No. 1 Mk 1***

[Ridolpho]

Have wanted a Mk1 for a while and found this at a recent small show where there were a surprising number of Lee Enfields (30+ including 5 No. 5's). Appears to be a 1912 upgrade of a Mk 1* built by BSA in 1905. For anyone not familiar, this was an upgrade to the sights to allow use of the Mk VII cartridge. The upgrade was done at Enfield (was this where they all were done?). The barred out original serial # (bolt has a matching number) was replaced by an "ER" prefix number which would seem to put this amongst rifles sold to Ireland after WW1 (based on old posts on the Forum). The rifle seems to be in good shape for its age- after a few swabs the bore is bright with very good rifling. I love the lines of the Mk1 and little details like the bone buttons on the rear sight! Questions for the experts: 1) Is the 1905 date consistant with this gun starting as a 1*; 2) On the barrel the view marks include what must be BSA but, to me, they have the appearance of Sparbrook italic B marks. There are similar marks elsewhere including on the bolt. Are these what the BSA marks at the time looked like? Thanks, in advance, for any feedback and Happy Thanksgiving fellow Canucks.

Ridolpho

Information

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[browningautorifle]

That's a nice looking rifle...I've always liked the early models.

[Ridolpho]

browningautorifle: Yes, there's something about the early ones. Unlike later wartime rifles they had the time to carefully fit the forends. On this and my Long lee you can't fit a fine feeler guage between wood and metal. Strangely, one of the newest ones in my collection (POF No. 4 Mk2) has a similar excellently fitted forend. Thanks.

Ridolpho

[Brian B]

Beautiful rifle!! I love the early ones too!! They just look more "elegant"!!

[Clash77]

Absolutely beautiful!! Makes me want a MkI even more than I already did!

[jrhead75]

Looks like a fine example! The italic B is the BSA mark...one of the earlier sources (don't remember which) has it backwards. The normal upper case B is the Sparkbrook mark. The safety lever and spring are replacements. It's common enough to see the MkIII lever on these, but I don't remember ever seeing the stamped spring on one. A couple of other minor quibbles: the swivels are on backwards...and the one "biggie"( )...there's no such thing as a No1 MkI. The converted rifles and the ShtLE MkIs were purposely stricken from the vocabulary at the 1926 nomenclature change.

All very minor stuff...she's a beauty, with a lot of history behind her. A real keeper!

[terryinvictoria]

Nice score Ridolpho that is one nice rifle.

I l;ike all Enfields but the old ones have that history that you cannot buy in a newer rifle

Cheers
TerryinVictoria

[Simon P]

I have just taken in what i thought was a No1 Mk1, it turned out to be a Pattern 14 in .22 so I will be keeping this one. When it comes back from the proof house i will post some pictures.

[bigduke6]

I have just taken in what i thought was a No1 Mk1, it turned out to be a Pattern 14 in .22 so I will be keeping this one. When it comes back from the proof house i will post some pictures.

Looking forward to the pics

[Amatikulu]

Lovely example of the ER serial. I notice in the pictures that the fore stock on the rifle has marks in the wood that resemble wire wrapping - possibly from some time in its past - is the fore stock numbered to the rifle?