german marked SMLE (real or fake?)

[sprog]

$1000 CAN, does not add up to much. Unless you are selling several different rifles with said stamps.

In my household $1000 adds up to quite a tidy sum. With #1 MkIIIs going, in Edmonton, in the region of $500-$600 then $400 is a lot to pay for a fake stamp

[Jollygreenslugg]

To me, it's out of the accepted Australian FTR norm to leave obviously non-standard markings on. Especially when a quick linish would have removed them.

I'd love it to be the real deal; it just doesn't sit right with me.

Mind you, knowing the Aussie sense of humour, I could see a storeman in 1990 palletising the rifles for transport, having fun with a fake stamp or two, thinking "This'll stuff 'em!"

Cheers,
Matt

[enfield303t]

In my household $1000 adds up to quite a tidy sum. With #1 MkIIIs going, in Edmonton, in the region of $500-$600 then $400 is a lot to pay for a fake stamp

OR maybe $400 is little to pay if it's a real one??

[RJW NZ]

I was sticking up for it being the real thing, based on probability, however Peter's FTR comments have persuaded me lots that the gun wouldn't get through an FTR with those marks intact, so now I'm more on the fakery. The clincher to me is really this comment; 'As Sprog has pointed out the eagle is pointing the wrong way, and so is the swastika, so it is a stamp that JBS describes, The one on the action looks too rounded, Think the butt may of been changed, so this could be the real Mcoy, as for the action etc etc .....'

As the perpetrator and appreciator of a few good pranks myself, there is one key ingredient to a good leg pull; that what ever the item is in question, it should be so outlandishly wrong that the real humor is all about the egg on the face of 'experts'. In this case, having the swastika and eagle on backwards is a riot, and exactly what a good pranker would do. Its a wonder A H wasn't carved on the stock over 'leningrad' with a line of kill marks to boot, as his personnal sniper rifle he used on weekend 'hunting trips'.

Still, a good story and always worth the money.

Did I ever tell you about the surplus white spitfire out back of Sydney some cocky was using to kull kangaroos that were eating his pot crop? ... lol, I nearly got in some trouble for parts of that one.

[Jollygreenslugg]

Did I ever tell you about the surplus white spitfire out back of Sydney some cocky was using to kull kangaroos that were eating his pot crop? ... lol, I nearly got in some trouble for that one.

I've heard versions of the white Spitfire story myself, over the years. One variation of the white Spitfire story was that a Department of Aviation Aero Commander was on a flight in south-western New South Wales (out of Sydney for those who aren't familiar with Aussie geography) and a white Spitfire came from nowhere and did a roll around the Aero Commander. Made for a great yarn. Another version had the white Spit letting loose with some cannon fire at the same Aero Commander which got too close to the hooch crops. Mind you, in southern NSW there was a bright red Mustang in the 60s, VH-AUB or A68-107. Owned by Aubrey 'Titus' Oates at Jerilderie, it flew for a while and was purchased in the 70s by Col Pay, and returned to military markings.

I'd love the rifle in question to be fair dinkum. Can't see it happening though.

Cheers,
Matt

[Bill G]

I"m too lazy to look it up in the Enfield book but, I believe the Turks converted some No.1's to 8mm. and reinforced the receiver during WW1. The Fins captured some Mosins from the Russians, the Nazis captured the rifles from the Fins, and converted them to 8mm. If you see one of the triple life Mosins you'll remember it. So-o-o, why not a Nazi proofed Enfield? Oh yea, the Japanese captured some British and American made rifles early in WW2 and converted them for their use.

[villiers]

Am NOT a collector and have no interest in the matter other than ensuring that history is not falsified. Have looked at the one picture in which the Waffen Amt stamp is clearly depicted. It is the mirror image of the correct stamp (the eagle faces to the right and the Hakenkreuz is the wrong way round). The stamp was either made from an impression of the original and applied so that a mirror image was achieved. Or a photographic negative could have been used the wrong way around when posting the picture. I would assume that a forger would have taken the trouble to make a correct stamp. I have inadvertently posted mirror image pictures and it happens quite often.

[OxfordAndy]

Very interesting debate and rifle.

All I would add is that the "German" stamps seem extraordinarily ornate compared to other WaA stamps I've seen on rifles/pistols/bayonets. Most WaA stamps that I've seen look pretty primitive by comparison. It is also noticable how well struck and consistent the stamps are.

There are many who are infinitely more experienced than me but I spent a considerable amount of time not too long ago looking in various places for a genuine period stock for my 98k refurb - NEVER saw one this well/clearly marked or I would have bitten the sellers hand off. - and I looked at nearly 60 odd stocks.

The only stamping I can find that (to me) looks anything like the picture in the OP in on p301 of Law's "98k, BotW" where there is a shot of a reworked 98k action on an SS rifle.

If it is genuine - amazing find!

[RobSmith]

I think the old adage of "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" should firmly be applied in such case.

[sprog]

OR maybe $400 is little to pay if it's a real one??

That's an awfully expensive "IF" & on the evidence presented on both forums, I for one will keep my $400 towards a REAL #7 Mk1.