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    Legacy Member Mike D's Avatar
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    National match rifles

    Curious as to what mods were done to these rifles? I know the barrels were star gauged, bolts polished, what else? What exactly was polished inside the receiver for smoother bolt travel? What about the trigger and sear? Any stock bedding done? TIA, Mike
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Advisory Panel John Beard's Avatar
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    The modifications done to National Match rifles varied from year to year. Is there any particular year you had in mind?

    J.B.

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    Legacy Member Mike D's Avatar
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    Well, I guess my main interest is the trigger and sear. Ever since JGaynor ID'd the drawing # on my serrated trigger as NM, it got me wondering. I have no doubt that my trigger has modified by someone. But were original NM triggers and sears MANUFACTURED differently or were they original spec and just polished? Were they polished at all? Were the sears marked different? Any triggers blued? Sorry for the ramblin', just thinkin' out loud. Thanks, Mike

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    One feature not often commented on, is the polished "raceway, the left side of the open receiver, that was polished, as well as the follower rib. Here is a picture of my 1915 NM (not the best in the world, but I believe it shows the feature.

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    Advisory Panel John Beard's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike D View Post
    Well, I guess my main interest is the trigger and sear. Ever since JGaynor ID'd the drawing # on my serrated trigger as NM, it got me wondering. I have no doubt that my trigger has modified by someone. But were original NM triggers and sears MANUFACTURED differently or were they original spec and just polished? Were they polished at all? Were the sears marked different? Any triggers blued? Sorry for the ramblin', just thinkin' out loud. Thanks, Mike
    (1) According to official ordnance documentation, NM parts (and presumably triggers and sears) were selected from service rifle parts by gauging to tighter tolerances. In most cases, they were not manufactured differently.

    (2) NM triggers and sears were polished. But, so were service rifle triggers and sears. NM triggers and sears, however, had to pass tighter trigger pull limitations.

    (3) Sear markings vary, depending on year of manufacture.

    (4) Triggers were given a blue/black finish.

    Hope this helps.

    J.B.

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    I don't know very much about NM rifles. But being you are talking military history it would be hard to pass up a garand. I have had a very nice shooting 1903, it was a one hole 50 yard rifle, with the original peep site. I hunted with it until, by coincidence, I found the grandson of the man who's initials were ingraved in the trigger guard. It's a story I'll not type today, but he ended up with the rifle.

    I killed a doe at 325 yards with the 1903 using the peep site, it was a shooter. But I have always wanted a garand.

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