Price check 1913 No.1 MK.III

[spinecracker]

Stumbled onto a 1913 BSA No.1 Mk.III, rebarreled 1922, numbers match (receiver, bolt, nosecap, forend, rearsight - nothing struck out and restamped, and the magazine is unserialed). Obviously the cut-off is gone (as expected), and I assume the forend was changed at some time (most likely at or before the rebarreling). The bore is a little dark, but the rifling is strong. The "legs" on the hand guards have been removed (a common thing, so I am told). The wood has dings, but nothing excessive, and there are no cracks. I am in the US. I do not have pics at the moment, but I have inspected the rifle. Is $245 a reasonable price?

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[enfield303t]

Personally I would pay that for it, but who knows if anyone else would.

[spinecracker]

It followed me home from the gun show. Honest :P

Well, I have stripped it down. THe markings on the buttsock are a little bit interesting:

GR
BSA Co
SHTLE
III

Yep, no *. The rifle was rebarreled in 1922 at Enfield (going by the stamps), and I assume this is when (if not before) the forend was changed (does not have the recesses for the volley sights). The rear sight was, I assume, also changed at this point and stamped to match the rifle, but it still has the windage adjustment part and it has not been pinned (although the windage adjustment knob has been removed and someone has cut a slot for a screwdriver so the windage can still be adjusted - sheesh!). So, any idea if I should replace the windage adjustment part or find a non-adjustable part?

The barrel's markings are confusing me quite a bit. The barrel is dated 1922 (well, there is "22" stamped on the barrel, so I assume that it means 1922) and is serial numbered to the rifle (the font looks identical to that on the receiver). There are inspector's marks for Enfield ("E" under a crown and "EFD") and some with a "K" in them (I will look closer later). On the underside of the barrel near the knox is "VSM" and "1239". Any comments? I will try to get pictures soon.

Edit - just looked and the screw for windage adjustment has been pinned using a punch. One mystery solved lol. It looks like someone tried to turn the windage adjustment knob and sheared it off. I don't suppose there is any way to fix this problem, at least cosmetically?

[RJW NZ]

Rear sight arms are common on ebay in new condition for cheap, and windage arms show up steadily too, but their price is a little higher. (you could buy a windage one and useing parts rebuild yours so the serial number still matches your rifle) I'd put the windage back on and look to restoring it to 1913 standards, I like these with all their proper bits on and they keep a good value too ...

[jrhead75]

"VSM" = Vickers, Sons & Maxim. Are there any 'V' inspectors' marks anywhere on the rifle?

[spinecracker]

"VSM" = Vickers, Sons & Maxim. Are there any 'V' inspectors' marks anywhere on the rifle?

I can't find any, but there is an inspector's mark on the barrel that looks like it contains an "X" (LSA?).

I am interested as to why the rifle does not have the * next the III on the buttsocket. Just behind the safety catch, I can see "34" and "36", so would these be inspection stamps for 1934 and 1936? I am looking the the windage parts to put the rifle back to the way it was. The rear sight leaf has another serial number struck out and it has been reserialed to match the rifle, so I would want to keep this if I could and just replace the broken parts. If I can't, then I might just see if I can get a rear sight with working windage.

[Dad]

Spinecraker,

Here is a windage adjustable rear sight, the usual winning bid is $55.00 USD or higher.

lee enfield No1 sight leaf with wind adjustment - eBay (item 180603770281 end time Dec-28-10 15:37:24 PST)

D.