DP SMLE

[morison29]

Hello all
I have just found this DP SMLE for sale on a French web site. I don't wish to buy it but from the comments and answers on the site it is obvious that the seller expects someone to shoot it.
My question is: does the DP marks and the striking out of proof make the weapon unsafe to shoot and should I point this out to the web site people?

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

The trouble is this Morison. If you tell the outside world of true experts the reason most old rifles have been downgraded to DP or EY status and all the things you've learned from the bit part bungling amateurs here, they think that you are a busy-bodied know-all. And they waste no time in telling you. You could tell them if you like, but I learned many years ago to just say sod-all and let them get on with it. You can even read them chapter and verse from authoritative documents and they STILL know best.

[morison29]

The trouble is this Morison. If you tell the outside world of true experts the reason most old rifles have been downgraded to DP or EY status and all the things you've learned from the bit part bungling amateurs here, they think that you are a busy-bodied know-all. And they waste no time in telling you. You could tell them if you like, but I learned many years ago to just say sod-all and let them get on with it. You can even read them chapter and verse from authoritative documents and they STILL know best.

Sage advice which I shall follow. As a collectors piece it is quite interesting but I don't want the hassle of putting it on my French ticket.
I am unaware of EY, what does this mean as this rifle is marked DP and EY? In fact it has been double struck with DP as well.

[morison29]

I have just looked up EY and it is: ball ammunition only in an emergency. Enemy at the gates sort of thing I suppose.

[nijalninja]

Striking out a proof mark sounds like bad territory even if you know nothing else. I've got a DP MLE but have suspicions it may have copped it when SMLE's were standardised so you didn't need the second set of parts, but instead of going into storage or being sold they gave it another shot as a drill gun. That being said I ain't shooting with anything more than fraidy cat loads. I wouldn't trust any DP gun fully unless I was some magical metallurgist and gunsmith with many years experience.

[CINDERS]

Correct emergency use only and not the every day shooter at the enemy only to be used by cooks and batmen naah only batmen as you need cooks........