First SMLE No1 Mk3* I wish this thing could speek. Questions

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Just starting my collection of millitary arms. Got a three for one Japanese Type 38,Mosin M44,
and SMLE No1 Mk3*1918. Sarting strong but do not want to make any mistakes in preserving these historical arms. The SMLE was found as pictutred. All numbers seem to match with the only missing parts being the saftey spring and sling swivels which I replaced with Nemrich parts. Should I do anything beyond replacing missing parts and having the headspace checked? I thought about cleaning the furniture and adding a period insignia inplace of the dowelled spot in the stock and perhaps a sling. Any ot the experts have any advice?

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[gsimmons]

Sling yes, wood plug no. I replaced one on a mkIII marked B.L.R. that I now regret. If you can find one a WWI web sling would be great.

[Badger]

You might also want to try asking in the The Restorer's Corner (click here) .... [/b]

Regards,
Doug

[RJW NZ]

Nice classic rifle, welcome to the forum. If it was me sort of thing - sling for sure, and yep, they can be had with ww1 dates on them, then I also would like to see the brass disc in where the dowel is.
(First find the disc you want to use, they seem to show on ebay regularly, and places like Numrich are also good. Remove it carefully and slowly, with a small sharp blade, not with a drill bit, cover the surrounding wood with 2 layers of tape to protect against slips by tools too. It can be installed with a stock brass screw but enfield made a special stocky one so use that if you can. Usefully a speed bore or spade bit, one inch I think, makes an exact size hole for the disc, try it on a bit of wood first if you go anywhere near this route. I ground back the center spike they come with so it didn't flog out too big a hole where the screw will go)

The BLO often ages and goes dark, you can't do much about that but if you leave it in the sun (upright, not lying down or it'll warp to one side) the excess oils will be forced out and can be cleaned off with tissue, repeat and repeat, it may lighten up, and if nothing else will not seep oil on you as you shoot and the gun warms up.

The short arms beside the rear sight would bother me so I'd patrol ebay avidly for a correct color match and original one, it might take time, but is part of the charm of enfielding.

Shoot it ...
Make space for the next one ... two ... three ...

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Thanks for the reply. After three postings I have had replies from Italy,Germany and now New Zeland. I thought the firearms restrictions across the ponds were very strict. Is there an exception for vintage arms?
I have only been on milsurps for a few days now and have learned a great deal and hope to learn more. Is NZ as lovley in person as on TV. Met a NZ native on a cruise once. she was trying to make enough money at sea to buy some land at home.Lovely girl. Lovelier accient! I hope she succeded.

[jmoore]

Leave the wood plug. It's prefectly acceptable on a rifle used after WWI. It's not like this rifle's history ended after the Great War. If the plug is obviously done by Bubba, then it would be OK to remove, but putting some random unit's ID disc in now just seems wrong, regardless.

[Beerhunter]

After three postings I have had replies from Italy,Germany and now New Zeland. I thought the firearms restrictions across the ponds were very strict. Is there an exception for vintage arms?

There are very few exceptions in the UK for Classic (as we call them) Arms. Other than Section 7 of the 1997 Firearms Act that allows SOME collecting of Historic Pistols (otherwise one cannot legally own pistols in the UK) and Section 58 of the 1968 Firearms Act that allows SOME exemptions for firearms in "Obsolete Calibres". (The latter may not be fired.).

Those of us who collect Classics have to go along with the law just like anyone else. That is why there are so few of us.

BTW your rifle has civilian (London) Proof.

[Patrick Chadwick]

but putting some random unit's ID disc in now just seems wrong, regardless

Agree. That is quite clearly falsification.
Adding markings is giving the rifle a false provenance.
The start on the slippery slope down to outright faking and forging...

To adapt an old saying:

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, who only practice to ...put it back into it's original configuration or what should have been its original configuration and anyway it's my rifle and I'm not really intending to deceive anyone..."

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Those of us who collect Classics have to go along with the law just like anyone else. That is why there are so few of us.

BTW your rifle has civilian (London) Proof.

That really stinks for a country with such a rich history of arms. Spoke with a coworker (whos mother was from Whales) about the restrictions placed on you.
Reminds me of a quote "a man with a gun is a citzien a man without is a subject." Can you explain further the "civilian(London)"proof mark?
I love that screen name BEERHUNTER.

---------- Post added at 10:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 AM ----------

To adapt an old saying:

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, who only practice to ...put it back into it's original configuration or what should have been its original configuration and anyway it's my rifle and I'm not really intending to deceive anyone..."

I have concidered this position and believe I agree that while it might improve its apperance to me it would be a bit of a perversion of the arms true history.

[Peter Laidler]

When you say WHALES Hooked, do you mean she came from WALES or maybe she looked like a WHALE