New old rifle

[TR6]

Hi,

I was given this rifle a few years ago by my father in law, input would be nice.
I did use it some years ago needed cleaning and adjustment....

[bruce]

WWI era British SMLE in caliber .303 British. Standard issue British rifle for WWI and WWII and a bit on into Korea. Find a replacement forearm, etc. The bits and pieces can be found. Rifle can be restored to issue condition. Looks like a fine rifle. With common .303 ball it should give you good results. With hunting ammunition it would do a fine job on deer, hogs, etc. Sincerely. bruce.

[TR6]

Thanks Bruce I will go to the range this summer and try it out.

[JB White]

Do you have its magazine?

[RCS]

I did restore an Enfield 1906 Mark 1*** with the CR pre fix. It was just like yours, just be glad the barrel was not
cut. You can still fine the fore-end and other metal parts, just cost more now. Springfield Sporters has most of
the parts you need

[Sunray]

That's a sporterised No. 1 Mk III* made in 1915 by Birmingham Small Arms. Chambered, as mentioned, in .303 British(that'll kill any game in North America, including big bears. Been used for moose, up here, since after W.W. I.) Standard issue British rifle from 1903 to 1941. Still made by the Brits after then though. Used by Australia until they switched to the FAL in the 50's. Your rifle has some damage to the stock, but nothing to worry about.
All the stamps except for the 'BNP' stamps are just proof marks(all of 'em with crossed flags) and acceptance stamps(the broad arrow.).
The only caveat is that thousands of Lee-Enfields have been assemble out of parts bins with no QC. So you must check the head space before you shoot it. And hope that it's good as fixing bad headspace on a No. 1 is kind of pricey. Isn't difficult, but you need a handful of bolt heads at about $15+ each to try with proper headspace gauges(rent 'em, don't buy or let a smithy buy 'em, charge you for 'em and keep 'em.) until you find one that gives safe headspace.
Restoring it to military will cost a ton of money you'll never get back. Mostly due to the horde of wee metal bits. A rear sight protector screw, for example, runs $2.70 each at Gunparts. The protector itself is $5.30. Adds up quickly.
There are very few forestocks around. There are no 'sets' anymore. Gunparts wants around $60 for one when they have any. The hand guards run $22ish each.
If you don't have the magazine, there are aftermarket commercial mags available. $41.95 each at Gunparts(not the only game in town.). Some being better than others. Anyway, the important part is that a No. 1 mag has 2 locking lugs on the back. A No. 4 Rifle mag will fit in a No. 1, but a No. 1 mag will not fit in a No. 4(not that it matters to you.).
Oh and you need to slug the barrel. Lee-Enfields can have a groove diameter(.303" is the nominal bore diameter) between .311" and .315". Over .315" the barrel is shot out. Issue is that current commercial hunting ammo and reloading jacketed bullets(milsurp ammo is long gone) are .311" or .312". Montana bullets makes a cast .313" and .314" 180 grain bullet. And up to .315" 200 grain bullet. Neither is stupid expensive either.

[JB White]

I doubt Springfield Sporters is carrying any old British, 'hump bellied' Italian walnut forends anymore. A lot of incorrect Ishywood though. Gunparts has later profiled wood if and when they get some. Same as most parts dealers. That is what a lot are doing to build up mismatched parts guns and calling a restoration.
It's not a MkI***, so one has to wonder if it's worth restoring to a far more common MkIII*. The parts hunt might be easier but the cost would be about the same. Years ago it was doable, and those old restorations still sell for less than original/correct.

As a passed down rifle it is what it is. A sporter from a bygone era of dirt cheap surplus by the ton.

[lyman]

That's a sporterised No. 1 Mk III* made in 1915 by Birmingham Small Arms. Chambered, as mentioned, in .303 British(that'll kill any game in North America, including big bears. Been used for moose, up here, since after W.W. I.) Standard issue British rifle from 1903 to 1941. Still made by the Brits after then though. Used by Australia until they switched to the FAL in the 50's. Your rifle has some damage to the stock, but nothing to worry about.
All the stamps except for the 'BNP' stamps are just proof marks(all of 'em with crossed flags) and acceptance stamps(the broad arrow.).
The only caveat is that thousands of Lee-Enfields have been assemble out of parts bins with no QC. So you must check the head space before you shoot it. And hope that it's good as fixing bad headspace on a No. 1 is kind of pricey. Isn't difficult, but you need a handful of bolt heads at about $15+ each to try with proper headspace gauges(rent 'em, don't buy or let a smithy buy 'em, charge you for 'em and keep 'em.) until you find one that gives safe headspace.
Restoring it to military will cost a ton of money you'll never get back. Mostly due to the horde of wee metal bits. A rear sight protector screw, for example, runs $2.70 each at Gunparts. The protector itself is $5.30. Adds up quickly.
There are very few forestocks around. There are no 'sets' anymore. Gunparts wants around $60 for one when they have any. The hand guards run $22ish each.
If you don't have the magazine, there are aftermarket commercial mags available. $41.95 each at Gunparts(not the only game in town.). Some being better than others. Anyway, the important part is that a No. 1 mag has 2 locking lugs on the back. A No. 4 Rifle mag will fit in a No. 1, but a No. 1 mag will not fit in a No. 4(not that it matters to you.).
Oh and you need to slug the barrel. Lee-Enfields can have a groove diameter(.303" is the nominal bore diameter) between .311" and .315". Over .315" the barrel is shot out. Issue is that current commercial hunting ammo and reloading jacketed bullets(milsurp ammo is long gone) are .311" or .312". Montana bullets makes a cast .313" and .314" 180 grain bullet. And up to .315" 200 grain bullet. Neither is stupid expensive either.


Nations Gun Show in NOVA (south of DC) last weekend had a handful or 3 of No 1 and No 4 magazines available, all NOS (not repro) for 40-45$$

No1's bring $400 ish, depending of course , there (as in I have sold some for that amount) mixmaster or not