1917 Mk III* (* struck out)

[Bear43]

I don't post here much but I want to change that, so I am starting with this. This rifle was one my dad had bought at a gun show years ago for $150. It had cut down wood but still had a functioning windage rear sight as well as installed cut-off. It is a 1917 Enfield-built Mk III* with the * struck out. My dad had me restore it which I did with bits bought from Springfield Sporters. It is in an Indian DP stock set and some other Indian marked bits, but the cut-off and rear sight came with the rifle. The cut-off works well as does the windage adjustable sight. The bolt does match the receiver, the barrel is 1917 dated and the rifle shoots quite well. A couple years ago my dad sold off most of his collection but I had first pick and chose this one as well as a few other rifles. It's not perfect but it is a decent representation. The last picture is just a shot of the windage knob in relation to the offset rear sight protector for those new people who may wonder why it was offset.

Information

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[CINDERS]

I thought mag cut offs were deleted from production some time in 1916.

[Bear43]

They were. 1916 was the transition year where the cutoff was eliminated and the windage adjustable sight was simplified but bodies with the cutoff slot were used up until stores were exhausted. Then, between the wars it changed back to Mk III and then the star was struck out. Usually this meant just a cutoff was fitted. Why this rifle retained a windage adjustable sight is beyond me, but it did have it when the rifle was purchased at a gun show in South Dakota. I am betting the sight was retrofitted after service since the old serial number was struck out and no number reapplied.

[RobD]

Nice restoration!
I fitted a windage adjustable rear right to my BSA No 1 Mk III too; I shoot it at the range, and it made setting it up much easier.

[CINDERS]

I should drag my 1916 Lithgow out and see if it retains the serial to the rifle maybe a weekend job it too has the mag cut off when in 1916 the were ceased I do not know maybe mine was just prior to it.

[Bear43]

The Lithgows are a bit different on that. I would have to look in my books for the dates, but the specs were adopted differently for Lithgow rifles, that much I know.

[5thBatt]

Both Lithgow & LSA produced the MkIII with cutoff into 1918, the cutoff was neither deleted or omitted in 1916

In 1916 the MkIII had certain features such as the Volley sights, windage rear sight etc omitted from production, the MkIII still retained the cutoff, this is covered in part 1 of the LoC.
Also in 1916 the MkIII* was introduced, this is covered in part 2, this model was the same as the MkIII but without a cutoff or slot & so the modifications made to the MkIII that were listed in part1 also applied to the MkIII*

The first sentence in the LoC applies to the MkIII, you will notice it says "May embody any of the following modifications" at the bottom in part 2 on the MkIII* it says "like the MkIII, may embody the modifications"
This means after 1916 both the MkIII & the MkIII* could be made with or without any of the modifications listed in part 1 of the LoC & still be correct

[muffett.2008]

Nice rifle Bear, good to hear from you mate.

[Bear43]

Thanks, muffett. Trying to stretch my legs and get around to a few more forums lately. Got to get out and about a bit once in a while.

5thBatt, thanks for posting that. I figured someone would have it handy.

[Roger Payne]

Re Post 7. Or to put it another way, the possession of volley sights, windage rear sight &c is neither here nor there in determining whether a rifle is a Mk3 or Mk3*; it is the possession or otherwise of the cut off.