Dallou Posted 22 February Share Posted 22 February Hello, just bought this N01 Mk3, I was hoping I can hey some help identifying some of the marking on the rifle, I woukd greatly appreciate any help I can get. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 22 February Share Posted 22 February What you show are standard inspection proof marks in most cases (and the rifle serial number). The T D E (W) roundel on the butt is a WWII era Indian stamp I cannot see what the stamping under the safety is from your picture but I am guessing it is going to be FR and then a date (possibly 37) this indicates the rifle was Factory Refinished in India then (whatever the date is - the two numerals will correspond to the year) If you carefully lift off the rear handguard you will probably find a wealth of stampings - and I would not be surprised to find the rifle had been rebarreled with an Indian barrel the date of this would probably correspond to the FR date. A full overview of the rifle might give more information (for example does it have a large screw running transversely through the fore-end? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallou Posted 22 February Author Share Posted 22 February Thank you Chris, I will have a look, much appreciated. Darrell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallou Posted 24 February Author Share Posted 24 February (edited) As per my previous post here are so e more pictures of the markings on my No1 Edited 24 February by Dallou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 24 February Share Posted 24 February still no overall view - it would really help! So - Original barrel and and proofs - not re barreled Indian inspected fore-end but because you don't show overall view cannot comment on type Rifle MAY (I cannot tell) have an Indian rear sight protector (can't tell if it is symmetrical or not) but looks like it might be Appears to be a transverse screw through fore-end but you don't show it clearly (although the tip appears visible) Not sure what to make of the AL number under safety - not familiar with that I will check sources All other markings appear standard. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallou Posted 24 February Author Share Posted 24 February Thank you Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 24 February Share Posted 24 February The the Rifle clearly saw Indian service probably around WWII (and after) based on the Indian markings on the foresight protector and the stamp on the butt. It also appears to be fitted with a later (simplified, flat -symmetrical) rear sight protector and the fore-end has the large stiffening screw through it (aka the "Ishapore screw") typical of Indian rifles. If it is Indian wood (it looks like it to me, although it may be original) it is probably pre WWII, because the fore-end does not have a flat metal reinforce at the draws which most WWII and later Indian wood has (in the same style as No4 rifles) The sling does not appear to be a military issue item. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallou Posted 24 February Author Share Posted 24 February Thank you Chris, is there any way to tell when in 1918 the rifle was made, what are the chances ot was used in the last months of WW1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 24 February Share Posted 24 February Not with any precision/certainty really (even if it was made early in 1918 it could have sat in stores until whenever) However (and what follows is speculation and supposition) RSAF Enfield ran through the whole alphabet of serial number prefixes in 1918 and producing over 623, 000 rifles (number cited in most sources - Skennerton/Stratton etc) Gets a little confused because of Peddled Scheme Rifles SSA/NRF but yours is not one of these) Because "S" (your rifle's prefix) is towards the end of the series you might suppose it was probably produced too late to see much WWI service. If my observations are correct and it was refinished in India in the 30s or at the start of WWII you might suppose it was either supplied to India from the War reserve at the end of WWI or in the early inter-war period (the barrel was not replaced suggesting it perhaps had not see hard service wear) I would suspect interwar and WWII service with Indian forces was more likely than WWI service although that absolutely cannot be ruled out. Unfortunately the "story" of most rifles is simply impossible to determine. It is however, a nice example of the longevity of the design, and if it is in good shape internally is probably an accurate weapon still more than 100 years after it was produced. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallou Posted 25 February Author Share Posted 25 February Thank you Chris, it is a really nice piece, I have not fired it yet, but when u do I will let you know how it shoots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Silver Posted 3 March Share Posted 3 March Hello Folks Have been trying to find some history on my SMLE and came across this forum. Chris sounds to have a very good knowledge of the Lee Enfield so thought I would share some photos of my 1907 mark III. All the serial numbers match and it shoots like a dream, love taking this to the range. Would be interesting to find out where this rifle has been. Hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I do John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 3 March Share Posted 3 March Really nice early example It appears to have been restocked (at least to have a new fore-end as it does not appear to have a volley-sight fitted) Have you looked under the upper handguard to see if it has been re-barreled? I own U5231 which is New South Wales (NSW) marked and has been re-barreled and similarly re-stocked. The green paint is interesting - it *may* indicate cadet use (yellow / red indicating drill use, green indicating safe to fire - although mostly I have seen a full band) I am not sure what the CIP mark is - all the others look like standard inspection marks. Nice to see, thanks for posting Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 3 March Share Posted 3 March (edited) 4 hours ago, 4thGordons said: I am not sure what the CIP mark is - all the others look like standard inspection marks. Apparently it is another modern Proof Marking used by the predominantly European Union members states. See below ... CIP stands for "Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives (Permanent International Commission for Firearms Testing)" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commission_internationale_permanente_pour_l'épreuve_des_armes_à_feu_portatives And the letter N stands for "Standard Testing" which evidently is using smokeless powder.(ie. Nitro proof) Cheers, SS Edited 3 March by shippingsteel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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