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Thread: JJ Jovino Enfields-a few gems form the early 90's

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    Advisory Panel Brian Dick's Avatar
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    Dang Rog, they cost me a bit more than that. I still wish I had them all back! With PL's long distance Armourer's course and his telescope repair skills, they are out on the ranges to this day all over the world!

    ---------- Post added at 03:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:42 PM ----------

    There was a pawn shop in Montgomery, Alabama that bought 1000 of the Jovino imports. I was like a kid in the candy store buying them at the AGCA show in Birmingham, Alabama. There were tons of superb original and original rebuilt rifles in that load and many of us had hardly seen a Lithgowicon rifle prior to that. I started this business rolling with No.4's from Interarms that were surplused direct from Donnington and then South Africa in those days too.

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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.
     

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    Legacy Member smerdon42's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smle addict View Post
    On other forums, I have seen much chatter about the SMLE's Jovino imported in the 90's. A lot of it is disparaging, and usually in reference to "unissued" Australianicon Mk III's that seem to command un-godly prices. I'm afraid the threads seem to morphing into ALL SMLE's marked by JJ Jovino were bitsers and highly suspect. I'm not defending Jovino's marketing practices, but they did import some real beauties in the early days. The real treasure trove Mk III's came in about two to three years before they started selling "unissued" Lithgows, which appear to made up of left over actions and new wood.

    I just cracked open the gun safe, and thought I'd share some of my Jovino purchases. These were all purchased around 1993-1994. Lucky for me, I had bought Skennertons "lee enfield story" in 1992, and had read through nearly the entire book. With my thick head crammed full of Enfield wisdom, I set about spending my college school loan and GI Bill money with careless aplomb!

    Here are the four Jovino/Australian buys:
    Rifle number one is a 1919 produced Lithgow MK III*. Still wearing its original Queensland Maple wood, and all matching numbers. I paid $129.00 (100 UK)at a local gunshow.
    Attachment 110978Attachment 110979Attachment 110980Attachment 110981

    Rifle number two is an Enfield Mk III. It has been re-barreled with an Australian heavy barrel. Also has Queensland property mark before sold out of service in 1926. Re-barreled to H in 1938. I found the Central Sight and L marked swivel in Australia when on vacation there 1996. Gun show price was $300 ( 234 UK) because it had volley sights. The sight and swivel cost me another $100 (not including airfare).
    Attachment 110982Attachment 110983Attachment 110984Attachment 110985Attachment 110986

    Rifle number 3 is a 1953 Lithgow, serial #F39923. Rifle is devoid of any service markings. Parts and wood are a mix of 1944 and 1951 dated pieces. PAA numbers match bolt/action, and nosecap matches as well. This rifle had the muzzle/nosecap dipped in yellow paint. The shop I bought this from removed the paint. There are the tiniest remnants of yellow left. I only paid $100 (78 UK) for this one!
    Attachment 110987Attachment 110988

    Rifle number 4 is my favorite, only because it has been around and rebuilt, abused, then relegated to cadet use (I think). It is a 1913 Lithgow. Barrel replaced in 1915, and stock marked 1916. It came with its original adjustable rear sight, and Lithgow front volley plate. It was missing the rear volley arm, and I scrounged up a Britishicon made one some years later. It was also missing the cut-off plate, which I found (along with the central sight and swivel) on my Australian vacation. Bore is dark and worn, wood is beat-up (appears to be walnut), and bolt is a later MA Lithgow replacement. Stock marked to 3MD/Victoria. The stock did have a green painted band around the wrist, which the gun shop removed (see above). I bought this and the 1953 Lithgow at the same time. However, I had to pay up for this one; it cost me $350 (273 UK). This seemed exorbitant, when one considers the racks of various SMLE Mk III's priced from $79 to $99 on the shop floor. Again, the owner realized the volley sight was a rare characteristic, so it cost me. It held two surprises for me. The first surprise was under the stock disc. I had read discs were sometimes marked on both sides. The stock disc appeared blank, and when I flipped it over, I found it marked "58 IB" underneath. The 58th and 59th were militia battalions from Victoria. Surprise #2 was inside the buttstock. I found a brass oiler. It was nearly cemented in place with old grease, dirt and grime. When I finally got it out, I found it was an early brass oil-bottle with the little knob on top. That bottle is now living in my MLM Mk II.
    Attachment 110989Attachment 110990Attachment 110991Attachment 110992Attachment 110993

    Hope you all enjoy the pictures.
    Mate I have 1913 Lithgow serial number 160 still sighted for mk vi ammo stock was all cut up but restored back to original .

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