1940 BSA No.1 Mk.III Rifle.

TomcatPC · Post by **TomcatPC** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:17 pm

Hello
Here is the second Lee-Enfield Rifle I bought. I bought this rifle about five years ago for $70 (U.S.) in "sporterised" condition. I pieced it back the best I could. It is nowhere near original, but I'm happy with it. Yes, it has Indian made timber and the Magazine Cut-Off probably would not have been on during the War.
Thanks
Mark

Jc5 · Post by **Jc5** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:16 pm

There has been some discussion recently on other boards about the BSA MkIII rifles from 1940. Just curious, does your rifle have an L-prefix? Does the barrel have the BSA piled arms logo? And it is a MkIII, not a III* right?

Thanks!

TomcatPC · Post by **TomcatPC** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:08 pm

Hello
No this rifle does not have the Birmingham Small Arms Piled Arms marking (Commercial marking?). The number prefix is M, if you want I can go and look the whole number up later. And yes, this is a Mk.III and not a Mk.III*, it does have a slot for the magazine cut-off. The date stamp is a bit "different" in that the "40" in 1940 was clearly stamped after the other markings were stamped. As if the action body was made and the complete date was stamped later.
Give me a few days and I'll have a go at taking a photo of the marking.
Thanks
Mark,

TomcatPC · Post by **TomcatPC** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:30 pm

Here is a bleary photo of the markings. Notice the "19...40" date marking. Not easy to see is the "FTR" etching below the III where it has been "sanded down". This rifle spent some time in India following India's independence (1947?) as it has been re-barreled and the barrel has the "Ashonka" (totally misspelled) or "Four Lions" markings. Anyway, for a $70 (US) Rifle, I am happy with it.
Thanks
Mark

Jc5 · Post by **Jc5** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:25 am

Interesting. Thanks for posting!

The piled arms logo would be on the knox form of the barrel (under the rear hand guard). I know it sounds strange to see one on a non-commercial rifle but several have been seen on 1940 BSA MkIIIs.

At $70, that is a bargain! Congrats

PeterN2 · Post by **PeterN2** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:08 pm

I have a 1940 BSA Mk.III rifle. The part that the cut off is screwed to is ground off. The stock has the part where the cut off goes filled in making it a Mk.III* stock. Some imbecile undid the butt screw without taking off the forestock and split it. I didn't know until it started to fall apart when I shot it. The dealer I bought it from found out about this later and contacted me and repaired the stock. He also fitted a replacement forestock that I had bought so it is up and shooting again. The butt disc is marked for RAF Leuchars in Scotland.

Regards
Peter.

TomcatPC · Post by **TomcatPC** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:14 am

On my friend and I's first annual "St. George's Day Shoot Out", this was one of the two Lee-Enfield Rifles I took to the range with me. I only shot 20 rounds of reloaded 210 grain cast lead bullets cartridges. This rifle shot a lot better than it did the last time I fired it, which was not too bad. It seems this rifle likes cast lead bullets a lot better than my BSA No.4 Mk.I or my Savage No. 4 Mk.I*, which shoot like crap with cast lead bullets. Anyway, I was just grateful to get a chance to fire this rifle today. I don't get to shoot too often and I try to make the most of it when I can.
Mark

1940 BSA No.1 Mk.III Rifle.

1940 BSA No.1 Mk.III Rifle.

Re: 1940 BSA No.1 Mk.III Rifle.

Re: 1940 BSA No.1 Mk.III Rifle.

Re: 1940 BSA No.1 Mk.III Rifle.

Re: 1940 BSA No.1 Mk.III Rifle.

Re: 1940 BSA No.1 Mk.III Rifle.

Re: 1940 BSA No.1 Mk.III Rifle.