1906 Mk*** Sporter

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   I picked up this sporterized Enfield about a year ago. I refinished the wood and added an ebony tip, replaced a chipped firing pin, added some sling swivels and some vintage sights that I can see. I also found a dinged up Mk 3 magazine and cut it down to hold 6 rds.

It now shoots and functions well and can return to the field where it belongs.
                                                    GeezerD

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GeezerD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: May 24 2013 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote GeezerD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 1906 Mk* Sporter** Posted: March 13 2014 at 11:04am
	I picked up this sporterized Enfield about a year ago. I refinished the wood and added an ebony tip, replaced a chipped firing pin, added some sling swivels and some vintage sights that I can see. I also found a dinged up Mk 3 magazine and cut it down to hold 6 rds. It now shoots and functions well and can return to the field where it belongs. GeezerD

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Online Points: 16997	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 13 2014 at 11:17am
	sounds like you saved a decent vintage sporter , congrats on that , she looks like what i would want my deer rifle to look like , two things - first tell us about that sling , it appears to be a really nice web/leather specimen second , where did you find that five round mag ? did it come with the rifle ? was it cut down ? OK three things - i like that rear sight , can you show us a closeup ?

GeezerD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: May 24 2013 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote GeezerD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 13 2014 at 12:51pm
	The sling is a cotton web and leather safari sling. It and the European swivels were obtained from New England Custom Gun. The rear sight is a vintage Lyman 57 LE obtained from Garry Fellers, new in the box. It has target adjustments and mounts on the RH side so it doesn't interfere with the safety. Also a push button release of the overarm for bolt removal. The front is a Lyman ramp with hood and .080 gold bead. The magazine is a dinged up Mk3 magazine that I found on Ebay and cut it down and laser welded a new base on it. I still would like to find a type 1 round knob cocking piece and a bolt head charger guide for it. Anyway, here are some pics of the sights. ------------ GeezerD

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Online Points: 16997	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 13 2014 at 1:44pm
	i see she still has her cutoff , is the rear volley still there on the left rear receiver ? those bits would be of value to others here that are looking to restore and worthy of considering selling as they serve no purpose on your sporter , just a thought here but im sure bear might have input on those items for his restoration , i gotta say , if i was setting one up in this configuration , i would be looking at setting one up like that

GeezerD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: May 24 2013 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote GeezerD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 13 2014 at 2:04pm
	The rifle was missing the volley sights when I got it. I have already sold the Lee Speed rear sight that was on it. I do however have the correct type 2/3 magazine in VG cond. GeezerD

Bear43 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: August 11 2010 Location: Doland, SD Status: Offline Points: 3500	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bear43 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 13 2014 at 10:10pm
	Nice looking sporter there, GeezerD. Just out of curiosity, is the receiver marked solely "BSA" or "BSA Sparkbrook" and what is the serial number prefix? Also, I will check my parts bin over the weekend, I am pretty sure I have a spare round cocking piece.

GeezerD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: May 24 2013 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote GeezerD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 14 2014 at 12:25am
	The receiver is marked Enfield and it has ER for a prefix. It looks as though it has been renumbered. While I am not an Enfield collector, I noticed that several parts were not correct for the date on the receiver. But it has probably been arsenal refurbished several times. But as a sporting rifle, the bore slugs at .312 and the headspace looks good so it should shoot well. However the range I use has about 2 feet of snow that needs to melt before I can do any serious shooting. That would be great if you have a cocking piece. I think the round knob would look more correct on an early sporting rifle. GeezerD

Bear43 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: August 11 2010 Location: Doland, SD Status: Offline Points: 3500	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bear43 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 14 2014 at 12:46am
	The ER prefix denotes it being a rifle sent as aid to Ireland. The British renumbered the rifles before sending them out. The ER prefix rifles usually retain the Mk I*** configuration while the CR prefix rifles tend to have many Mk III* parts. The reason I asked about manufacturer (for some reason I was thinking yours was marked BSA) is that in 1906 BSA took over Sparkbrook and I ask to note serial number ranges when possible. It doesn't apply with yours since it's Enfield-built, but that was the reason for the question.

GeezerD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: May 24 2013 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote GeezerD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 14 2014 at 1:17am
	I left the barreled action intact. The sights, and sling swivel have been soldered in place (no holes were drilled). So I suppose it could be brought back to its former self,if you threw enough money at it. When I was a young man, I was instructed on how to shoot and hunt by several old hands. Most of which carried "sporterized" military rifles. Many were Springfields and Mausers, but I became intrigued by the more unusual Krags and Enfields. And as such, I now have one of each. I know this is an Enfield forum,But here is a pic of my Krag sporter that was built in 1985 by Paul Marquart. GeezerD

Bear43 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: August 11 2010 Location: Doland, SD Status: Offline Points: 3500	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bear43 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 14 2014 at 1:37am
	These old sporters do have a place in a collection. I have restored a few No 1 Mk III*'s and No 4's, but they were badly done sporters to begin with. You know, hacksaw to the wood kind of ugly. These ones you have are nice. That Krag is pretty too. Nowadays it is easy to forget that the reason so many of these were sporterized was because at the time they were cheap and plentiful. They were a solid base for well-done custom sporting rifles.

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Online Points: 16997	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 14 2014 at 10:36am
	i used to have a collection of krags , an M1892 made in 1894 at beginning of production , an M1896 made in 1896 , an M1898 made in 1899 , and an M1899 carbine made in 1901 , here is a couple then the carbine , all are gone now , just have bayonets left ,