WW1 Enfield SMLE Mk111

[4md]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your input. The 'out of service' stamp got me thinking as well. The 'FW and date must surely be connected to the out of service stamp. I must be losing my touch, but after going over the nose-cap and rear sight protectors again - with a stronger magnifier, I have found a very faint RFI stamp to both parts. Every other part - including the butt-plate carry Enfield factory markings. I gave some thought to the nose-cap. And perhaps it was made that way to ensure that the gun couldn't be used for grenade launching. I will be putting another WW1 SMLE on here shortly.

Harry.

good point, you wouldnt be able to fit the discharger cup

[HARRY THE MOLE]

Here's the second SMLE. This one is a 1912 dated Enfield Mk111. When I originally got the gun a few weeks ago it was completely covered in thick varnish which had a purple tint to it. I don't even think the previous owner had bothered to strip it down before applying the varnish.

It took a full tin of Nitromores to get the varnish off wood and metal. Then I had to soak all the metalwork in a mixture of parrafin and oil. The only matching numbers are breech and barrel. But all parts - apart from barrel-band are EFD. The rear sight was of the later type without the windage adjustment, so that was the first bit to be changed. I obtained a front volley sight off ebay, this came off a Lee Metford. Again this is a genuine EFD part.

The next job was to get a new fore-stock (fore-end) and rear volley sight. These were obtained from the well-known Enfield specialists of EFD. The forestock is genuine Enfield new (old) stock which has been cut to accept the volley sights, and closely follows the contours of the original Mk111 stock. I suppose I should change the butt as well really, but I think it is probably original to the gun. I hate changing things just for the sake of it. The leather sling is a genuine 1916 dated sling. And as for the bayonet, it is a Wilkinson- made and 1920 dated bayonet which I picked up at a car boot sale last week-end for £45. The blade is absolutely immaculate.

Harry.

[4md]

nice job stripping the varnish, that furrniture came up beautifully , the finish looks excellent. Its great you got a volley sight as well, it makes the rifle look complete.

I have never heard of nitromores . My 1916 lithgow was covered in a similar way, metal, wood everything was laquered. I stripped it off with acetone then reapplied BLO

regards Paul

[HARRY THE MOLE]

Hi Paul,

Nitromores is just the brand name for a universal paint and varnish remover here in the UK. It's nasty stuff if you get it on your skin!

Regards,
Harry.