Early Manufacture?

[Bindi2]

Did I read correctly? Is the rifle an English rifle and have Australian wood? That would make it at least a rebuild if not a put together later. I'd just leave it alone for now. You can't increase the value by cobbling together an "Original"...

The Brits returned the same No of rifles after WW1 that Australia sent them at the beginning. These rifles were rebuilt and returned to stores, this means there are British rifles with Australian furniture and other parts with Aussie marks, that rifle maybe one of those. The Butt will have the rifles history stamped in it so photos of the markings will tell us. I should also say that Aussie troops also came home with Brit rifles on their shoulders.

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[browningautorifle]

The Brits returned the same No of rifles after WW1 that Australia sent them at the beginning. These rifles were rebuilt and returned to stores,

Absolutely agreed and understood. Nothing wrong there either...

[mrclark303]

It's so hard to figure out what's service related or what's been swapped out and changed in 70 odd years of public ownership.

If its seen Australian service (coachwood is a strong sign it has) then you would expect to see the typical Aussie markings on the butt.

I would imagine among the ex Italian Navy examples, there must be some really good original sleepers.

Astonishing they kept them in store for so long really, the Italians clearly arn't fans of the spring clean!

[Roger Payne]

There are indeed some very nice rifles amongst the 'Italian' batch. I am very fortunate that one of the bigger dealers (no names mentioned but they sell most of their stuff deactivated), now & then allows me to go through his supplies to select nice examples. I picked up a 1905 Mk1*** to Mk3 conversion a couple of years ago, as well as one of the first FE prefix No5's off the production line shortly after. I've known the proprietor for thirty-odd years so he trusts me enough to leave me in the cellar with 500 Enfields & to pick out what I want in my own time. I even get a cup of coffee brought down to me periodically! I suppose it's a sort of Enfield heaven! Just a shame that you know all along that nearly all of the rifles which you don't buy are going to get chopped up!

But to stick to the OP's posting - he has a nice complete fairly early Mk3* by BSA. It's all there & a nice looking rifle, even if it has been re-stocked & acquired some black protective paint in places at some point in the past - it was well worth what he paid for it!

[musketjon]

But to stick to the OP's posting - he has a nice complete fairly early Mk3* by BSA. It's all there & a nice looking rifle, was well worth what he paid for it!

It was given to me by a very good friend of mine several years ago. No money changed hands. Cheap is good but free is better. As it sits, with my reloads it will group under 2" all day long at 100 yards as long as I do my part. Not sure trying to "accurize" it will do much good.
Jon

---------- Post added at 07:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:40 PM ----------

The Brits returned the same No of rifles after WW1 that Australia sent them at the beginning. These rifles were rebuilt and returned to stores, this means there are British rifles with Australian furniture and other parts with Aussie marks, that rifle maybe one of those. The Butt will have the rifles history stamped in it so photos of the markings will tell us. I should also say that Aussie troops also came home with Brit rifles on their shoulders.

Unfortunately, there are no stampings whatsoever on the butt stock.
Jon

[Bindi2]

Unfortunately, there are no stampings whatsoever on the butt stock.
Jon[/QUOTE]

Has it been sanded back. The wood should be proud of all metal not flush or the metal proud.

[musketjon]

Has it been sanded back. The wood should be proud of all metal not flush or the metal proud.

It doesn't appear to have been sanded. The grain is not smooth as if sanded or handled a lot. I'm thinking maybe modern replacement wood.
Jon

[browningautorifle]

It sure looks to have been sanded and covered with something...