My Grandpa's British 303

Big Tool · 01-22-2008, 03:04 PM

My grandfather recently passed away. He was a great man who spent some time in the Air force. I'm not sure how he got ahold of the weapons but he somehow got ahold of a enfield british 303, and a very interesting beretta semi auto pistol.
I never spoke to my grandpa about the 303, but my dad and i were talking about all my grandpa's guns and he was telling me how good of a shot my grandpa was with 303. and just giving me alittle history on the different guns.
My dad was the only son so he inherited all my grandpa's guns. He inherited several different rifles and pistols, but the enfield really stands out imo. It is just a beautiful rifle, and really is in near mint condition especially considering how much the rifle has been used.
I really wish i could have spoken to my grandpa about the enfield. Having his guns are like having a part of him with us all.
Any info or comments about the rifle would be appreciated. I'm not familiar with enfields in general and i would like to know as much as possible about the rifle. Also it is missing the magazine. What kind of magazine does this model take. Thanks in advance.

ArkansasHunter · 01-22-2008, 03:16 PM

All I can say is WOW your grandfather had some nice guns ! Wouldn't it be great if you knew the history of them such as which one did he like the most and what he hunted with each one .
When I visit a Gun shop I always look at the well worn guns and wonder what kind of story could be told about who owned them, did they do a lot of hunting, was this a Grand .Fathers Gun or Great Grand Father.
That is a nice Enfield...A.H

GlockMeister · 01-22-2008, 03:20 PM

Found this magazine on gunbroker.com for ya'. The only mag. on gun broker I found unless others are listed under something else, which I doubt. Doesn't look bad, but what do I know?
GunBroker.com guns: SMLE 303 British Enfield Mag Magazine (item: 90044751 ends: Jan-22-08 10

56 PM)

Here is a link for stripper clips at gunbroker.com
GunBroker.com guns: 5 ENFIELD BRITISH STRIPPER CLIPS 303 (item: 90517059 ends: Jan-23-08 05:41:36 AM)

GunBroker.com guns: 5 ENFIELD BRITISH STRIPPER CLIPS 303 (item: 90419152 ends: Jan-23-08 11:45:09 PM)

GunBroker.com guns: 5 ENFIELD BRITISH STRIPPER CLIPS 303 (item: 90435266 ends: Jan-24-08 05

50 AM)

If you search it a few guns come up along with some ammo and other stuff. Maybe if you check out some of the for sale listings, one may have some info on the rifle that may or may not be of interest? Anyhow, I hope I've helped somewhat? I too, know very little about the 303. I'm sorry for your loss and congrats in getting to cherish a true piece of history.

G-Meister

timberlord · 01-22-2008, 05:46 PM

My 1st LeeEnfield was my Grandads too , so I can relate to the attachment ...even after 37yrs , when I pick up my No4 I can still remember the day he first let me shoot it at a tin can sitting alongside a manure pile ...lmao.
Mags are common , just make sure it's for the No4 . No1 mags won't fit properly .
You might find one at Springfield Sporters or even check out the local gunshop.
Tell us of some of the stampings and maybe we can determine where/when it was made.

thumperpaul · 01-23-2008, 03:06 PM

My dad gave me his that he bought when he first came to Canada from Germany. (Ironically, he was a soldier in the German Volksturm, in the last days of the war).
Anyways, it is a LongBranch #4 Mk1* and it has (had) the identical cut down "Sporterized" stock as your Grandads. I see that you also have the original front sights and charger bridge intact, like mine.
(I decided to restore mine to "era original"). I can't recommend Numrich Gun parts enough to you if you are looking for a replacement mag, or anything else you may need. They have damn near everything...

wunhunglo · 01-23-2008, 04:23 PM

Looks like what we call a Bastardised number 4; what markings are on it. Thousands of these were "sporterised" like this post war. you should be able to get original type woodwork fairly easily, we can in the UK and shipping accross the pond would be easy; same same with magazines, common as muck in Britain. Don't know about your crazy import regulations though.

