Lee - Enfield Mark III
I just got my first "rip off" here at Gun Broker.com. This is a first! I've had a great track record buying firearms on here - until now. I'll be asking more questions and more pictures in the future.
Ok - the questions. Do all of the Lee - Enfield Mark III' s have the same stock, hardware etc? I can't figure out what "number" the piece is - Like Mark IV No. 1. However, I do know that it was manufactured in England in 1917. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. This whole gun was "pieced" together from others. I purchased this piece as a "shooter" and not necessarily for a "collection." I have a feeling that I'm going to have to purchase a used stock from somewhere, but before I order the parts I want to have a decent guess of what I should order.
Ok - the questions. Do all of the Lee - Enfield Mark III' s have the same stock, hardware etc? I can't figure out what "number" the piece is - Like Mark IV No. 1. However, I do know that it was manufactured in England in 1917. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. This whole gun was "pieced" together from others. I purchased this piece as a "shooter" and not necessarily for a "collection." I have a feeling that I'm going to have to purchase a used stock from somewhere, but before I order the parts I want to have a decent guess of what I should order.
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Post your "rip-off" auction number here so we can see it, if you want info on what you got. 0 -
If it was made in 1917 it's a number 1, Mark 3, ( #1 MK III ). Should look like this photo I got off the net. The upper handguard wood color doesn't match the rest of the stock, and is probably a replacement. 
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That's it and thanks for the information!
quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
If it was made in 1917 it's a number 1, Mark 3, ( #1 MK III ). Should look like this photo I got off the net. The upper handguard wood color doesn't match the rest of the stock, and is probably a replacement.0 -
There is a comparison write up with the #1MIII and the 98G re: Battle of the Somme in the latest G&A. Has a bit on the changes made to the Lee-Enfield over the years as well. While not the definitive answer to every SMLE question, it is decent down-time reading.
My SMLE has stock and handguard with slightly different shades of brown as well. Could be an armory replacement because of damage to wood and metal pieces, or just different colored original stock pieces grabbed from a huge bin when it was assembled.0 -
Information on your rifle. http://www.surplusrifle.com/smle/index.asp
Bear in mind that yours will be almost 100 years old, may have seen a couple or three wars, and will have had repairs made to it during its life. Unless this was being sold to you as an Excellent or LNIB, not sure that you have a valid gripe- we can't tell which auction you won.0 -
One thing you might want to remember; this is not a modern sporter with a high-grade walnut stock. This is a BATTLE RIFLE, pure and simple. The builders cared little about the appearence of the piece, it had to perform in all kind of conditions and temperstures and The No.I MkIII did this very well. If you have one with a really nice tube and the numbers match, you might want to look around for a stock set with matching wood.................. 0 -
Hermiem,
First, you have to get the numbers and marks in order on these. The number comes first then the mark.
Also, you need to understand that the Brits changed the nomenclature of these around 1926. After 1926 all Pre- and WWI guns became No. 1 Mk-something. Smelly's became No. 1 Mk. III's for instance. A change in sights and weight/construction make them a Mk. III* It's confusing with these and you have to pay attention to what you get. So to best answer your first question: No they are not all the same, even within the same mark. Also note some changes within a Mark are I and I*. You have to note that. After the nomenclature change, all Pattern 14's became No. 3 rifles MK-somthing. (a better rifle anyhow[:D][}:)]).
Post some pics, and we can then see if you got "ripped off" I don't think you did. I think you may have just misunderstood what you thought you were getting.0 -
I'm a shooter not a collector. I have never seen a 303 SMLE that I thought was collectable. If you want all milled parts etc. in a rifle that shows pride in workmenship I'd suggest a 1930's Mauser. The P14's are ok, they make a nice 45-70. Out of 10 or so SMLE's I have seen 1 that shot as good as you could hold it. Unfortunately is was scraped out after the owner tried to soup it up with custom reloads. 0 -
Howdy hermiem,
Well, not knowing price bought for, and without pics/ description showing all markings, hard to say at all about this rifle being a rip. But you hit the nail-- asking more questions ahead, next time.
As said from the other posters, it takes some investigation to learn about the great SMLE line of rifles.
If marked FTR, (factory refurbished as do know some later models have been), then yes, part numbers may/can be mixed around, so doesn't absolutely mean your is a bubba-did-it mish-mash and can still be a great shooter.
A personal experience comment, (re: hah, meaning a rebuttal, sorry 'bout that charliemeyer, no offense meant), about the SMLE line and .303-cartridge. I've two 1950's era No.4 Mk2's that both have outshot or at least hold their own againt many same unaltered condition, (including my own), M-1917's, M-1 garands, and various 8mm Mauser's. Tons of these No.4's were sold in like condition as surplus here in the U.S.
The sorry part about the "P-14" is most are just plain shot out and were not refurb'ed, as evidenced by, again, most of them being placed to "home guard" status for the Brits by the time WW-2 rolled around, so no argument there.
The .303/SMLE is a great, long distance battlefield accurate combo of cartridge/rifle that proved itself time and again in the last century. Thus, and am not alone, have earned "collectable" status in my eyes, even the plain jane shooters.
45er0 -
If you are planning to shoot your No.1 MkIII, there is one unique feature that sets it ahead of other rifles. The butt stocks are available in Different lengths. I am normal height, but have short arms; so I found a "short" but stock at the gun show and installed on my No.1 MkIII. Unbolted the old one and bolted on the new one. Thus this rifle could be custom fitted to every soldier in the British or any other army................. 0
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