+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: Just Gifted 2 Enfield Rifles. I Know Nothing About Enfields.

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    WonkyThumb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Last On
    01-12-2018 @ 04:02 PM
    Location
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Posts
    3
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    05:02 AM

    Just Gifted 2 Enfield Rifles. I Know Nothing About Enfields.

    Please excuse me if this is not right place to ask, I am new here.

    I acquired two Enfield Riflesicon from my wife's grandfather. I know absolutely nothing about Enfields. From the research I have done, one rifle is a 1916 from the Birmingham Small Arms Company. It also has the Britishicon proof marks, the twin flags with the GR on top and the P on the bottom.

    The other rifle I am having trouble with. It has:

    (Crown)
    GR
    ENFIELD
    1928
    SMLE
    V

    I couldn't find any references to the 'V'. Also I believe it has the Indonesia proof mark. Not 100% because my phone couldn't zoom in on it.

    These do not look like the pictures of Enfield rifles that I am finding online, but I also found that these rifles were altered as sporting rifles. So, does anyone know exactly what I have?Attachment 89931Attachment 89932Attachment 89933
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member henry r's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Last On
    09-20-2021 @ 07:13 AM
    Location
    northern tablelands nsw Australia
    Posts
    633
    Real Name
    henry.
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    09:02 PM
    The V marked rifle was a lee enfield no1 mk5 rifle. The date is more likely 1923. They made about 20 thousand of them.
    Nice to have but $$$ to rebuild to original.
    Last edited by henry r; 01-11-2018 at 03:01 AM.

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Legacy Member nijalninja's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Last On
    10-09-2020 @ 07:24 PM
    Location
    Australia
    Age
    25
    Posts
    361
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:02 PM
    The stocks look nice on both of them. The BSA SHTLE looks like a typical sporter; the fore-end (stock) is cut off at the barrel band so I am assuming the inside of the fore-end has not been sanded down to float the barrel. The finishes, as in the black colour over the steel, looks really good in these pictures for rifles of this age.

    The SHTLE looks like it has had the '*' crossed out or something, its not very clear. Also, on the 'V' rifle it looks to have a set of aperture sights mounted at the rear of the reciever; you can make out "WILLIAMS" in the photo of the wrist. More knowledgeable people will be along shortly, but I'll say they look pretty nice as sporting rifles, and its up to you whether you keep them like that or try and restore them with new wood and whatever else is needed.

  6. #4
    Contributing Member Gil Boyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Last On
    02-28-2024 @ 11:09 AM
    Location
    Home of The Parachute Regiment & 16 Air Assault Brigade
    Posts
    4,772
    Real Name
    Gil Boyd
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    10:02 AM
    Wonkythumb,
    Welcome to the forum.
    Nice couple of examples there, I am sure there will be a few more views for you as days pass.
    'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA

  7. #5
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    11:02 AM
    The MkV is a great find, such a shame that the barrels been shortened, but a rifle well worthy of restoration to stock condition. Likewise your No1Mk3* looks to be in good state of material condition with its full original barrel. If the bores good on that example I would rebuild her to service standard.

    All in all a nice pair of Enfields and a couple of great winter projects.

    I would contact Brian Dickicon of this parish with regards parts and guidance, particularly with the MkV. Standard SMLE parts are still available and it should be quite straight forwards to rebuild the No1Mk3*

  8. #6
    Legacy Member henry r's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Last On
    09-20-2021 @ 07:13 AM
    Location
    northern tablelands nsw Australia
    Posts
    633
    Real Name
    henry.
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    09:02 PM
    There is a good thread on here for inspiration on the mkV http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=22049

    The charger bridge being chopped off isn't the best but you might be able to modify a no1 mk3 bridge hand have it rivited on. The biggest potential problem is if the sight mounting ears have been chopped off too as that would require welding to replace them. Welding on a reciever is way beyond my pay grade so if that is possible or feasable is a question for people with far more knowlege than I.

    EFD offer some repro mkV only parts.

    The 1923 comment above was as no1 mkV's were made from 1922-24.

    The BSA rifle looks like a good base for rebuilding to military spec if that takes your fancy. (and good starter project before tackling the mk V)

    Please keep us up to date and post lots of photos.
    Last edited by henry r; 01-11-2018 at 05:52 AM.

  9. Thank You to henry r For This Useful Post:


  10. #7
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    WonkyThumb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Last On
    01-12-2018 @ 04:02 PM
    Location
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Posts
    3
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    05:02 AM
    Thread Starter
    I was actually just thinking of leaving them as they are and perhaps using them for deer hunting. Is that obtuse of me? I don't have the knowledge to restore them.

  11. #8
    Contributing Member 30Three's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Last On
    03-19-2024 @ 03:50 PM
    Location
    France
    Posts
    809
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    11:02 AM
    I they were gifted to you by your wife's Grandfather; I'd say it's fine to leave them as they are. Keeping them as family hunting rifles.
    As mentioned above however; the Mk5 (V) model is rare and valuable. It would be worth restoring if you are interested in originality; but you may have problems finding all the correct parts.

  12. #9
    Advisory Panel
    Roger Payne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Last On
    03-20-2024 @ 06:05 AM
    Location
    Sutton Coldfield, UK.
    Posts
    3,429
    Real Name
    Roger Payne
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    10:02 AM
    It's difficult to see from the photographs, but it looks to me that the back end of the receiver of the MkV may have been got at too. We know that the charger bridge has gone, & if the sight ears/bed has been butchered any restoration job is going to be Herculean. I know that the MkV is rather scarcer & more valuable than the MkIII*, but the latter is a much more viable restoration project. The receiver is good & the parts are much more readily available than for the MkV.

  13. #10
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    WonkyThumb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Last On
    01-12-2018 @ 04:02 PM
    Location
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Posts
    3
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    05:02 AM
    Thread Starter
    My phone is charging right now. I will get some better pictures of the MkV tomorrow. I guess if it more valuable restored, I may look into restoring it. I have no idea of the value of these rifles. I don't know if I have a $200 rifle or a $2000 rifle.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. EM-1 & EM-2 Enfield 280 Cal Assault Rifles
    By paulseamus in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 03-05-2018, 04:51 PM
  2. Model 71/84 mauser that was gifted to me
    By burb1989 in forum Mauser Rifles
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-07-2016, 07:43 PM
  3. P14 .303 Enfield and eddystone 1917 Enfields
    By dmboct19 in forum Pattern 1913/1914 and M1917 Rifles
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 04-17-2015, 09:56 AM
  4. Lee Enfield No.1 Mk.III Rifles used during WW2
    By Higgs in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 04-24-2012, 04:55 PM
  5. Bench vice for enfields and other rifles
    By tbonesmith in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 08-27-2011, 10:10 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks