Milsurp After Hours

OK Gentlemen..... as promissed.... here are my SMLE's.
All the above are really nice shooters, but the one I would like to share with everyone is the top example : Enfield 1913. I bought it about eleven months ago for $150.00 at a local gunshow. Apart from the -Windage Adjustable Rear Sight- ( lifted from the Lithgow 1919.. kindly sourced by Patrick ), everything is as bought.
The following are a few pics of the main details for your enjoyment... Isn't it a beauty?

Seph

Yes it is a beauty.
However I'm more attracted to the 1919 Lithgow, for obvious reasons
http://www.milsurpafterhours.com/bb/vie ... 778#p27778
Any chance of more detailed pics on it ?

Woftam wrote:Any chance of more detailed pics on it ?

Certainly... no problem at all!

This is my latest aquisition and I have not done anything more than a general clean-up. There is dried on cosmoleane everywhere, and I've scraped and chipped quite a bit of it off from the areas that mattered. I took it down to my local firing range last weekend, and it shoots like a dream. Action is smooth, and the safety works as it should... with no lift-back of the safety lever.

In reference to markings, there are not that many.... especially compared to my other SMLE's, and the one you've illustrated. On the butt of my Lithgow -1918 I have few stamped in markings, but this one is clean.

If you want to see anymore pics other than I've included, just ask!
Seph

Seph,

There's even more to tell, your rifle has seen service with the Indian Army; it's got the 'Isshy' screw in the forened and the armourer's repairs are typically Indian as is the use of what looks like plastic wood but is probably sawdust and glue. It all adds interest however. The black coating that you can chip off is also an Indian concoction, in Australia the usual preservative for long term storage is/was 50% bees wax and 50% petroleum jelly. Thanks fora very interesting post.

To add to Eoin's observations the rifle was FTR'd at Lithgow in 1953 (the FTR & MA/53 stamps).

It looks like the furniture was changed at this time. At least the butt has been replaced - an original butt would have the SMLE, HV, III* & 1919 stamps. A post WW2 rebuild would normally have MA and a date on it. I can't definitley say if the rest of the furniture has been replaced but originally it would have been Queensland Maple.

The nosecap would likely have been replaced at the same time - the undrilled piling swivel indicates mid WW2 manufacture with the drilled front sight ears being a late/post WW2 practice.

I can't quite decipher the barrel date but it looks like it could be '9 '53 which would fit with the FTR.

I gather from your post it came with a Windage adjustable rear sight. Was this numbered to the rifle ? Also is the bolt numbered to the rifle ? And is the Batching Assembly number present - the number under the bolt handle and as pictured below.

All in all an interesting well travelled example.

My word.. your right, this Aussie 1919 certainly has done the rounds.. and then some!

After chipping and scraping off a little mre of that dreaded Indian Army concoction... I can verify that your assumption of the barrel date is correct : '9 - 53'. Also, in reference to the Batching Assembly number... it is present although rather faintly stamped, but it reads : W 9291. As I mentioned, it is rather faint, so the first numeral could even be an '8'.

The Windage Adjust Rear Sight is cean of any stampings, and doesn't show much wear at all, so I think we can determine there that it came from 'New - Old Stock', but where and when?

The bolt and nosecap are numbered to the rifle.

nice rifles all , and great looking hookie , it really adds to that mkIII

Seph,

I notice in this photo,


That you have a foresight adjusting tool and what appears to be a broken shell extractor.

Any chance of a close up of these?

How did you get the foresight tool, Armourers guarded them with their lives?

Aughnanure wrote:Seph,


How did you get the foresight tool, Armourers guarded them with their lives?

Lets just say.. it pays to have served in the Armed Forces and have contacts in that area!
I'm in the middle of a house move at the moment, so as soon as I've got everything sorted.. I'll photograph and post the pics your requesting.

Don't loose anything in the move Seph