[mjlee1975]

First I'd like to say I like the forum and I'm glad I have found a good place on the Enfield. I picked up an old sporterized enfield at a local gun show this fall and would really appreciate some help identifying the model. It has a mass of mismatched parts on it and I'm having a hard time determining if it is a No1 Mark 3 or a No4 mark 1. The barrel had sights that have been removed and the receiver has been machined with a custom L sight above the bolt. I would like to get this shooting a bit better as its High and to the left about 6 in but with good grouping.

Anyhow if I could get some opinions on what No. of enfield I am dealing with that'd be great. A link to the pictures is below:

Picasa Web Albums - merlinlee75 - Rifle

[pathdoc]

At first blush it looks like a #1 MkIII* that has been VERY heavily modded, including the fitting of some sort of after-market or lash-up rear aperture sight. The bolt head/ retainer groove complex on the right hand side of the receiver looks a lot like my SMLE, as does the safety catch.

If you were to lift the bolt, the mark and manufacturer are usually engraved on the rear part of the receiver on the RHS, underneath where the bolt handle is. Lift the bolt and look - unless it's been ground off (and I've seen rifles where it has been), this will tell you.

The fact that there appear to have been sights on the barrel at one stage also strongly suggests this is a No1 Mk III*; the No.4 had its sights on the rear of the receiver, behind the charger bridge.

[madcratebuilder]

It's not a No4MkI. Someone put a lot of work in that rifle, very nice sporter.

[mdj696]

By looking at the magazine, i'm guessing it's a N0 1 Mark 1

[TomcatPC]

To me at least, it looks like it began life as a S.M.L.E. Mk.III* (aka after 1926 as the No.1 Mk.III*). I say S.M.L.E. Mk.III* because I don't see any evidence of the rifle having a Volley Sight. To say it has been heavily modified is an understatement, including removal of the charger bridge and installing a fore-sight protector taken from a Pattern-1914/Model-1917 Rifle? Also a modified/ "aftermarket" magazine which I assume is for five cartridges? As for the Back-sight?, what is that? a 300/600 yard Back-sight from a Savage made No.4 Mk.I*? Interesting rifle.
Thanks
Mark

[mdj696]

I'm still affixed on the magazine which appears to be for a Carbine Magazine Lee-Metford Mark I. Royal Manufactuary Enfield Class I. Also the saddle ring on the left side of forearm. Thay were adopted in 1897.

[pathdoc]

Quote:       Originally Posted by mdj696

I'm still affixed on the magazine which appears to be for a Carbine Magazine Lee-Metford Mark I. Royal Manufactuary Enfield Class I. Also the saddle ring on the left side of forearm. Thay were adopted in 1897.

And perhaps they should have been REadopted in 1943 or so, instead of reinventing the wheel with the #5! (Although to be fair, I can see both sides of that argument.)