Greetings and Mk3* markings
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Rifles
Forum Description: Anything that has to do with the great Enfield rifles!
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12860
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 8:18pm
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Topic: Greetings and Mk3* markings
Posted By: Themat633
Subject: Greetings and Mk3* markings
Date Posted: September 22 2023 at 12:49am
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he!!o everyone! So happy to join this group! I'm Matteo, writing from Italy! I've just bought a Mk3* from 1941 and I'd like to discover more about the history of this piece! Here's some pics! Thank you so much!
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Replies:
Posted By: Sapper740
Date Posted: September 23 2023 at 5:27am
| It's a 'Dispersal' No. 1 MkIII* rifle assembled by BSA in 1941. Dispersal rifles had various parts made by other manufacturers which were then assembled by one of the major rifle manufacturers. Some people are surprised to learn that the Brits were still making new No. 1's as late as 1944. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: September 23 2023 at 12:27pm
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There should be a serial number "M77700" matching the ones on the barrel & action on the rear face of the bolt handle. This is important because many parts were hand fitted to individual rifles, the bolt being one of the most important. Check the gap between the rear of the forend wood & the front of the "ring" (butt-socket), it seems excessive & could cause undue wear on the internal recoil surfaces.  ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: September 25 2023 at 7:41pm
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im going to you got a nice early dispersal 0 this was mine say
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Posted By: Themat633
Date Posted: April 08 2024 at 8:32am
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Sorry to reply back so late. It has Indeed too much space. In facts I had to reglue a piece of Wood that broke while shooting, because of a metal part recoiling back in it. Any idea how to fill the gap? By the way: whatabout the ISA and FA (this one may be wrong) markings in the stock? I also found this markings hidden under the buttplate. Any clue?
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Posted By: BrianBDL
Date Posted: April 08 2024 at 10:35am
| Those are Indian service markings. |
Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: April 08 2024 at 10:39am
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the butt stock is Indian possibly?? |
Posted By: BrianBDL
Date Posted: April 08 2024 at 11:03am
| It could be that only the buttstock is an Indian replacement. Looks like a nice rifle. Is it one of the Italian Navy surplus rifles from the past 20 years? Maybe Matteo can elaborate? There were some very nice rifles, both SMLE and No.4, in that batch. |
Posted By: Themat633
Date Posted: April 08 2024 at 1:24pm
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Honestly I think this was not a Marina Militare SMLE. Those have very distinctive markings. At this point, only god knows what this rifle has seen🤣. Being a 1941 it could have seen some fighting in the Italy invasion (1943). But that does not explain the indian markings. Who knows...is shoots great tho...ðŸ˜
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Posted By: Sapper740
Date Posted: April 09 2024 at 2:53pm
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[QUOTE By the way: whatabout the ISA and FA (this one may be wrong) markings in the stock? I also found this markings hidden under the buttplate. Any clue?[/QUOTE] That may not the original butt stock to your rifle. The 'M' prefix and date on the butt socket and receiver ring shows it was a dispersal rifle assembled by BSA.
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