1916 Lee Enfield. Did I get lucky with this rifle?

[fliefishing]

I purchased this rifle about two weeks ago. Found it in the local gun shop and could not say no. Paid $325.00 for it. Just curious if I over paid. After cleaning of the cosmoline and shooting it, price really does not matter. The bug has bitten me.

I have attached pics of all the markings. All of the serial numbers match. 7441. Bolt, reciever, barrel, sight and nose cap. Bore is clean.

Any info would be appreciated. I originally posted thsi under fliefishing without photos. First time posting so hopefully this will gwnwrate a better response.

PS. No volley sights or mag cut off.

Thanks,

Craig

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Badger]

If all correct and all matching, that sounds like a great price to me ...

Here's a similar old girl in the MKL ...

1917 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) No.1 MkIII*

Does your rifle have a dent in the wood?

In the 1917 example above, note the large dent shown in the side of the forestock in a few of the pics of the photo virtual tour. At first glance it appears to be wood damage from some kind of impact, when in reality, it actually indicates that the stock of this rifle was from old supplies that had already been cut-out, in preparation for installing the front volley sight. By the time this rifle had been manufactured in 1917, the use of front and rear volley sights on No.1 rifles had been discontinued, as of January 1916.


(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Doug

[jrhead75]

Looks like a fine example...and Canadian marked.

[user1]

Nice rifle,the ww1 matching rifles are getting scarce .you did very well.Dont go to crazy cleaning the stock etc in years to come it will be worth much more just the way it is.
cheers

[fliefishing]

I have no plans to change anything. thanks for the info.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I think I used up a lifetime of good luck on my find. Check my postings. Unfortunately I think I will pay for my good luck by being bitten by the same bug that took a bite of you.
I only wish these guns could talk. Actually they do kind of speek to me every time I handle one. Maybe I am not the only one.

[Pablo]

Nice find. A pic of the whole rifle would be good.
The rear sight must have been re-used with all the struck out seriel numbers. Any FTR markings on her?

[jmoore]

The rear sight must have been re-used with all the struck out seriel numbers. Any FTR markings on her?

Rear sight, yes! And probably the nose cap/front sight protector, as the marking style looks different (and the old S/N filed off). Still, bolt and barrel seem to have not been replaced, which is mighty good.

FTR marks seem to be post war.

[bigduke6]

I think I used up a lifetime of good luck on my find. Check my postings. Unfortunately I think I will pay for my good luck by being bitten by the same bug that took a bite of you.
I only wish these guns could talk. Actually they do kind of speek to me every time I handle one. Maybe I am not the only one.

Your not the only one, there are a lot on this forum who, like yourself have a passion for the history behind thier rifles, every time I hold a milsurp regardless of its make age etc, I often wonder where it has been, how many hands it passed through did it see a lot of action , was it used to gain a marksman qualification, and back to the day it was made and assembled..... the list is endless.

I,ve gone full circle regarding collecting and have started to collect Boer War and WW1 medal groups again, the main reson for this is there is so much more information available now with the internet etc, that wasn,t when I first started about 30 years ago.
Still love the Enfields though and still buying them, but the medals really do take you back into the lives of the men they belonged to, in some cases it can be quite emotional.
Allthough we are supposed to learn from our past, the same mistakes made in the Boer War were repeated 14 years later.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Your not the only one, there are a lot on this forum who, like yourself have a passion for the history behind thier rifles, every time I hold a milsurp regardless of its make age etc, I often wonder where it has been, how many hands it passed through did it see a lot of action , was it used to gain a marksman qualification, and back to the day it was made and assembled..... the list is endless.

I,ve gone full circle regarding collecting and have started to collect Boer War and WW1 medal groups again, the main reson for this is there is so much more information available now with the internet etc, that wasn,t when I first started about 30 years ago.
Still love the Enfields though and still buying them, but the medals really do take you back into the lives of the men they belonged to, in some cases it can be quite emotional.
Allthough we are supposed to learn from our past, the same mistakes made in the Boer War were repeated 14 years later.

The day after I got this rifle I was looking it over wondering what it could tell when I looked over at the TV and saw a movie about the Entibe raid and the Ugandan soldiers all had No.1 Mk3s. I only wish I had found this hobby when rifles etc..were cheaper. I guess the balance to that is the ability to find items on line and reasearch them in wonderful places like this one.