1918 Enfield No. 1 MkIII* |
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ajk0806
Newbie Joined: March 15 2011 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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Posted: March 15 2011 at 10:54pm |
Hey guys,
I'm new to the forum and fairly new to Enfields. I've never owned one but I am in the market. My local pawn shop has a 1918 No. 1 MkIII* that looks as if "bubba" tried to sporterize it but gave up. The front hand guard and fore-end are missing after the outer band. It appears someone cut them off. The remainder of the stock is in pretty good condition. Fortunately, the barrel has not been touched. The rifling is very good. Four-digit serial numbers match on the receiver and magazine. Not sure where the others are located. The wrist guard is marked as follows: *Crown* 1918 Sht L.E III * Although it does appear someone has tried to mark out the " * ". He's asking $190 for it, but I know I'd spend at least another $75-$100 in restoring the rifle. Is this worth it? I noticed that it didn't have a manufacturer's mark on the wrist guard. Where would it be located? I just would like to know if this model is worth what he's asking and restoring or if I should move on to another Enfield. Thanks! |
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Bear43
Special Member Donating Member Joined: August 11 2010 Location: Doland, SD Status: Offline Points: 3059 |
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First, welcome to the forum! Now, is it worth it? Well, maybe. What is the manufacturer? In this case it is going to be a peddled scheme rifle. If you look at the top of the receiver, on the rear area just ahead of the butt and to the left of the bolt will be a stamp. It will be stamped either SSA or NRF. Peddled scheme rifles are more desireable, if that receiver is an NRF then definitely grab it since those are hard to find. In either case it would be worth restoring this rifle in my opinion. I would try to get the guy down a little on the price, but if it spoke to me enough then I would not hesitate to pay the asking price.
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ajk0806
Newbie Joined: March 15 2011 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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Thank you for answering, Bear! I checked with the shop and it is stamped NRF. Like I mentioned earlier, the stock is missing past the outer band and it has no nose cap. It's sounds as if this is a "rarer" version of the Enfield. The remaining stock (not sure what type of wood) is also a lighter color than the other's that I've seen. It doesn't appear to be soaked with oil. When I get there, I'm going to ask him to take the rear hand guard off to check on the barrel serial number to see if that matches. So, for $190, this sounds like something I should grab.
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Bear43
Special Member Donating Member Joined: August 11 2010 Location: Doland, SD Status: Offline Points: 3059 |
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The sported bits can be replaced easily enough. The NRF receivers were made in 1918, SSA became NRF. Hence the NRF receivers are tougher to find although many have been showing up lately probably due to people needing cash and cleaning out the closets. It is a shame it was cut down like that, but as long as the barrel is uncut then it is easily restored to military configuration. I would grab it in a heartbeat.
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ajk0806
Newbie Joined: March 15 2011 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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Thanks Bear,
I've had the shop set it aside and I plan on making the purchase this afternoon. As of right now, I only plan on replacing the front hand guard, fore-end and nose cap. I don't think anything else is missing. I plan on posting pictures of it sometime tonight or tomorrow. Since it is an NFR, what does these usually go for? While I don't plan on selling it, I wouldn't mind knowing the value of one in original compared to one that has had the above mentioned parts replaced. |
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Lithgow
Senior Member Joined: October 25 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 1417 |
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If the * has been struck out, it would indicate that it has been a No1 MkIII* that has been converted back to a MkIII configuration.
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ajk0806
Newbie Joined: March 15 2011 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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I just disassembled the rifle. I was a little worried about the rifling because the bore was DARK making it hard to tell it's condition. Cleaned it out, now it's shiny and bright with great rifling. The only markings on the stock were directly behind the trigger guard, but I can't tell what it is.
Bolt, receiver and magazine have matching serial numbers, not forced. Right now I'm trying to determine if the barrel is a match. The bolt has "W.W.G." under the stem and "FB30" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel where it connects to the receiver. Not sure what either means. On the right side of the barrel, by the receiver, is the serial number and on the left side it has what looks like an upside down "C". as well as numerous proof marks and " '37 ". in between these markings, where the barrel goes from being round to hex, is "F350". Lithgow, it does have a " = " markings where the " * " should be. Hopefully I can get some pictures up. |
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Bear43
Special Member Donating Member Joined: August 11 2010 Location: Doland, SD Status: Offline Points: 3059 |
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All the other marks on the barrel I am not sure of without seeing pictures. However, the '37 was when it was rebarreled (1937). Don't worry, that's normal. Most of these ol' gals have been rebarreled more than once. With the * struck out, that means it had a magazine cutoff installed. This was done between the wars for a while and then done away with again later on.
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ajk0806
Newbie Joined: March 15 2011 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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Finally got a picture of the rifle, but after one shot, the phone camera stopped working. I was able to upload it but hopefully I can get some other pictures of the stampings. Just one problem. I've never posted a picture on a forum and I can't figure out how. As you can tell, I'm not the best when it comes to "photo" related processes. Thanks again for all the help!
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Alan de Enfield
Senior Member Joined: November 01 2009 Location: Eastern England Status: Offline Points: 241 |
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A bit of information about your rifle :
Standard Small Arms was formed by Mr S J Waring (later Lord Waring, 1860-1940) of the Waring & Gillow concern ,together with a Mr Peterson, who was a man of standing in the Birmingham gun trade. They believed that the skills of the Birmingham gun trade were being neglected and could be more fully utilised in the war effort than they were. They planned to make all of the action and the nosecap, less magazines, screws and pins, and organise eight small firms and a number of individuals in the trade (probably outworkers, of whom a great many worked in the trade at that time). The barrels were to be subcontracted to Westley Richards and the wood to be cut by Waring & Gillow and Rudders & Payne (both these firms eventually dropped out). They contracted to supply rifles at 75/- each, which was the same price that BSA was paid. After a year or so it became apparent that the factory would never produce complete arms and it was instructed to produce four items; body with charger guide, bolt, bolt head and trigger guard. The company was to produce 1500 sets of components a week, rising to 4,000 when new machinery was installed. Other firms were contracted to produce less specialist items, the sets of components being delivered to Enfield for assembly in the bayonet shop, production of which was shifted to Wilkinsons and Sanderson Brothers & Newbold.
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Cookie Monster
Special Member Joined: January 22 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7510 |
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Has the metal been altered? |
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ajk0806
Newbie Joined: March 15 2011 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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Thanks for the info Alan! As far as I can tell, the metal doesn't appear to have been altered. The barrel hasn't been cut, either. Where would I look for any alterations?
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Cookie Monster
Special Member Joined: January 22 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7510 |
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Should be an easy restoration then, just a matter of finding the parts
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