A very specific question re. SMLE No1Mk3 (NO star!)

[louthepou]

Hi folks, well I went to my gunsmith for a few odds and ends, and of course I always look at what Lee Enfields he has.

To my surprise, he had this 1916 LSA sportered No1Mk3:



And the bore isn't too too bad!

So of course, I'm tempted to refurb it "à la" no star. I do have the rear long range volley sight arm, Numrich has repro front long range dial assembly and inletted forend... I have the mag cut-off... BUT:

I think the mag cutoff screw hole is buggered up.



I would like to know if anyone can lend me, or direct me to a source where I could buy, a tap for that one, to clean this hole... I know it's a lot to ask, but I have to try!

Lou

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

On the other hand Lou, it looks to me like the thread has gone too. So you could just drill or bore out the threaded hole oversize using the inner end as a pilot for alignment. Then thread it with a fairly standard for the era BA size and machine a BA screw to suit or just turn up an exact replica screw but with a BA thread.

Where there's a will, there's an easy way I always say

[louthepou]

Hmm, you have a good point, Peter. (a regular occurence, isn't it).

I'll take a closer look, I have a small, hand-held microscope, just for these kinds of mysteries.

Louis

[Peter Laidler]

I just feel that even if anyone had the tap for that original thread they very probably woiuldn't lend it out..... But as I often say, I could be wrong - and if the thread is knacked anyway.....

[Surpmil]

Looks to me like the edge of the cutoff block got bumped, effectively staking the screw in place and someone then tried to drill it out and a bit off centre. How deep did they go Lou?

[Roy]

A worthy project there. Just a word of warning. All of the volley sight Inletted forends I have seen online except the EFD repro ones are the later straight type without the 'bulge' as such the inletting for the dial plate comes closer to the bottom of the forend than it should. My ratty mk III has a ratty forend which I Inletted myself as it had the bulge to take the dial plate.

[Brit plumber]

I don't think a 1916 LSA would have had the volley sight. My 1916 Enfield and 1916 BSA MkIII don't, but they do have the cut off.

[Roy]

Good point, though it would have originally had the bulged forend, We look forward to seeing it returned to its former beauty.

[Bindi2]

My thoughts are that it is in Mk3* configuration as it left service. The screw could have been broken at the time it was up graded. To do any thing else other than refurb it to that standard is wrong.

[gsimmons]

I don't think a 1916 LSA would have had the volley sight. My 1916 Enfield and 1916 BSA MkIII don't, but they do have the cut off.

To further confuse things or maybe not, my 1916 BSA MkIII does have the volley sights.