DCLI Posted 17 July , 2004 Share Posted 17 July , 2004 Normal Saturday, went shopping, browsed in certain antique shops - bought a Lee Enfield - nothing strange there then. Claimed date is 1915, with all bits and pieces, including magazine cut off. All woodwork in place, although some looks a little more recent that 89 years ago. Before I say how much, what is the general concensus? Good or bad? Incidentally, he had a WW1 Vickers machine gun for sale too. I HAVE RETURNED AND CHANGE THE ORIGINAL (INCORRECTLY SLUNG) PICTURE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museumtom Posted 17 July , 2004 Share Posted 17 July , 2004 The year of manufacture will be on the steel band under the bolt. How much was it? and in which country. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museumtom Posted 17 July , 2004 Share Posted 17 July , 2004 What markings are on the butt disc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCLI Posted 17 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 17 July , 2004 Nothing on the butt disc. Year of manufacture, could be 1915 or 1916. How can I tell country of manufacture? Regards Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 17 July , 2004 Share Posted 17 July , 2004 Nothing on the butt disc. Year of manufacture, could be 1915 or 1916. How can I tell country of manufacture? The year looks like 1915 to me, and it's British made (you can tell by the "Enfield" stamping - this is where it was made). Indian made would have one of the Indian armouries ("Ishapore", etc) and the "GRI" cypher rather than "GR", and Austaralian made would have one of the Aussie armouries stampings, such as "Lithgow" etc., etc. Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Dave Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Having seen a number of .303s, it looks very nice and in good order. Its fairly common for these rifles to experience 'upgrades' throughout their service lives, so that may explain the woodwork. I don't think it matters too much what you paid, as long as you are satisfied with the purchase. Incidently, did the sling come with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museumtom Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 In Beltring last year I picked up a 1917 one with a buttplate disc unit marked to the Coldstream Guards. The sling did not come with it. I also picked up a 1907 pattern 1917 issued bayonet which completes the set. The rifle itself cost me £170. As far as I know all SMLEs were made by subcontarctors and that is one of the main reasons the No 4 was adopted, because it was easier to mass produce. Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCLI Posted 18 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2004 The sling did come with it. I did pay over the odds, and I am a little embarressed by that. Still in a few years the value with have caught up with the price - that's how I will convince myself that I did OK. I was led (led being the operative word) to believe that having a magazine cut off was rare, and that most LEs around these days were dated 1918, ie 1915 being rarer. Anyway I like it, and it will look really nice on my wall complete with bayonet I bought some time ago. Thanks to all regards Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anzac16 Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 VERY NICE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest woodyudet Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 can you fire it? If you've got a license, you can sometimes pick up functional Mk3s from guntrader.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCLI Posted 18 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2004 No, it is has been deactivated - dry fire only, ie cock and click. Any tips on mounting it on the wall? I would also like to buy a pull through and oil bottle - any ideas? regards Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest woodyudet Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Oil bottle- try ebay. Not sure if you can get a 1915 MkIII one, but you can probably get one for a #4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmsk212 Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Normal Saturday, went shopping, So did I but I came home with a bottle of milk, a dozen eggs and some potatoes Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noe Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 I bought a mkIII* at beltring 'Enfield 1918'. The butt plate had been replaced, so no reg info there. But one thing I was mistified with, it looks like a bit of indian writting carved on the butt( maybe just a scratch, that some how looks like wtitting?) But I payed £240. If anyone does know how to mount one on the wall ? As Ive been meaning to mount it since last year with a 1907pt bayonet. I'll be camping again at belting this weekend, is anyone else going ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 This is ho i mounted my enfield before i had a gun rack. You place a L shaped iron attached to the wall (upside down) and you cover the iron with selfglueing felt paper or a strip of leather. Then you install a plastic pipe clamb (_) like that and you cut of the half of 1 side. paint it black or in the desired colour. It is easy to attach with a plug and a screw. Now you place your stock on the hook and you "click" the barel in the clamb. Total price? 5£ or something... i hope you understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCLI Posted 18 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2004 The dealer I bought the weapon from, had two coat hooks. Rifle lift in and out easily - not the most attractive method but effective. Anyone know why there are two sling fittings to the front of the weapon? Also what are the two small brass eyelet things just ahead of the magazine? regards Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 your sling is attached to the wrong hook. The first hook (closest to the firing mouth) is NOT for the sling but to place the rifles in a hedge. You need to use the middle hook to attach your sling. The two eyelets at front od the magazine were normaly for another fitting to attach the magazine with a litle chain to the rifle. But in WW1 it was no longer used. i hope this helped, kristof Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 The little eyelets were also used to tie on the canvas breech-cover so that it didn't fall off into the mud then it was taken off. There was short piece of cord which passed through the eyelets. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCLI Posted 18 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Thanks for that. I have changed the position of the sling but you will have run that thing passed me again - for placing the rifle in a hedge? Sorry I am lost now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 you can hook 3 or more rifles togheter with it, like that they can stand alone... like a tripod. i hope this is more clear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Just like this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 To check it over, all screw heads should be on the left hand side of the rifle. If it's been messed about the mid band sling is usually on the wrong way round. Also the sling loops are made off centre long side always on the right this is a throw back to when the long range dial sights were fitted so the sling did not get in the way of the sights when using the dial sight another give away if assembled by a bodger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCLI Posted 18 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Excellent, thank you - so that is called a hedge? I have had the rifle for one day and learnt so much. I have been to SMLE web sites all over the place, offering bayonets, oilers, information on stamping etc, etc. I haven't just bought a fascinating piece of history but a whole new world of learning and spending more money. Great isn't it? Thanks to all those who offered information. Regrads Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 thats why we are here. Don't be sure about the "hedge" that is how we call it in Flemish and it is a direct translation i am not sure it is called the same in english. Stupid me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Dave Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Please do not modify the rifle to mount it. I am unsure of firearms laws in the UK, etc, but most mounts I have seen have normally included doing some form of damage to the wpn in order to secure it to the wall for security purposes. It just devalues the wpn and shoud be strongly discouraged. Being a 1915 model, it is rarer, and should not be damaged any further (since it has been deactivated already, what are you people doing with your .303's?) Think of yourself as the temporary custodian of a piece of history that will long outlast you. Do you really want to be responsible for turning it into a rifle shaped piece of wood and steel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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