S.M.L.E questions

sakodude

Picked up this Enfield at an auction the other day for the princely sum of $75.00. Only had a very brief moment to look it over before bidding so there are things I had not noticed.


so it seems to be a Lithgow model as seen on the stock. Also on the band but with a 1942 date.
Some parts are marked with BA which I assume is Birmingham Armory?
Some parts are marked with AO, not sure what that one means.
On the stock there are the Roman numeral III which I assume represents the MkIII version but does anyone know what the HV that follows means?
Any help is appreciated.

Sako

CHIRO1989

Can't help you on the markings. How is the bore? Stock cracked? All the parts seem to be there? You suck, another on my list, especially for $75.

Big Al1

Actually, that rifle is not in bad shape, mine looks the same or worse and it shoots great. My Enfield book is back home so I can't help with the marking. There's also an Enfield collectors forum that may help. The metal collar on the grip will be stamped with the history of the rifle such as when/if it was refurbished at the arsenal. They made a gazillion of those things and all over the world, tracking the history is mind boggling.

shush

sakodude wrote: »

....On the stock there are the Roman numeral III which I assume represents the MkIII version but does anyone know what the HV that follows means?....

HV represents High Velocity and indicates it was sighted for MkVII ammunition not the earlier MkVI.

I think.

shotgunshooter3

You suck for a nice gun and a nice price. There are few guns I wouldn't buy at $75 these days.

sakodude

CHIRO1989 wrote: »

Can't help you on the markings. How is the bore? Stock cracked? All the parts seem to be there? You suck, another on my list, especially for $75.

All intact, no damaged parts. Bore is dirty but I think it will clean up well. Only downside I see is bolt and receiver #'s don't match.

Sako

BigDanS

sakodude wrote: »

All intact, no damaged parts. Bore is dirty but I think it will clean up well. Only downside I see is bolt and receiver #'s don't match.

Sako

My favorite dirty bore cleaning tool is the appropriate brass brush, the right length of brass cleaning rod, some solvent and my cordless drill. Never fails to get it all cleaned out. More pictures, please!

And that stock looks like it will clean up nicely with some lemon oil.

D

sakodude

Big Al1 wrote: »

Actually, that rifle is not in bad shape, mine looks the same or worse and it shoots great. My Enfield book is back home so I can't help with the marking. There's also an Enfield collectors forum that may help. The metal collar on the grip will be stamped with the history of the rifle such as when/if it was refurbished at the arsenal. They made a gazillion of those things and all over the world, tracking the history is mind boggling.

The markings on the collar are mostly the same as on the stock. only difference is 1942 date.

Sako

sakodude

shush wrote: »

HV represents High Velocity and indicates it was sighted for MkVII ammunition not the earlier MkVI.

I think.

Thank you.

Sako

sakodude

shotgunshooter3 wrote: »

You suck for a nice gun and a nice price. There are few guns I wouldn't buy at $75 these days.

Thanks, I was quite pleased when no one else tried to out bid me. There were probably a dozen or so firearms, mostly shotguns that went for less than 100 bucks.

Sako

sakodude

BigDanS wrote: »

My favorite dirty bore cleaning tool is the appropriate brass brush, the right length of brass cleaning rod, some solvent and my cordless drill. Never fails to get it all cleaned out. More pictures, please!

And that stock looks like it will clean up nicely with some lemon oil.

D

That is exactly my plan. picked it up on my way home from work so after a nap it's getting torn down and cleaned.

Sako

Diver43

sakodude wrote: »

Thanks, I was quite pleased when no one else tried to out bid me. There were probably a dozen or so firearms, mostly shotguns that went for less than 100 bucks.

Sako

Sako you SUCK!!

looks like a great find for a super cheap price. Congrats!!

Weatherby

:up: Nice pickup buddy

Stenfield

You sir indeed SUCK $75.00. ???????? I ran into a Guy walking into a gunshow. With a lithgow earlier this year and when he told me he only wanted $200 for it I couldn't get the money out fast enough. Good deal. HV means High Velocity as stated the OA is for the Orange State Arsenal can't remember what BA is. It was more likely restocked in 43 look and see if there is a marking Like. FTR. usually with two number's after it such ad FTR 48 on the receiver ring behind the barrel right side which would signify FACTORY THOROUGH REPAIR DONE IN 1948. CONGRATS ON A FINE WEAPON AT A EXCELLENT PRICE!!!

olesniper

Don't know about "AO"........but "OA"......means Rifle Factory N0. 3 Orange.

Gene L

Lithgow is an Australian made gun, I believe. The kept the SMLE version with a heavy barrel up through WW II, while the British went to the No 4.

Big Chief

BA may mean
Factory Marks BA Rifle Factory No.2 Bathurst

www.lithgowsafmuseum.org.au/factsheets/fs001_smle_markings.pdf

Good find BTW :guns::guns:

Big Chief

I bought an MK *4 fer 100 bucks back in the late 90s. I didn't check out the rifling very good and noticed bullets were Key-holing on target paper, every few shots. Closer inspection showed about 5 or 6 inches of the bore were rubbed smooth at the muzzle end.

