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1915 Sht le history help

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Ratboycure View Drop Down
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    Posted: December 17 2020 at 9:26pm
Greetings all hope you are well. I have Inherited an SMLE from my late father. I know it was purchased for him from sears canada in the 60's. Fortunately the family could not afford the super delux model where they absolutely rape them so i think mine escaped with its "original" stock...what is left of it anyhow. Beyond that i don't assume to know anything for certain. The story i have come up with may contain elements of fact. I will greatfully accept help and opinions or clarification.
I am pretty sure it was built in 1915 at the Birmingham factory. It may have been a model 3 orriginally then marked star at a later date. All of the other intentional 3* seem to have a more official looking star where mine looks like a punch was bashed and wiggled about for a bit. Or maybe it was a mrk 111* intended and just had a modified 111 band. So it looks like it server in WW1 and stayed in service. Was rebarreld by a dyslexic in 40s and sold to sears after the war.  Sound about right. Hopefully i can figure out how to attach photos.
Thanks for having me
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote The Armourer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2020 at 1:22am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ratboycure Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2020 at 1:53am
sounds about right to me. Is the FFD 44 part of the retierment markings? Couldnt find anywhere uet to mention the particulars of that mark. Yeah the big ENGLAND is what says it was for sale there before making its way to north America right? And there is really no way to discover where in the world this thing was between 1915 and 1950 is there!? Also what do you make of the 79 97 discrepancy with the barrel? Aside from that all the parts have only one number and they all match. Bolt, rear site. Just the guybreplacing the barrel zigging when he shoulda ought to have been zaggin maybe. Late on a friday i presume ;)
Appreciate the insight.
Much appreciated 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hoadie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2020 at 5:03am
Ratboycure;

Just WHERE in Canada are you? (Canada contains alot of real estate). That becomes useful information going forward.
Loose wimmen tightened here
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2020 at 9:57am
it was made at BSAco in 1915 , they were in transition from mkIII to mkIII* late in that year so if that SN shows it a later rifle in that years production it could have been either , it could also have been upgraded at the re-barrel in 40 , that would make sense , 

i question the five digit number , the prefix looks right for that year IIRC but i no longer have my reference book for that rifle era , maybe someone could check it out , 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2020 at 11:30am
I think the error in the stamping of the serial number  (7 & 9 inversed) on the barrel is just a mis-stamp. 
When the barrel was replaced in 1940. As you can imagine, they were pretty busy in 1940 trying to get rifles serviceable for the Army. It would be easy to make a slip up such as this. You may notice that the "font" of the stamps are different between the original on the receiver and that of the replacement barrel.

If it was your Father's, treasure it as is and use it at the range or hunting.
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2020 at 7:43pm
i dont disagree with zed on this , it is a family treasure , might want to keep it that way , just a thought 

i cant believe ive come to this thinking really , ive always been a preservationist and looked to save every one that could be saved , but ive come to believe there are some that deserve the reverence our family found in them , besides - the cost can be so high as to make it something only the very highly devoted are willing to pay 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ratboycure Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 19 2020 at 7:50pm
yeah my dad never owned a service kitted one. I am a general history enthusiast moreso than a military history(one of my favorite aspects though) but i think even if i could restore it i doubt i would. The sporterization is actually a pretty important piece of history in itself.  That said i really do want a full milspec one bayonet and all in my collection ideally.
Thanks
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2020 at 10:10am
& before the purists start up there are many pictures of Lee Enfields being "sporterised" IN SERVICE!
So they don't even have the excuse that it was a Civvies Bubba mod & so excluded from the "pure" history.


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 Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2020 at 10:17am
Save a space in the rifle safe for you second full military spec Lee Enfield.
Originally I though I'd be happy with one .303; for Service Rifle competitions. 
But then I needed a rifle for the trainer (.22LR) class. So I bought a No8 mk1 trainer.
But then I went to by ammunition and the store owner showed me a nice No2MkIV* .22 that ended up following me home. Then I needed a No1MkIII* to fit the 1907 bayonet I found in a village sale.
Got a second No8 so the wife can compete, etc.
Then came the L39 and an ex French Resistance No4Mk1 and finally a 1918 SMLE in .22

I'm sure that'll be enough! (for nowWink)
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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