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Thread: SMLE rebuild or fakery?

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  1. #11
    Deceased August 31st, 2020 englishman_ca's Avatar
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    Ya, ten rounds rapid then scrub with a bronze brush wrapped with wire wool and lots of oil. Even some worn and pitted barrels will shoot quite well with the right bullet
    . There is only one way to find out.

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    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. #12
    Advisory Panel Surpmil's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kiwi View Post
    Re-stamped to match barrel serial number by a non-armourer. If it was a complete rework then I would have at least expected the letter prefix of the serial number to be on the relevant stamped parts but that is missing.
    Quite. Letter stamps are often more than Bubba's income will permit.
    “There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”

    Edward Bernays, 1928

    Much changes, much remains the same.

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  6. #13
    Legacy Member Cottage Hill Bill's Avatar
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    Thread Starter

    Range report

    First off, get the alibis out of the way. I’m old enough I can’t see iron sights any more. Long distance glasses let me see the target, middle distance vision (computer distance) let me see the front sight. I had my optometrist make up a set of single vision lenses in my middle distance prescription. That means the front sight is in focus, but at 100 yards the orange dot on the paper is just an orangish smear. Range conditions were 88 degrees F and 90% humidity at 0700. By the second string sweat was running into my weak eye and conditions were getting overall all unpleasant. The first string, marked by circles, was made using some commercial reloads of unknown velocity with 150 grain boat tailed spitzer bullets. That group measures a little over 4”. The second string, marked with squares was with Remington Core-lokt 180 grain flat based bullets. Group is around 6” but I attribute the two high flyers to operator error, not the rifle. Overall I was pleased with the performance and it has made me take a closer look at this rifle. I checked the bolt lugs with Prussian blue before going to the range. Patterning on the lugs was nice and even on both sides, just as it should be. I also noticed marks of filing on the receivers ring, possibly to remove previous markings.
    After looking at the similarities of the rifle in this thread
    New to me, need help with identifying
    Both rifles are Century imports so may very well have come from the same source.
    I’m beginning to think that this is not a home-done rebuild but an FTR like process carried out by a trained but non-British, non-Commonwealth facility. It certainly has potential and I’m going to put it in front of a younger shooter who can see and repeat the test.
    The orange sticker is 3” diameter.

    Attachment 101261

  7. #14
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    That's OK, it goes bang and they go downrange...it's fine.
    Regards, Jim

  8. #15
    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
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    Always remember that these rifles were built around, and regulated to, specific, issued ammo, in this case Mk V11 Ball.

    ANYTHING else is a crap-shoot, often literally; they often shoot like crap with "non-standard" ammo..

    If it has been "tinkered with" post service, who knows what evil done to the original bedding is lurking under the fore-end and hand-guards.

    However, unless it is a real beauty and / or you are considering serious service rifle competitions, it is what it is. Appreciate it for just being a working, representative piece from a bygone age and don't fret. These old girls were mass-produced BATTLE implements. Even the "all-matching, originals", were often originally seen as just fancy extension poles for a bayonet, certainly not as bench-rest rigs.
    Last edited by Bruce_in_Oz; 06-25-2019 at 07:48 AM.

  9. #16
    Legacy Member Cottage Hill Bill's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Bruce,
    This was more a function test for the rifle. Not my only Enfield so I wasn't expecting 1/2MOA at 1000 yards. Actually I was quite pleased with this outing given it was conducted with sub-optimal ammo, my aging and also sub-optimal eyes and poor range conditions. The fact that it shot both boat-tails and flat-based bullets about the same tells me it has potential. Next outing will be with a younger shooter who can actually see and maybe some HXP MkVII. The real question was whether the rework that had obviously been done was a home garage job or something more professional. Based on a closer look at the rifle, the condition of the bolt set up (very good) and the rifle posted in the thread I listed above I'm leaning strongly toward this rifle having been refurbished by a trained organization but non-British. On another forum it was suggested it might be a Greek rework. I don't know enough about the Greek army to comment on that , but I'm pretty sure now it wasn't bubba who did the work.

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  11. #17
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cottage Hill Bill View Post
    it wasn't bubba who did the work
    Bubba isn't always a clown with no skill. It just usually refers to a damaged by owner piece. This case it means other than military.
    Regards, Jim

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