1907 BSACo ShtLE I***

[Anzac15]

I see a CR prefix there, looks like one of the rifles issued to the Irish Free State Army.
Looking forward to seeing the end result!

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[RCS]

Having collected a few of these Mark 1*** rifles, there sometimes appear to be a pattern: Mark 1*** rifles with the old serial number lined-out and a new serial number with the prefix ER have very little changes performed, they are often still original even with the Mark 1 butt swivel bracket and sometimes the early buttstock.

The Mark 1*** rifles with the old serial number lined-out and a new serial number with the CR prefix often have a modified rear handguard with the backsight protector removed and a Mark 111 backsight protector installed into the Mark 1*** fore-end or else a Mark 111 fore-end is used. The Mark 111 rear sight is often used too, the nose cap almost always is Mark 1.

[AMS]

Please find attached a better picture of the wristband and a few photos of different angles on the rear sight. Am attempting to acquire the various wood stocks through a chap named Geoffrey Organ out of the UK. I've heard he's about the best there is. My plan is to go with the MkI*** style as the current markings and stamps indicate she should be. If my SWAG is correct I should be looking at around $800-$1000 US. I know this post is a bit dated but concerning this rifle if anythings worth doing it's worth doing right. The really nice thing is all the numbers match (i.e. Bolt, Barrel, Receiver) and she still had the original volley sights attached.

[RCS]

I have restored a few and I must say that finding Mark 1*** fore-end wood is very difficult, you might think about adding a piece to the original fore-end.Did you remove the butt plate yet ? the early buttstocks have three holes at the bottom and three at the top or just a single hole and a long hole at the top. You rifle might still have the early correct buttstock.

Finding any Mark 1*** in the USA without the Irish ER or CR (sometimes G) is difficult too. The ConD ll* rifles are also rareAttachment 76034Attachment 76035

[Frederick303]

AMS.

Given the absolute lack of MK I forends, a modified MKIII forend is the best you are going to do and it is about as correct as you can do for a free state rifle. The free state rifles used MK I forends modified for the MK III rear sight protector and either a modified MK I rear hand guard with the metal removed or a early MK III rear hand guard.

Also all of the CR rifles I have seen that were correct at late MK III rear sight leafs (as your rifle has).

[AD-4NA]

I think you should go for it but as said above the rifle has the correct rear sight and "ears" already. You are lucky to have a lot of good bits there such as the volley sights and early magazine! But you may want to carefully consider spending more than the purchase price of another complete, correct and original SHTLE Mk I*** on an incorrect restoration back to Mk 1*** standards that would always be given away by the CR prefix and the re-serial when it would be a little easier to do an authentic CR series restoration and still have an awesome rifle anyway. Either way a restoration certainly enhances rather than decreases the value of a sporter but whether a "correct" Irish restoration will be worth more sort of depends on how discerning the collectors of the future will be.

If you would like to find out more there is a goodly amount written about the Irish ER, CR, and G series rifles and the interesting history behind them here and on gunboards also.

Also, I hate to say this but I believe the bayonet in the picture (if it is the one you were referencing) is not a Pattern 1907 bayonet for the SMLE but a Pattern 1913 bayonet for the Pattern 1914 rifle or the US Rifle, Model of 1917 as demonstrated by the two grooves in the grips to differentiate it from the P1907 for that very reason and unfortunately will not fit your rifle when you do get the correct MkI nose cap.

[Flying10uk]

As has already been suggested in posts 9 and 14, if this rifle was mine I would retain the existing fore-end and "let in/scarf" additional wood to replace the wood that has been lost. This should be a relatively simple repair job for someone with modest carpentry skills. Not only would this save needless expense but also retain much of the rifle's originality.

If you could post a picture of the bayonet looking at the muzzle ring from the pommel end, please, we should be able to say for sure if it's a 1907 bayonet or not. We can tell this by the muzzle ring being closer to the blade than is the case with the P14 or M1917 bayonets.

[browningautorifle]

If you could post a picture of the bayonet looking at the muzzle ring from the pommel end, please, we should be able to say for sure if it's a 1907 bayonet or not.

We don't really need closer pics, that bayonet is for a M1917 rifle or P14. It's got a VERY tall crosspiece. That's not 1907. Don't believe me? Wait...

[Flying10uk]

Are you going by the 6th picture along in post 8, Jim, or is there a better quality/closer up picture of the bayonet that I've missed somewhere on this thread? If we are going by this picture, while I would agree that the cross guard may look tall, I would want to see further pictures of the cross guard before saying it's not a 1907.

[browningautorifle]

I would want to see further pictures of the cross guard before saying it's not a 1907.

It's OK, you'll see. If he ever comes back with a reply...