1918 NFR No.1 Mk III Enfield

[ajk0806]

I picked up this NRF earlier this year. Bubba had removed everything in front of the rear band to make it a "sporter". I have two DP rifles that I purchased for spare parts and used the fore-stock, front handguard and nose cap on the NRF. The DP's were a 1916 BSA and a 1918 SSA but came from India. I imagine using the stock from the DP is incorrect for the NRF but it will have to work until I can find a suitable replacement. You'll also notice a dried varnish like substance in and around the receiver. The previous owner didn't do a very good job of putting the varnish on and it's on the metal. I took 0000 Steel Wool to get it off the buttstock, but I'm having a little trouble getting it off the receiver.

I'd like your help on what should be replaced to make this as original as possible. From what I understand, the NRF's are not very common and I would like to have this as close as I can to the original configuration. The serial numbers match on the bolt, receiver and barrel but it appears the barrel was replaced in '37. These are the only pictures I have at the moment but would be more than happy to post any more, if requested. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Information

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[muffett.2008]

Photo's?

[ajk0806]

Sorry about the pictures. I'm not sure what happened!

[jmoore]

Bolt and barrel (barrel in 1937, as you surmised) have been replaced. Probably not at the same time, otherwise the backside of the bolt handle would be the same as the rest of the bolt. At this point it's just good that it's wearing a complete set of "clothes"!

BTW, the Indian fore stock cross screw doesn't bother me a bit. GB, Australia, India, SA, they all had to go somewhere. Doesn't mean they spent their entire service life in one or two locales!

[jrhead75]

Also looks like it was turned into a MkIII at some point before it took on the Indian wood. An interesting rifle.

[Simon P]

Have you range tested it yet?

[barbarossa]

Markings on the buttsocket are also handstamped in the wrong font and are somewhat misaligned. Probably at time of conversion from III* to III pattern. I'd be interested to know what is the rifle's serial number on the receiver ring. I have recently seen another Indian service Standard Small Arms manufacture SMLE III* converted to III pattern with the "*" marking cancelled with a chisel lineout, cut for magazine cutoff just like this specimen. There appears to have been a concerted effort in Indian service to convert these rifles to the earlier pattern to utilize the magazine cutoff, judging by the number of these I've examined in the past few years. There must have been some requirement for such a rifle judging by the amount of trouble someone went to to do these conversions.

Personally, I'd just leave the rifle stocked up in Indian pattern timber. Seems logical, bearing in mind the rifle's obvious provenance.