New acquisition! My no1 mkIII.

[GlennP]

Ever since marrying my Canadian wife I've been on the hunt to gather together a collection of Canadian service rifles. Of course I wound up starting with the only non Canadian made rifle that I'm looking for (the other two being a Ross and a LB No4mk1) but i couldn't pass this up as it was local and what I believe to be a good deal ($450 USD).

It appears to be matching numbers, the seller told me the stock is likely from the 1930s however. This makes sense as a 1910 dated MKIII would likely have the volley sights in it's original configuration. So, it is my thought that this is a MKIII (no star) updated to MKIII*?

It does however retain the magazine cutoff which is neat.

Is there anything more you can tell me about our rifle from the photos? Does it seem a good buy? I can't wait to shoot it!

Information

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[RCS]

A lot of upgrading/rebuilding since manufacture, most important are the headspace and bore condition. What is the barrel date ? Look for a copy of Charles (Skip) Stratton's book Volume 1 British Enfield Rifles. easy to read.

Your rifle would have looked like my BSA 1909 (well used example) but still with the '09 dated barrel and nice bore

[browningautorifle]

Good looking rifle though, nice shape and all. If the bore is good too, then it's worth the cash laid out.

[GlennP]

Not sure on the barrel date as I haven't gotten around to taking her apart just yet, but the condition of the bore is very good. Thank you for the kind words Jim!

[Ridolpho]

GlennP: As I'm sure you'll want to disassemble it at some point, be sure to study up before you do. Never attempt to remove the butt (or tighten it) until the forend is removed. Never pry the forend down from the muzzle end- it should be removed by pulling it straight down at the rear end which slides it off the draws without damaging them. You'll understand as soon as you've done it once. It would be nice if the barrel is the original but, in any case, a 1910 ER SMLE is a nice acquisition. Are you going to go backwards (in time) from there and try to find a Canadian MLE ("Long Lee") which was the Second Boer War rifle used by Canadians.

Ridolpho

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Ever since marrying my Canadian wife I've been on the hunt to gather together a collection of Canadian service rifles.

Now there is a rationalization I have never heard ,but it appears to be a good one assuming that is your wife holding the Enfield with the lovely smile on her face.

[usabaker]

WOW -- LUCKY ... Beautiful! yeah, the rifle too.

[CINDERS]

Nice looking rifle well done not sure on the way you went about getting it but heck if your wife likes the 303's more kudu's to you both mine reckons their good as well and always badgers me to shoot the T which I have let her fire it on 2 occasions.
The only thing I can see is the rear sight ears are back to front about a 2 minute fix once you get the bottom fore wood off, as Ridolpho has explained pull it down at the back to remove it may even take some very light taps from a rubber mallet each side to remove I know one of my MkIII's does the 1921 Lithgow. And as explained never try to remove the butt with the fore wood attached as you will split the rear stock by spreading the recoil plate inletted into the rear of the fore-wood anyway you will see it when you disassemble may be a good idea to give all the woods a bit of a soak in BLO/Mineral turps mix whilst apart. Check the draws as well to see how they are there's plenty of info on this site about them.

Hopefully your wife will enjoy shooting it as well.........thanks for the share.

---------- Post added at 09:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 AM ----------

One last thing I see it has what appears to be a windage back sight ladder see the small graduations on the ladder at the rear of it on the top have a look at the rear sight to see if the worm screw hole is there as it should have a knurled wheel on the Rt side of the rear sight to move the very rear section to allow for wind/mirage/zeroing to a shooter.

[GlennP]

One last thing I see it has what appears to be a windage back sight ladder see the small graduations on the ladder at the rear of it on the top have a look at the rear sight to see if the worm screw hole is there as it should have a knurled wheel on the Rt side of the rear sight to move the very rear section to allow for wind/mirage/zeroing to a shooter.

Well, what do you know, it was adjustable! If i were to buy a replacement rear, would it be worth trying to switch out the parts or should I just swap rears and keep the original as-is, in your opinion?
This is what I found for replacement Enfield #1 MKIII Rear Sight Leaf w/Backsight, Early, Windage Adjustable, *Good to Very Good* - Enfield #1 MKIII - Lee-Enfield - Bolt Action - Rifles
Also, what you mean about the easr is that the offset ear should be on the right instead of the left side? This makes sense now with the missing knob on the right.

[CINDERS]

Go with replacing with an adjustable they are out there they do cost a bit place a WTB on this site someone is bound to have a spare somewhere in the nest, in MHO it finishes the rifle off not sure on the date but think the adjustable sights were discontinued around 1916 or was that the mag cut off either way later marks of the MKIII did not have an adjustable rear sight.