White Stripe on buttstock?

[Walch]

Hello everyone! I recently went to a local pawn shop that had received a large amount of military surp rifles, most have been sold but there are several lee Enfields. I am in the market for one so I was happy to see some. The one that caught my eye was a 1917 smle.it is missing the bolt and magazine. but other than that it looks great( I am far from an expert.) anyway it has about a two inch stripe all the way around the buttstock right up against the butt plate. any thoughts on this? I am worried that it is a decomisseiond rifle but I didn't see a DP mark on it. any advice or comments welcome thanks a lot! oh he is asking $100.

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[Bindi2]

Walk on by.

[Walch]

Bummer! I believe you but why do you say that.

[Bindi2]

Missing the bolt. A big PITA to find and correctly fit another. Also is marked as a DP with the white band so a non shooter. Keep looking a better one will surface.

[Walch]

Thanks I appreciate it. there are several other surp rifles there, they are mostly project rifles I may dig a little deeper to see if there is something a bit better. I have ww2 British gear on display. I wouldn't mind a rifle for this display only. about how much would this be worth for a non shooter? (I guess its worth what I would pay.) I may offer a little bit to use as a display. and maybe for a replacement stock for the future. minus the white stripe it is a pretty nice looking stock.

---------- Post added at 07:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:01 PM ----------

Also is marked as a DP with the white band so a non shooter

It is not marked Dp, or does the white stripe mean the same thing? thanks again

[CINDERS]

A $100 good buy for a wall hanger, go with Bindi's advice walk on buy pay a tad more and get a shooter that you do not have to take to a gunsmith to get up and running they do not just put a white stripe on it for fun although our cadet rifles in 1970 had all manner of stripes mainly red and yellow our greens I seem to remember were stored in a separate rack, did not get paraded and were our range rifles.

[Alan de Enfield]

..... I may offer a little bit to use as a display. and maybe for a replacement stock for the future. minus the white stripe it is a pretty nice looking stock.

Changing the butt will not change the status of the rifle - all it will do is to lead to confusion in the future when you pass it on. No one will know its not safe to fire, are you prepared to take on the responsibility for anything that happens to its new owner ?

[Bandit12]

Sure it is worth offering $75 and putting it away - one day a sportered early SMLE may come up at the right price and and a complete set of wood would have to be worth that (in Australia a set of wood is worth much more), let alone what other parts which might still be serviceable.

[Walch]

Thanks for the advice guys. I f I was to get it as a wall hanger I would no doubt one way or another disable the gun so there is no confusion. And refinish the stalk. But as of now I think I will take the advice of walking away unless I can get it dirt cheap. I appreciate it guys!

[Walch]

Hey Alan De Enfield, I think there may have been some confusion. I wast going to swap the stock for a better one, I would keep the white butt stock, refinish it and put on a better rifle. If another rifle needs one its a nice piece of wood to be tossed with a junk gun.