled at Lithgowicon just prior to WWII still sports the longer barrel. I've read that after the S.M.L.E. entered service that all competition rifles had to shorten their barrels to S.M.L.E. specs to be able to enter competitions.

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    Legacy Member Alan de Enfield's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sapper740 View Post
    I'm working on collecting all the models BSA made for competition rifles and so far have found a M.L.E. MkI*, a C.L.L.E. MkI*, and a No.1 MkIII. I'm amazed at how well cared for these rifles are and some have almost as varied a history, judging by the stamps, as a service rifle had. Interestingly, the M.L.E. despite being rebarreled at Lithgowicon just prior to WWII still sports the longer barrel. I've read that after the S.M.L.E. entered service that all competition rifles had to shorten their barrels to S.M.L.E. specs to be able to enter competitions.

    It is quite interesting that in comparison tests done at the time 0f the Mk111 being introduced the results showed little difference between the 'long rifle' and the 'short rifle'.
    With the difference in FoM at 600 yards being about 1" and only about 1/2" at 500 yards.
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    Last edited by Alan de Enfield; 10-02-2023 at 08:16 AM.
    Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...

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    Contributing Member Sapper740's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alan de Enfield View Post
    It is quite interesting that in comparison tests done at the time 0f the Mk111 being introduced the results showed little difference between the 'long rifle' and the 'short rifle'.
    With the difference in FoM at 600 yards being about 1"
    Some interesting take-aways from your post: I often wondered if the longer barrel provided a greater muzzle velocity but according to the comparison done the shorter barrel has a higher muzzle velocity. I wonder if handloading with a slower modern powder would give the longer barrel the nod. Next, the two rifles swap having the best FoM back and forth at the various ranges until they're a virtual tie at 1,700 yds. As you pointed out, not much difference between the two.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sapper740 View Post
    Some interesting take-aways from your post: I often wondered if the longer barrel provided a greater muzzle velocity but according to the comparison done the shorter barrel has a higher muzzle velocity. I wonder if handloading with a slower modern powder would give the longer barrel the nod. Next, the two rifles swap having the best FoM back and forth at the various ranges until they're a virtual tie at 1,700 yds. As you pointed out, not much difference between the two.

    Some more comparisons - this was with the 'long rifle' vs the competition, and barrel life of the short rifle, along with speed of reloading.
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    Last edited by Alan de Enfield; 10-02-2023 at 08:25 AM.
    Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...

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