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No1 Mk3 Sniper

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Honkytonk View Drop Down
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    Posted: September 01 2021 at 6:42am
Hey all. I felt I needed a treat so I put out a feeler to my Lee Enfield guy in Regina, Sask. asking him if he had anything interesting for sale. He said he had a No1 Mk3 Sniper coming in in a few weeks. No other details (which I'll look into) other than its in his British words (is rare as hens teeth!). $2595. CDN. I have no idea if this is a reasonable price if the rifle is in vg condition. I suspect if it has one of those weird offset scopes that would add to the value. Would you expect it to be scoped? Thoughts?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MJ11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 01 2021 at 7:04am
Cool!
I have posted the photo before of Pete Bloom's 1916 #1 with the offset scope I got to have a go with at Bisley. At that price you have won the lottery. A bit unusual to shoot at 200Y  but at 1.25" left of bore center a hit is a hit any apart of the Hun.

The Spartans do not ask how many the enemies are but where they are
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bear43 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 01 2021 at 8:38am
If it is in any kind of decent condition then that price is a bargain. No kidding! They are very hard to find.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 01 2021 at 9:02am
This might interest you.

Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 01 2021 at 12:11pm
Agree. I have know idea of condition, make, if it has a scope, etc. I'm hoping to get more 411 soon but the gentleman is always very busy... and not much into email! I can totally respect that!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 03 2021 at 1:03pm
Do any of the members know if there are repo scopes/mounts for the No1 Mk3? I know there is for the No4. Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bubba ho tep Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 03 2021 at 1:34pm
Never saw a real great war period No1 MkIII in the flesh. Have seen two hoaked up bitsers , but it appeared then that the scopes were inoperable. My understanding was the vast majority of these were scrapped after the great war and the scopes sold off. They were not the sturdiest of affairs and scopes tended to be delicate. I did read in one book on brit great war sniping where a captured german optic was mounted on a service rifle and they compared it to the issue kit - think it was "Sniping In France".
    Anyhow I new a fellow in the UK whom was also a member of the old KCN newsletter 20 + years ago whom took a gorgeous 16 dated matching No1 and mounted a real scope and mount set he acquired on it. I kinda gave him grief at the time as it was to me ruining an honest hard to come by rifle ( at least in the US ) . He had to have one for an example at least.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Marco1010 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 03 2021 at 1:43pm
my understanding was that during WW1 many different set ups were used for sniping. Not just the telescopic tube system we normally think of.  Gallilean sights, periscope sights etc.  so there is a fair bit of leeway in finding something that would have been used at some stage. the later snipe scope set up used on the P14 and later on the No4 T was quite proscribed by comparison.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote smerdon42 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 03 2021 at 2:10pm
honky I spoke to a guy in England about getting copies of Lithgow ht pads and rings made but has to be 6 sets to make it worthwhile 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 03 2021 at 6:21pm
Scopes were regarded (with good reason) as being fragile & unreliable back then.
A lot of WW1 sniping was done with what today we'd call "Target irons", simply because they worked better in trench conditions.
Times have (obviously) changed in the last 100 years or so.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bubba ho tep Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 03 2021 at 6:54pm
Well I have to disagree on this. The germans did not have a hard time with manufacturing and installing optics of high quality and quite sturdy. I had a 1917 Danzig with a 2 3/4 power Busch scope on claw mounts. Very rugged , and even though low magnification it worked excellently and would deliver very respectable results. The ability to literally snap on and off the scope and not lose zero was amazing.  Meanwhile the allies had a myriad of mediocre attempts at mounting delicate optics and as often failed with adequate mounting systems for idiotic reasons like for example to be able to use the charger loading system. Hardly a needed trait on a sniping rifle.
   The Patt'18 sniper scope and mounting system was directly influenced from captured german sniping rifles. It was an excellent set up though the quality of the optics was not up the enemies standards, it sufficed but was introduced too late in the war to see use.
   The germans even impressed scoped hunting rifles in the trenches that were demanded to be turned in by the populace for such use. Was'nt hard for the german gov't to do as such things were registered and easily confiscated by the "authorities".
   More than a few british officers privately purchased and some even raised unit funds to by exotic high quality scoped big game rifles in the trenches with telling effect.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 04 2021 at 5:33am
I talked to the gentleman in Regina yesterday on the phone. I have purchased two rifles from him, a No4 in .303 that looks like a L42A1 and a No1 MkIII Lithgow. Both, in my opinion, are fine rifles. He is currently in the process of producing two No1 Mk3 sniper "clones". One is a matching hardware numbers BSA, the other a Lithgow. Both will have new furniture. I asked the forum about repo scopes and mounts because he mentioned the reason he is making the rifles is he aquired two scopes and side mounts. I didn't get the impression they were original. He will send me some pics in the near future. Should be interesting!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote smerdon42 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 04 2021 at 7:09am
honky I have a 1918 pattern Lithgow  scope and rings no mounts though . I have a heavy barrel brand new and will look to mount to a early receiver with a shot out barrel .
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 04 2021 at 7:23am
He has a pretty good reputation up here in Canada. As mentioned, I've purchased two rifles from him. He inspects and replaces all worn parts (checks headspace and replaces if needed). I suspect this clone would be a No1 Mk3 in top drawer shooting condition with new furniture. Some period correct scope/mount. I do not know what process armourers put these rifles through prior to calling them a "sniper", but feel it's ok to call this rifle a No1 Mk3 sniper clone. I'll have to wait and see some pics and get more details before buying... price is getting up there a bit...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bubba ho tep Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 04 2021 at 8:04am
You should be able to find one of those jovino import lithgows to make this awesome shooter project happen . Love to see it when completed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote smerdon42 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 04 2021 at 8:31am
bubba I have a few receivers I was going to use , but am waiting to get the pads before going ahead . 
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