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    Legacy Member LuvNH's Avatar
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    Noob with a Lee Enfield- Help!

    Good afternoon all. Just received a L/E. I’ve been pouring through this site looking for help identifying the marks. I attached several pictures to help. It appears that it it a Savage, but the L A on the receiver has me stumped. As well as the other marks.

    Also, to what extent should I go to clean this? Obviously I’m not going to do anything abrasive, but should I disassemble and thoroughly clean to minimize corrosion? I hear there should be marks under the barrel, but I’m a bit nervous about marring it during disassembly.

    I did read the cleaning section and Murphys Oil Soap was my first instinct.

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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 can14&'s Avatar
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    Find correct size screw drivers for the screws and some penetration oil,good to go
    It appears that this savage rifle has some long branch parts in it along with proper savage
    LA plus the number, could be a rack number. The wrist has the rifle serial number.
    The bolt number and barrel number should match it, in a perfect world
    50/50 ammonia and hot water in a spray bottle will lift the oil out of the wood. 100% ammonia will do it quicker. But it will affect the bluing. Dry the gun add oil where bluing and wood meet
    Take you time, fine steel wool /WD40 will clean metal
    Then you will have a better idea of the rifle condition

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    Legacy Member LuvNH's Avatar
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    Thanks for the help. Guess I’ll go for it.

    Any idea what the numbers on the bolt side & head mean? The “5” on the upper band?

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    Legacy Member Alan de Enfield's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LuvNH View Post
    Thanks for the help. Guess I’ll go for it.

    Any idea what the numbers on the bolt side & head mean? The “5” on the upper band?

    The 5 is a square S (S for Savage), all of the manufactured parts should have had it originally, but during its life many parts can be replaced and the armourers aere not overconcerned about collectos 80 years later wanting 'all matching parts'. The deciding factor was "will this part get it back out into srvice" It didn't matter is it was a UKicon produced part, a Canadianicon part or a UK part/ If it fitted it was installed.

    For some reason the original Serial number has been ground off (you can see the grinder marks on the LH side of the butt-socket) and some other number stamped into it.
    Is there a cross bolt thru the forend an inch / inch & half in front of the magazine ?
    Last edited by Alan de Enfield; 12-06-2020 at 05:43 PM.
    Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...

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    Legacy Member LuvNH's Avatar
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    No bolt. I did notice the side was ground off. I didn’t think I would get a pristine piece. I don’t mind at all what I have. Finding out what pieces are here is interesting, like mapping out where it has been.

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    Legacy Member Alan de Enfield's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LuvNH View Post
    No bolt. I did notice the side was ground off. I didn’t think I would get a pristine piece. I don’t mind at all what I have. Finding out what pieces are here is interesting, like mapping out where it has been.

    The SM on the rear sight is 'Singer manufacturing' (of Singer sewing machine fame) a UKicon manufacturer of parts for the No4
    Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...

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    Legacy Member LuvNH's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alan de Enfield View Post
    The SM on the rear sight is 'Singer manufacturing' (of Singer sewing machine fame) a UKicon manufacturer of parts for the No4
    Oh that’s very cool. Thanks for that. The “P” and the “X” on the bolt head? I read somewhere on this site the arrow was an acceptance stamp. By whom I do not remember.

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    Advisory Panel Surpmil's Avatar
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    Being a MkI rather than a MkI* as with early production Long Branches,makes it a more interesting piece to many people. Great pity the original serial number was ground off. I don't know off hand what serial number block Savage was on when they changed to the MkI*, but someone here probably does.

    No chance of finding the bolt?

    The massive removal of wood on the handguard compared to where the line indicates it roughly would have been originally is rather striking!
    “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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    Legacy Member LuvNH's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Surpmil View Post
    Being a MkI rather than a MkI* as with early production Long Branches,makes it a more interesting piece to many people. Great pity the original serial number was ground off. I don't know off hand what serial number block Savage was on when they changed to the MkI*, but someone here probably does.

    No chance of finding the bolt?

    The massive removal of wood on the handguard compared to where the line indicates it roughly would have been originally is rather striking!

    Finding the original bolt?

    I don’t see the removal of wood you are talking about. Noob, sorry.

    So if i understand correctly, the Mk* production line was a changeover from the Mk1? I didn’t understand that completely. Also, is it strange that there are no markings whatsoever on the wood? After I clean it I may find some, but nothing yet.

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    Advisory Panel Surpmil's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LuvNH View Post
    Finding the original bolt? Yes

    I don’t see the removal of wood you are talking about. Noob, sorry. The original profile would have been about where the line in the photo is.

    So if i understand correctly, the Mk* production line was a changeover from the Mk1? I didn’t understand that completely. Also, is it strange that there are no markings whatsoever on the wood? After I clean it I may find some, but nothing yet.
    MkI is like your rifle: bolt head release via the catch and slot behind the charger bridge. MkI* which Savage and Long Branch introduced later, eliminated catch and just had a slot in rib that the bolt head runs in close to the closed position of the bolt; it was NOT a good idea.
    “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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