SMLE Mk1* barrel condition.

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   The 1907 Mk1* has the original barrel, it gauges well at the muzzle and eyeballing the barrel, it looks bright. But my old cheap borescope showed some pitting in some parts of the barrel.
With the Teslong scope, I can actually see into the grooves and get a proper idea of the condition. 
I can see some fire cracking at the transition from chamber to throat. The lands seem worn just forward of this area.

This is one of the worst sections, about halfway down the barrel;

Most of it it like this, generally more pitting in the grooves, however the lands still have a decent shape, despite some minor pitting. It is after all, 118 years old!

I am looking forward to testing it, when our range re-opens.

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Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply *Topic: SMLE Mk1 barrel condition.** Posted: November 18 2025 at 1:23pm
	The 1907 Mk1* has the original barrel, it gauges well at the muzzle and eyeballing the barrel, it looks bright. But my old cheap borescope showed some pitting in some parts of the barrel. With the Teslong scope, I can actually see into the grooves and get a proper idea of the condition. I can see some fire cracking at the transition from chamber to throat. The lands seem worn just forward of this area. This is one of the worst sections, about halfway down the barrel; Most of it it like this, generally more pitting in the grooves, however the lands still have a decent shape, despite some minor pitting. It is after all, 118 years old! I am looking forward to testing it, when our range re-opens.
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 18 2025 at 3:34pm
	Yup, that barrel has had little use, if you don’t mind taking another photo about 1/2 inch to 1 inch forward of the end of the chamber (forward of the position of the case mouth), that will give us a better gage of how much throat erosion and fire cracking. It may not be much. But, you can see some mild to moderate pitting, mostly in the grooves, as a result of many years of carbon fouling laying in the grooves collecting and trapping moisture. Depending on where this rifle has been stored, and if exposed to humidity levels above 60%, corrosion can become severe. If for no other reason than to prevent corrosion, complete cleaning is necessary as well as leaving the bore protected with some form of oil. Residual Hoppes is sufficient for this, but it will do no good if it sits on top of heavy carbon/copper fouling. Those who store their rifles in conditions of humidity less than 50% probably don’t have to worry about corrosion, but if it were me, I would still keep that barrel clean and protected. I have a few of my Dads No. 4 rifles that he had new barrels put on, but they were kept in the basement where humidity levels would climb to 70 to 80% in the summer. He had no borescope, so had no idea that carbon was building up in the grooves. Light pitting resulted, but fortunately, did not affect accuracy.