01-22-2008, 03:04 PM	#1
Big Tool Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MS Posts: 590 Trader Rating: (0)	My Grandpa's British 303 My grandfather recently passed away. He was a great man who spent some time in the Air force. I'm not sure how he got ahold of the weapons but he somehow got ahold of a enfield british 303, and a very interesting beretta semi auto pistol. I never spoke to my grandpa about the 303, but my dad and i were talking about all my grandpa's guns and he was telling me how good of a shot my grandpa was with 303. and just giving me alittle history on the different guns. My dad was the only son so he inherited all my grandpa's guns. He inherited several different rifles and pistols, but the enfield really stands out imo. It is just a beautiful rifle, and really is in near mint condition especially considering how much the rifle has been used. I really wish i could have spoken to my grandpa about the enfield. Having his guns are like having a part of him with us all. Any info or comments about the rifle would be appreciated. I'm not familiar with enfields in general and i would like to know as much as possible about the rifle. Also it is missing the magazine. What kind of magazine does this model take. Thanks in advance.

01-22-2008, 03:20 PM	#3
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 4,836 Trader Rating: (0)	Found this magazine on gunbroker.com for ya'. The only mag. on gun broker I found unless others are listed under something else, which I doubt. Doesn't look bad, but what do I know? GunBroker.com guns: SMLE 303 British Enfield Mag Magazine (item: 90044751 ends: Jan-22-08 1056 PM) Here is a link for stripper clips at gunbroker.com GunBroker.com guns: 5 ENFIELD BRITISH STRIPPER CLIPS 303 (item: 90517059 ends: Jan-23-08 05:41:36 AM) GunBroker.com guns: 5 ENFIELD BRITISH STRIPPER CLIPS 303 (item: 90419152 ends: Jan-23-08 11:45:09 PM) GunBroker.com guns: 5 ENFIELD BRITISH STRIPPER CLIPS 303 (item: 90435266 ends: Jan-24-08 0550 AM) If you search it a few guns come up along with some ammo and other stuff. Maybe if you check out some of the for sale listings, one may have some info on the rifle that may or may not be of interest? Anyhow, I hope I've helped somewhat? I too, know very little about the 303. I'm sorry for your loss and congrats in getting to cherish a true piece of history. G-Meister __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

01-22-2008, 03:16 PM	#2
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,465 Trader Rating: (0)	All I can say is WOW your grandfather had some nice guns ! Wouldn't it be great if you knew the history of them such as which one did he like the most and what he hunted with each one . When I visit a Gun shop I always look at the well worn guns and wonder what kind of story could be told about who owned them, did they do a lot of hunting, was this a Grand .Fathers Gun or Great Grand Father. That is a nice Enfield...A.H

01-22-2008, 05:46 PM	#4
timberlord Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 289 Trader Rating: (0)	My 1st LeeEnfield was my Grandads too , so I can relate to the attachment ...even after 37yrs , when I pick up my No4 I can still remember the day he first let me shoot it at a tin can sitting alongside a manure pile ...lmao. Mags are common , just make sure it's for the No4 . No1 mags won't fit properly . You might find one at Springfield Sporters or even check out the local gunshop. Tell us of some of the stampings and maybe we can determine where/when it was made. __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...LongStamp1.jpg Last edited by timberlord; 01-22-2008 at 05:53 PM.

01-23-2008, 03:06 PM	#5
thumperpaul Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: vancouver bc canada Posts: 128 Trader Rating: (0)	My dad gave me his that he bought when he first came to Canada from Germany. (Ironically, he was a soldier in the German Volksturm, in the last days of the war). Anyways, it is a LongBranch #4 Mk1* and it has (had) the identical cut down "Sporterized" stock as your Grandads. I see that you also have the original front sights and charger bridge intact, like mine. (I decided to restore mine to "era original"). I can't recommend Numrich Gun parts enough to you if you are looking for a replacement mag, or anything else you may need. They have damn near everything...

01-23-2008, 04:23 PM	#6
wunhunglo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa" Posts: 1,309 Trader Rating: (0)	Looks like what we call a Bastardised number 4; what markings are on it. Thousands of these were "sporterised" like this post war. you should be able to get original type woodwork fairly easily, we can in the UK and shipping accross the pond would be easy; same same with magazines, common as muck in Britain. Don't know about your crazy import regulations though.