Wise Choice

wcassidy · 07-31-2009, 04:33 PM

Checking out the local gun store today and i came upon an enfield i'm not very familiar with. looking to add one to the collection i'm interested as to if this would be considered a "good deal" unfortunately no pictures so i'll do my best to describe away. BSAco 1940 ShtLE III marked on the wrist. Barrel in front of the receiver is marked with all sorts of arsenal markings ranging from .303 to a TON rating and crown marks. The stock appears to have been cut short but the finish i'd say to be about 80%. I can deffinatively say it's not a 2 groove barrel and with a bit of cleaning it looks as if the rifling is in tact but not being able to rotate the bolt head out either at the rear of the receiver or the front i wasn't able to examine the bore as well as i'd have liked. It looks as if the release for the bolt may have been damaged at the rear of the track as there's a nub of something i couldn't work with my fingers. Anyway to sum it up they want $159 for it and i think i can get that down to $120 or so maybe more as i'd probably throw a new stock on it at some point and try and bring it back to it's previous glory. so Deal or no Deal?

Alan De Enfield · 07-31-2009, 05:36 PM

OK - first of all (as you've probably worked out) you've got a Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) manufactured No1 rifle (or Short Lee Enfield = SHTLE) I very much doubt that as its manufactured in 1940 that it is a Mark III. I can guarantee that in fact it is a MkIII* (note the star)

The marks on the barrel :
303 = the calibre (and is not the same as Savage 303 - It is British 303)
It probably also has 2.222" (the overall length of the cartridge)
The "tons" (probably 19.5 tons) and most likely the letter BNP are the Proof marks which all military rifles must have if sold into civilian service.

Simply changing the forend / stock is not simple. Accuracy, trigger pull off and numerous other things are related to how the woodwork fits the action. I put some new woodwork on a No1 and couldnt get the bolt to 'cock' - the woodwork was fouling the sear.
Fitting new woodwork can be done but it would be better to spend a $100 more and get one thats original..

Your money, your choice.

wcassidy · 07-31-2009, 06:58 PM

I wasn't aware woodwork had that much of an effect on the trigger pull and everything else besides barrel resonation and accuracy thus related. Thanks kindly for the info, as you put it, it sounds like a project i don't need to be getting into with college starting off again soon enough.

millwright39 · 07-31-2009, 07:34 PM

Here in the Midwest if bore is decent in the end-If you can get it for 120.00 thats not to shabby-if it has all the org parts and stock my .02

07-31-2009, 04:33 PM	#1
wcassidy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 352	Wise Choice Checking out the local gun store today and i came upon an enfield i'm not very familiar with. looking to add one to the collection i'm interested as to if this would be considered a "good deal" unfortunately no pictures so i'll do my best to describe away. BSAco 1940 ShtLE III marked on the wrist. Barrel in front of the receiver is marked with all sorts of arsenal markings ranging from .303 to a TON rating and crown marks. The stock appears to have been cut short but the finish i'd say to be about 80%. I can deffinatively say it's not a 2 groove barrel and with a bit of cleaning it looks as if the rifling is in tact but not being able to rotate the bolt head out either at the rear of the receiver or the front i wasn't able to examine the bore as well as i'd have liked. It looks as if the release for the bolt may have been damaged at the rear of the track as there's a nub of something i couldn't work with my fingers. Anyway to sum it up they want $159 for it and i think i can get that down to $120 or so maybe more as i'd probably throw a new stock on it at some point and try and bring it back to it's previous glory. so Deal or no Deal?

07-31-2009, 07:34 PM	#4
millwright39 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 520	Here in the Midwest if bore is decent in the end-If you can get it for 120.00 thats not to shabby-if it has all the org parts and stock my .02 __________________ Pheasants Forever Iowa PF

07-31-2009, 05:36 PM	#2
Alan De Enfield Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Eastern England Posts: 396	OK - first of all (as you've probably worked out) you've got a Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) manufactured No1 rifle (or Short Lee Enfield = SHTLE) I very much doubt that as its manufactured in 1940 that it is a Mark III. I can guarantee that in fact it is a MkIII* (note the star) The marks on the barrel : 303 = the calibre (and is not the same as Savage 303 - It is British 303) It probably also has 2.222" (the overall length of the cartridge) The "tons" (probably 19.5 tons) and most likely the letter BNP are the Proof marks which all military rifles must have if sold into civilian service. Simply changing the forend / stock is not simple. Accuracy, trigger pull off and numerous other things are related to how the woodwork fits the action. I put some new woodwork on a No1 and couldnt get the bolt to 'cock' - the woodwork was fouling the sear. Fitting new woodwork can be done but it would be better to spend a $100 more and get one thats original.. Your money, your choice.

07-31-2009, 06:58 PM	#3
wcassidy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 352	I wasn't aware woodwork had that much of an effect on the trigger pull and everything else besides barrel resonation and accuracy thus related. Thanks kindly for the info, as you put it, it sounds like a project i don't need to be getting into with college starting off again soon enough.