1931 trials rifle

[rayg]

Your first photo of the rifle threw me off as I didn't think it had been set up as a sniper because it still has the unground battle peep sight on it as that was ground off on the sniper set-ups. Also is there a small screw on the side of the cocking knob? Ray

[yardbird]

Your first photo of the rifle threw me off as I didn't think it had been set up as a sniper because it still has the unground battle peep sight on it as that was ground off on the sniper set-ups. Also is there a small screw on the side of the cocking knob? Ray

Ray I hope this is what you wanted to see.. Roy

[rayg]

That's it. I believe that would be the early cocking piece found on the Trials, Ray

[Surpmil]

That's the fifth trials No4 to turn in WA that I'm aware of.

Someone has the right pad for you in WA IIRC. Saw a thread on one of the Enfield forums about a Long Branch with chopped down receiver and a RSAF(E) marked front pad grafted on by someone.

Can't find the thread or I'd link to it.

[jmoore]

Its a real longshot, but if you could "sniff around" a bit for No32 Mk1 Scope #3345 the "down sides" would evaporate with the reunion. There happens to be a website that could improve your chances, if only I could remember what it was .......

[Surpmil]

Here it is, I was looking on the wrong site!

Longbranch Sniper? - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

[breakeyp]

See, at least I knew there weren't many of them in existence

With a rifle like that though, proven authenticity beyond a doubt will also be something potential buyers will be looking for.

Can someone please explain to me what is required for "proven authenticity" in a gun? Even with a Government bill of sale, how does one determine if the parts have not be changed/switched since release?

I have been collecting Lees for thiry years and feel I can tell good from bad but I don't know how to "certify" anything as we don't have factory letters like Colt. If you worry about such things.

I see more "bad" No.4 (T)s lately than I have "good" ones.

[No4Mk1(T)]

Can someone please explain to me what is required for "proven authenticity" in a gun? Even with a Government bill of sale, how does one determine if the parts have not be changed/switched since release?

I don’t know if I can explain what is required but I can offer up a few opinions on the subject.
You’ll never know if parts have been changed unless you unpack the rifle from it’s original packing grease. Especially with Lee Enfield production having used subcontractors for many parts during both wars it may be impossible to ever know. However if the part is from a known supplier and “looks” original to the gun it should be considered correct. In the case of some rifles like the MkV (No.1Mk.V) almost every part on the few I’ve seen is marked EFD making it fairly easy to identify what parts have been swapped.

I have been collecting Lees for thirty years and feel I can tell good from bad but I don't know how to "certify" anything as we don't have factory letters like Colt. If you worry about such things.

Many modern collectors want the work done for them. They want someone else to tell them they have a genuine collectable or that their item is in some way special. Even with a letter how would you know if, for example, a barrel or trigger had been swapped unless the original one had been serial numbered to the rifle or pistol?
With the fine work of people like Ian Skennerton, Peter Laidler and many others Lee Enfields can themselves become their own letter of authenticity. We can now, with references in hand, review a firearm and determine to a reasonable degree of accuracy if a given example is correct. In a way your reference material becomes your letter as well. The whole point of this site was to offer collectors an online reference source with it’s many photos of known correct examples.

I see more "bad" No.4 (T)s lately than I have "good" ones.

Welcome to a world where it is profitable to reproduce rare collectables. I think we can thank Century Arms for that one in many cases. This makes your reference material even more important. I understand even letters of authenticity have been faked so in some cases even they may not be a guarantee. Even if this is nothing more than a rumor we all know it’s just a matter of time until someone does it. A letter will add value to a “good” collectable but we have to keep in mind that we aren’t trading collector plates on the Bradford Exchange here. In the case of the Lee Enfields they were made for a give purpose with collectability never having entered the equation.
It’s been said before here “Buy a gun-buy a book”.
Just my two cents on the subject.