Found an SMLE Mk.I** I.P. (India Pattern) in a pawn shop today, and bought it for $175 out the door. I'm still trying to decide if I over paid, but it was like a sad little kitty at the pound. I just wanted to take it home and make every thing better. Now for the details:
The Bad:
Bubba took a hack saw to the forearm. The forearm has been cut off about half an inch in front of the rear sight. The nosecap, rear band, front hand guard, sight protector, sight protector screw, sight protector nut, inner band, band spring band screw are long gone. It has a U.S. Quarter in the buttstock marking disk hole. (But its NOT drilled and tapped
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The Good:
Rifle is BSA 1906 or 1908 dated (last digit is a little hard to read) and was converted to a Mk.I** I.P. at RFI in 1919 as stamped on the left butt socket. The receiver, bolt, barrel and rear sight are matching numbers. The rear sight is a pinned, windage adjustable sight. The bore is nice, bright with strong rifleing and a good crown. Magazine is nice with no dints/dings and no serial number. Other than the barrel and trigger guard that are RFI and the receiver that was originaly BSA everything appears to be made by Enfield. The buttstock and rear hand guard appear to be usable. The rifle has no import stamps, Just a small ENGLAND export stamp just under the safety spring, and a London Proofing stamp under the rear hand guard.
What do you think? I know I can save her but is it worth doing? And was it worth the price or do you think I paid too much?
Update: tinkering with her and managed to pop the quarter out. It is a 1954 dated silver quarter so gives an idea when she was chopped.Information
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