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Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and an SMLE.....

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2017 4:00 am
by DuncaninFrance
............. :D :D

I had an idea that it would be fitting to fire a 3 round volley at the Remembrance Service in Bordeaux next year to commemorate 100 year since the signing of the cease fire in The Great War at 11a.m. on 11th November in 1918.
I have circulated my proposal to various people including the mayor of Talence in Bordeaux where the CWGC Cemetery is located.
Screen Shot Duncan 11-16-17 09-43-40.JPG
I had intended to use my No4 Mk:I because even though it was made in 1943 it is still an Enfield.
Discussing this with Elaine she said " Wouldn't it be better if you used a rifle from the Great War?"
Having explained the cost and quality of such items in France I said that the No4 would be a good substitute.

A day later, while having our evening meal she said " I think you should use a rifle of the time - you can spend up to €1000 out of the 'savings' fund on buying one"

Pardon!........... Image

To digress slightly, I had that afternoon been to see a friend who had bought a Martini-Henry and did not know what it was. Turns out it is a NoI Artillery carbine in very good condition ( more of THAT later) and I had made him some dummy rounds for it. As a thank you he gave me a bayonet that he used to turn the charcoal in his barby! Close inspection showed it to be a 1907 SMLE bayonet by Wilkinson....................an omen perhaps?

To be continued :GBR:

Re: Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and an SMLE.....

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2017 9:37 am
by englishman_ca
She's a keeper!

lol

I was sitting at the breakfast table one morning and the mail arrived. I opened a letter and there was a cheque inside from somebody who wanted to buy a rifle that I had restored and put up for sale. I laid it on the table.

The cheque was quite healthy and when 'She Who Must Be Obeyed' picked it up off the table to have a look, her eye brows raised a little.

'What's this for?' she asked

'For a rifle that I sold' says I

'How much did you pay for the rifle? she asks

'A hundred bucks' says I smiling

'Good profit' says her 'You should buy more rifles and fix them up to sell'

'Yes dear' says I

So I do as she suggests :D

Re: Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and an SMLE.....

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2017 4:59 pm
by DuncaninFrance
Lucky you :roll: :roll:
Moving on a little, I am currently lusting over this ............
http://highwoodclassicarms.co.uk/Firerm ... e/0098.htm

An alternative is one from this collection.

http://highwoodclassicarms.co.uk/Firerm ... e/0138.htm

Re: Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and an SMLE.....

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:43 am
by Niner
Looks like those gun dealers really prize the value of their inventory. If you were in the States I'd sell you one of mine for a lot less than either of those offers. I don't know how much the market value in the US has risen since my $100 Enfields were acquired but I'd be very surprised if it were as much as what you are seeing in Europe. There's a gun show this weekend and this is a question that might draw me to it.

Now here is an idea that just came to me......If you really want to put on a show at the ceremony you could get a grenade cup and fire off a few tennis balls with your blank ammo. :loco:

Re: Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and an SMLE.....

Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 9:53 am
by DuncaninFrance
Well, here it is in all it's glory.....Description and images from the sellers website.

SMLE MkIII* Enfield 1918
Irish Fianna Fáil Marked
Calibre .303
Serial No I21168
Very Good Condition
This is the standard MkIII* .303 SMLE rifle manufactured by the RSAF Enfield in 1918
This rifle has been renumbered at some point, the original numbers are barred out and has been re-numbered to I21168.
As war was looming the large store of war reserve stocks were being prepared, this example is typical of the programmes in 1938/39 where many were rebarreled. This rifle was rebarreled in 1938 as marked on the left side of the barrel.
This is a nice standard MkIII* SMLE and the icing on the cake is the FF marks denoting Irish ownership.
A nice rifle that has an excellent bore.
Image
Image
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Delivery June 2018 via a certain Scotsman Image

Re: Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and an SMLE.....

Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 11:27 am
by Niner
Now that's a good choice. And if the certain Scotsman that we both are acquainted with is delivering it I'm sure it will have been test fired...for safety. Of course he could be selling or loaning it from his own collection. I'll have to check on the details on the Sunday Skype.

Re: Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and an SMLE.....

Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 2:25 pm
by Miller Tyme
Got a keeper there Duncan, while you are on a roll, you know the 120th anniversary of the end of the Spanish American War is December 10th 2018, you could get a 30/40 Krag to fire off a salute to its ending. :lol:

Might be by myself Walt :roll: :roll:

Re: Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and an SMLE.....

Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 8:03 pm
by Niner Delta
Why would you have to wait so long for delivery??

.

Re: Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and an SMLE.....

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 3:44 am
by DuncaninFrance
Because it is for sale in the UK, and I live in France I would have to pay a specialist company to export it to me. That would add to the cost, I am guessing at least £200.
Blackisler on the other hand has a slot on his FAC for a .303 so the rifle will go to his mate in Scotland, a Registered Firearms Dealer and it will be added to Roberts ticket.
Robert is coming down next June to stay in our gîte and will bring it with him - cost £0! I don't NEED it till November and so he gets to play with it first, just like I did with his Schmidt-Rubin. Simples..................... :bigsmile:

Re: Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and an SMLE.....

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 2:42 pm
by ArchFluffy
Pretty rifle! I love it.

:bigsmile:

-ArchFluffy