New to me SMLE No 1, Mk III*...follow up with pix.

[82Trooper]

This is my follow up thread, now that the rifle arrived. My prior thread was started before the rifle was delivered. What I know….1916 BSA manufactured No.1 Mk III*. The same serial # (Y XXXX) appears on the rear of the bolt, the receiver, the barrel, the nose cap, on the bottom of the rear sight and stamped on the wood fore end of the stock. It is also stamped on the magazine rear, but there is another # (AXXXXX) that was lined out. I am thinking this appears to be a “numbers matching” item (except for the magazine, which obviously started its life on another rifle). It was exported to India at some point, and was imported to the U.S.A. by Century Arms International (CAI). I am pretty happy with all that.
The “ears” have been removed from both upper handguards, but otherwise appears complete. The rifle is covered in grease, and the wood appears dark. The bore looks good. It appears to function properly.
I have posted several of the photos pf the various proof marks and other numbers. Any assistance with my continued “decoding” would be appreciated.

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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.

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Seems like you've got a good rifle there. CAI is actually Century Arms.

[82Trooper]

Seems like you've got a good rifle there. CAI is actually Century Arms.

Thank you, I edited the original post to "Century".

[Sunray]

Any rifle Century had anything to do with is suspect, but especially Lee-Enfields. Century is notorious for assembling both flavours of Lee-Enfield out of parts bins with zero QC. Not even ensuring the headspace is good and the rifle is safe to shoot. You must check the headspace before shooting it. Matching numbers means nothing either.
Downside to it being a No. 1 is that if the headspace is bad, you require a handful of bolt heads at $14.90US(Gunparts) each to try with proper headspace gauges(no bits of tape, feeler gauges, adjusting sizer dies or anything else) until you find one that works. No. 1 bolt heads are not numbered like No. 4 bolt heads are.
"...rifle is covered in grease..." Comes off with mineral spirits.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Looking at the worn state of the markings on the barrel ring, I recommend that you take the action out of the stock and check that there is nothing nasty underneath the "waterlline" that has been covered up by slathering the barrel in grease.

[82Trooper]

"Nasty" as in what? What should I look for when I disassemble this for a good cleaning?

[Patrick Chadwick]

"Nasty" as in what? What should I look for when I disassemble this for a good cleaning?

Rust below the "waterline". A frequent fault that can be hidden by slobbering grease all over the rifle. Dismantle, clean, inspect. Reassemble if OK.

[nijalninja]

That '69' stamp on the barrel... It sounds pretty late for a manufacture date. Would have been in the last few years that they were made, correct? If it is and it was replaced while serving, which the matching serial indicates (Unless someone thought to falsify some history), then this rifle had an extensive service career, from 1916 to at least 1969. Am I at all wrong to assume that?

[82Trooper]

wow, now there is some food for thought....53 year service life. If that is the case, imagine the stories this one could tell.
However, trying to decode it's history is exactly why I am here....I really want to understand what I have (and broaden my general knowledge).
Please keep the thoughts and observations coming....I appreciate it all.
Thanks,
Mike

[green]

The 69 is part of the inspectors stamp. The barrel date was on the rhs of the barrel on the reinforce.