1914 Mk III no date on barrel...

[smac61]

What do you all make of these markings on the knox form of my 1914 LSA MkIII? Particularly the lack of a date.

The commercial proof house managed to obliterate most of the prior military proof and inspection marks on the one side. But I don't believe the date would have been there anyhow.

Attachment 19762Attachment 19763

Information

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[Thunderbox]

Looks like it was re-barrelled at Enfield in 1939

[smac61]

Looks like it was re-barrelled at Enfield in 1939

I'm really, REALLY new to all this, so forgive my asking, but how do you determine this?

Thanks,
Sean

[jrhead75]

It's an LSA barrel, whenever it was installed (FWIW, the only 39 I see is on the LSA inspector's stamps). LSA didn't date their barrels. My thinking is running along the lines of original barrel. I've got a CLLE with an LSA replacement barrel, and it's dated to the conversion...the LSA inspection stamps appearing noticeably older than the date.

It's certainly possible that it was an interwar replacement (EFD Inspection stamps), but I'd have thought it would've picked up a date at the time.

[smac61]

It's an LSA barrel, whenever it was installed (FWIW, the only 39 I see is on the LSA inspector's stamps). LSA didn't date their barrels.

That makes sense. If you look at the proofs on the receiver and compare them to the barrel, its just too perfectly matched to be a replacement...

I was confused by the 39 as well as all I could see indicating 39 was inspector numbers...

Attachment 19778

[bouletbill]

I thought the 'L' prefix was for BSA production upto 1939ish. Mine is dated '39 and numbering is close at L605**.

[jrhead75]

I thought the 'L' prefix was for BSA production upto 1939ish. Mine is dated '39 and numbering is close at L605**.

All of the SMLE manufacturers (less the Aussies) used an 'L' prefix at one time or another. The 'L' prefix also shows up on LSA production from 1903 - 1914, and possibly into 1915.

[Simon P]

I have an all matching 1914 LSA SMLE as well. Serial No L8600#.

The LSA inspectors marks are identical, both on barrel & action as smac61`s, the barrel on my one also lacks a date.

[smac61]

I have an all matching 1914 LSA SMLE as well. Serial No L8600#.

The LSA inspectors marks are identical, both on barrel & action as smac61`s, the barrel on my one also lacks a date.

Guess that settles it. (I actually considered it settled after jrhead75's post)

Pics of mine here: 1914 LSA S.M.L.E. Mk III

Your's all matching / correct? Mine lacks volley arms, has the upper handguard fingers removed and has a replacement (although s/n matching) rear sight. Oh, and no stock disk...

I'm quite pleased with it but my OCD side wants to "fix" those "imperfections"