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Help with MK3* identification

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killerken924 View Drop Down
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    Posted: April 08 2019 at 1:05am
First off, this is my second Enfield, my other one is a Early No4 Mk1.
I saw this gun at a local store, and i had to get it, such a nice condition gun overall. Great representation of the rifle.
I am worried on whether not it is a Drill Purpose rifle due to the markings, but who knows. I'm Going to get it checked by a gun smith to see if it can be fired.
I did not take the stock off, to see everything else, i might later.
Its a 1918 BSA MKIII*.
Here are the pictures, they are too big for this sight so here is a album.
One more thing, the bolt does not match, but the sight does(I haven't looked under the stock yet)
And the stock is marked 1942 on the butt.
But no other markings on the stock.
The nosecone on the gun is blank, no sign of anything.
I'm wondering about the 7 Point star with what looks like an A. Does that mean Australians took it and refitted it?


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killerken924 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote killerken924 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2019 at 1:15am
I'm hoping the DP doesn't mean its not fireable, after all it has proof marks and a new bolt on it and it has been refitted i think.
Ill bring it to the gunsmith tomorrow, and hopefully clear that up.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote maxwell smart Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2019 at 3:26am
Rifle has some Australian made parts fitted ("A" inside the Commonwealth star was a Lithgow SAF mark)

Suspect that the stock set is Australian as well. If you are going to strip it down further, remember to take the butt off LAST. Don't even loosen the through bolt until the forestock has been removed.  

DP marked on the top of the chamber, which is not good.

The presence of military proof marks is no indication that rifle has been refurbished, they would have been there BEFORE it was downgraded to DP standard.

Civilian proof marks, on the other hand... BUT I can't see any of those in the pictures provided.

How exactly is your gunsmith going to determine that the rifle is safe to fire?
 


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killerken924 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote killerken924 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2019 at 3:57am
I would probably just ask the gunsmith to really make sure this 100 year old rifle is safe to fire, headspace, lug contact, barrel. And i'll take it a part to make sure it wasn't demilled or something.
I haven't really ever had to bring a gun to a gunsmith. Is there any reason they couldn't find out if its safe, or should i ask for something particular?
Everything cosmetic seems fine, the barrel seems like it wasn't even shot much.
Do you know the reasons it could of been DP'd?
Thanks for the reply


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Stanforth View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stanforth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2019 at 4:10am
One important tip.. Make sure your gunsmith is EXPERIENCED WITH ENFIELD RIFLES. They are not the same as other rifles.
Good luck.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2019 at 6:51am
It might have been as simple as they needed some training rifles & so they made it a DP.
Its also possible its a bitster, made from several different rifle parts to form a complete gun.
DP is defintely cause for caution if it was on the wood I'd assume it was simply a DP set of wood but big & bold like that on the action I'd be very cautions.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bear43 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2019 at 7:03am
Does the gunsmith have the proper gauges and tools to ensure that the receiver is completely in spec? Doubtful. That receiver was marked DP and removed from active service. People have literally lost body parts firing DP marked Enfields because "they looked fine". If you can't gauge the receiver or test the hardness of it then that DP mark is the kiss of death and that rifle is only a wall hangar.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2019 at 11:37am
Do not risk your health by firing a DP rifle!  You would not use a parachute that had been removed from service would you?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2019 at 11:44am
I like the idea of converting it to a .22. Fun, cheap to shoot, and it wouldn't be a wall hanger!
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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: April 08 2019 at 5:25pm
its a late 1918 by the serial prefix , its definretly been relegated to Drill Purpose but the receiver shows no signs of deactivation i can see , has nice looking stock set it seems , 
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killerken924 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote killerken924 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2019 at 6:24pm
Thanks for all the reply's, I definitely understand why I would not fire it. If i were to try to get it to fire, it would probably take awhile to find people to test the hardness of the receiver and bring it into a gunsmith that knows these rifles. And i would probably have a sled fire the first 10-20 rounds. And if anyone else can recommend anything i can do to test it, please do so(Perhaps measure the lugs recesses,)
But i will post an update if i do so, until then it will be a wall hanger.
It would seem that everything matches except the bolt, maybe the original bolt was deactivated?
I've updated and added two new images to the album of the barrel, I did not show the serial, but it does match.
What i want to know is what the symbols meaning on the barrel, like the 39 on the underside of the barrel, its a matching barrel and has a 1918 on it too, so did something happen to it in 1939?
Thank you all in advance

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2019 at 11:45am
There is a difference between a Drill Purpose rifle and a Deactivated rifle.

A Drill Purpose rifle, marked DP as is your rifle was relegated to military drill practice; they are generally rifles that were not fit for repair as live fire rifles. A deactivated rifle has been mechanically interfered with to physically prevent firing.
We have seen perfectly good rifles; even some No4 Mk1T sniper rifles deactivated just to allow people to hang it on the wall without a firearms licence.

It is not that difficult to find a good condition original that is safe to shoot. Considering the potential world of pain from a major failure; I don't think there's any good reason to fire a DP rifle.
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