No1 MkIII Questions

[TerryChambers]

I recently acquired a very nice 1915 Enfield Mk III, s/n O90XX which seems to have been converted to the MkIII* configuration. The volley sights are gone and in fact , the forend shows no evidence of ever having them, telling me that the furniture was replaced. The forend has the s/n, however. The receiver has the slot for the mag cutoff but the cutoff itself is gone. My questions are these: Are there any markings which would indicate the conversion, much like the conversion markings on the No.4. Second, there appears to have been a screw transversely through the forend about 1" forward of the barrel knox form that again, seems to have been removed and repaired. It's too far back to be the "dreaded Ishapore screw" and I've seen it before on older No. 1's but never paid too much attention since No. 4's are more my addiction. What is it? Should I attempt to restore this old girl to a MkIII config or is that just a denial of history ( I think I know the answer to that one). It really is a beautiful old rifle with markings galore and a stock that was spit at one time and arsenal repaired complete with brass pins. The woodworking is truly to be admired. There are inspector's marks and proof marks almost everywhere you look and she shoots pretty damn good. I'm very proud to give her a home.
Terry

Information

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[Bindi2]

My 1915 BSA has the slot never had the volley sight and the fore end is the type that would have had the sight fitted to. The rifle may not be a conversion just a change over one from Mk111 to Mk111* in the middle of WW1 when rifles were short and manufactoring time long. The star * if it has one is the mark used when a Mk111 Is Converted to Mk111*. Mk111s were being built without the cutoff or vollet sights being fitted.

[Pattern14]

I have a 1916 LSA No. 1 Mk III that was FTR'd in India in 1931. The volley sights removed, stock was replaced (with no screw), and the cocking piece was changed from the button type to the slab. Nothing else was changed and the magazine cutoff was not removed. I guess this means that the rifle is halfway between a Mk III and a Mk III*! After 68 years of BLO the stock is beautiful.

[Bindi2]

A lot of rifles had the cutoff replaced between the wars but not the volley sight.

[limpetmine]

I.S. has stated that the British used the transverse screw upon occasion, so it being there (or once) does not absolutely mean it saw the sub-continent.