1918 Enfield Small Arms Factory made SMLE No.1 Mk.III* converted back to No.1 Mk.III

[Father Ted]

he must have a monopoly on the market of SMLE replacement wood -

rl]

A couple people in the states must have bought a shipping container full of them. 2 years ago on EBay, two different sellers in California were listing about one per day for what felt like a year (I know hardly a shipping container). Same late enfield stamps the that are on your forend. I just wish I bought more than one

[owengun]

A couple people in the states must have bought a shipping container full of them. 2 years ago on EBay, two different sellers in California were listing about one per day for what felt like a year (I know hardly a shipping container). Same late enfield stamps the that are on your forend. I just wish I bought more than one

Would it be too much to ask for a picture of these stamps on your quoted forend to confirm that they are the same? you know just so it is not only me making statements with verifiable pictures.

[Father Ted]

these were being offered as NOS forends. Now that I have dug it out of hiding I see it has only two stamps: broad ^ and the enfield ED
cheers


*** not sure if these were somehow repro's snd someone owned a stamped set, but one of the two venders had a handful that were mk3 but the volley sight looked freshly routed. I got that one for $80, sometimes they went above $150.
Cheers

[owengun]

these were being offered as NOS forends. Now that I have dug it out of hiding I see it has only two stamps: broad ^ and the enfield ED
cheers
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4/09/640-1.jpg

*** not sure if these were somehow repro's snd someone owned a stamped set, but one of the two venders had a handful that were mk3 but the volley sight looked freshly routed. I got that one for $80, sometimes they went above $150.
Cheers

Thanks for the pictures, close but not exactly the same stamps as my posted Mk.III. Where is the crown military acceptance stamp? Does anybody know what 9/l\9 means?




There is a guy in Canada who also makes up SMLE stocks but uses American Walnut as English walnut like my Mk.III has is very expensive and hard to get nowdays. It is a bit hard to tell from your pictures but what type of wood does it appear to be? if they are recent made up versions and are walnut I suspect them to be commonly available American walnut - English Walnut | The Wood Database - Lumber Identification (Hardwoods)

Those SMLE stocks if original must be very old NOS specimens previously long hidden in some warehouse as the Brit's and others (except the Pakistanis) switched to other more commonly available but not as desirable hardwood's during the war.

Was that vendor also selling NOS matching wood top guards and butt stocks like my Enfield has to complete a all matching set?

Once again thanks for taking the time to post pictures to convey what you thought were the same stamps.

[Father Ted]

Can't recall if they were selling handguards and butts. The only other stamps this one has is a 5L at tip, J in barrel channel as well as 3 and something else in channel. Appears to be walnut but definitely not American.

[owengun]

Can't recall if they were selling handguards and butts. The only other stamps this one has is a 5L at tip, J in barrel channel as well as 3 and something else in channel. Appears to be walnut but definitely not American.

Probably genuine NOS English walnut wood then that was not stamped as accepted into service yet until it got it's final fitting. I will not be stripping mine down to find any other marks until after I shoot it first, don't like stripping these Enfields before I get a chance to see how they shoot first.

[5thBatt]

I had one of those NOS never fitted forends

[Father Ted]

Probably genuine NOS English walnut wood then that was not stamped as accepted into service yet until it got it's final fitting. I will not be stripping mine down to find any other marks until after I shoot it first, don't like stripping these Enfields before I get a chance to see how they shoot first.

Yes this one requires fitting, and even after a preservative linseed coat it still retains a "storage" smell similar to surplus slings or scabbards. I prefer to strip every enfield before I shoot it to make sure draws are serviceable or on their last leg. Just my .02
Cheers

[Roy]

This NOS stock came from EFD rifles in 2010, I was in Blighty and visited them in Kent to pick up a Sht LE 1 stock, I was offered the NOS one for 20 quid. their price has increased considerably since then!

My .22 trainer lives in it now

[browningautorifle]

There ya go...yes, they're around. Now we see the replacement wood is scattered world wide...not hard to find. There's a man near Ottawa that specializes in rebuilding #1 Mk3...5th Batt's looks to be marked for N/Z though.