Who made these NOS No 1 Mk3 barrels?

[Steve762]

Just acquired two NOS No. 1 Mk3 barrels. They are covered in what appears to be tool dip as a preservative. From the pics attached can the forum tell me the manufacturer and any history or information. Many Thanks, Steve

Information

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[smle addict]

I'm sure there are others with more info, but those are South African manufactured. Unsure of when they were made.

I remember back the early '90's, these were being sold by Northridge International, Federal Ordnance, and Victoria Trading Company. IIRC, they were going for about $90 each (US). There were also a bunch of Parker Hale PH5A sights (new in the box,) as well as SMLE MkIII lower handguards on the market, all South African marked.

I guess someone cleaned out a South African warehouse somewhere.

[browningautorifle]

They look gorgeous...

[Peter Laidler]

They are are VERY tight to screw in. So tight I had to skim one down slightly...... Well, not slightly, but quite a bit!

[Mk VII]

IIRC, the barrel band thread is a BA and not the usual one.

[muffett.2008]

Not BA, UNC, 60 degree instead of 55 degree thread pitch. The original was BSW.

[browningautorifle]

They are are VERY tight to screw in.

Is there not a die available to sort these out? Just run it over them once and be done... Something like when you mate a metric FN barrel to an Inch upper...

[Bruce_in_Oz]

All LE-types from the Metford to the MkVI were full of weird (Enfield special) threads.

The breech thread is listed on "general' drawings as: 14Thds per inch, "special" or similar.

The "special" refers to the FORM, which is 49deg, 40min included.

Full details of the thread on the barrel :

Outside dia.: 0.9955"
Root dia.: 0.9024"
Eff. dia: 0.9574"
Pitch: 0.0714"
Angle: 49deg 40min.

Outside (crest) radius: 0.01411".
Inner (root) radius: 0.00804"

Measuring these last two with 19th century devices must have been interesting, to say the least.

All, apart from the 14 TPI pitch, and nominal major diameter, are completely different on the No.4 / 5 series.