I found a bbl in great shape fer 55 bucks or so and had a gunsmith replace and check all the specs. He said he played hell getting that old bbl off, but man it will shoot good now.

Also, as you reload fer it there are several diameters of bullets that work in it and the 7.7 **** .310/.3105/.311/.312 you have choices.

Also the top or tip of the bolt can be replaced to correct head space issues if it has any, just unscrew and screw on a different one. I thunk the numbers run 0-3. Teach would know more about that and which one to use to replace whatever number is on yours.

.303s/SMLES and Enfields have to be one of the greatest bolt action battle rifles of all time.

KSU Firefighter

Auction I went to that same rifle would have brought four times that much. Definite suck factor 10 !

Varmintmist

Big Al1 wrote: »

mine looks the same or worse and it shoots great.

How does one make a SMLE look "worse"?????

BTW Sako :yousuck: I love ugly greasy stuff.

tennmike

That's a nice rifle, and you stole it at that price! Good snag on a nice old rifle. :up:

For cleaning some of that dirt off the stock and forearm wood, full strength Simple Green and an old washcloth will do a good job. Once you get the worst off, rinse and wring out the washcloth and use the damp washcloth to rub the wood down and remove any of the Simple Green left on the stock. That stuff is amazing as to how much crud, oil, and grease it will remove.

Gene L

More info on the Lithgow rifles. http://www.telusplanet.net/public/philqgbr/lithgow.html

Finding a bolt head will be more difficult. They're out of stock, or were a few years ago. I suppose the surplus dried up. It's a stretchy action.

sakodude

Diver43 wrote: »

Sako you SUCK!!

looks like a great find for a super cheap price. Congrats!!

Thank you.

Sako

sakodude

Weatherby wrote: »

:up: Nice pickup buddy

Thanks, between you and BigAl, I figured all the good deals were gone.

Sako

sakodude

Stenfield wrote: »

You sir indeed SUCK $75.00. ???????? I ran into a Guy walking into a gunshow. With a lithgow earlier this year and when he told me he only wanted $200 for it I couldn't get the money out fast enough. Good deal. HV means High Velocity as stated the OA is for the Orange State Arsenal can't remember what BA is. It was more likely restocked in 43 look and see if there is a marking Like. FTR. usually with two number's after it such ad FTR 48 on the receiver ring behind the barrel right side which would signify FACTORY THOROUGH REPAIR DONE IN 1948. CONGRATS ON A FINE WEAPON AT A EXCELLENT PRICE!!!

Thanks for the info.
I can find no such markings. Only dates are 1942 on the receiver band and the 1943 on the stock.
Sako

sakodude

olesniper wrote: »

Don't know about "AO"........but "OA"......means Rifle Factory N0. 3 Orange.

you are correct,OA it is:up:
Sako

sakodude

Big Chief wrote: »

I bought an MK *4 fer 100 bucks back in the late 90s. I didn't check out the rifling very good and noticed bullets were Key-holing on target paper, every few shots. Closer inspection showed about 5 or 6 inches of the bore were rubbed smooth at the muzzle end.

I found a bbl in great shape fer 55 bucks or so and had a gunsmith replace and check all the specs. He said he played hell getting that old bbl off, but man it will shoot good now.

Also, as you reload fer it there are several diameters of bullets that work in it and the 7.7 **** .310/.3105/.311/.312 you have choices.

Also the top or tip of the bolt can be replaced to correct head space issues if it has any, just unscrew and screw on a different one. I thunk the numbers run 0-3. Teach would know more about that and which one to use to replace whatever number is on yours.

.303s/SMLES and Enfields have to be one of the greatest bolt action battle rifles of all time.

Don't recall what year I bought it, but got my #4 for $89.00 and it's a decent shooter. Not sure if I will bother reloading, bought a ton of surplus ammo years ago and it mostly goes bang.:yikes:
Sako

sakodude

KSU Firefighter wrote: »

Auction I went to that same rifle would have brought four times that much. Definite suck factor 10 !

Thanks.
Sako

sakodude

Varmintmist wrote: »

How does one make a SMLE look "worse"?????

BTW Sako :yousuck: I love ugly greasy stuff.

Thanks,
They are so ugly but beautiful at the same time.
And I don't ever recall seeing any of your stuff "greasy"
Sako

sakodude

tennmike wrote: »

That's a nice rifle, and you stole it at that price! Good snag on a nice old rifle. :up:

For cleaning some of that dirt off the stock and forearm wood, full strength Simple Green and an old washcloth will do a good job. Once you get the worst off, rinse and wring out the washcloth and use the damp washcloth to rub the wood down and remove any of the Simple Green left on the stock. That stuff is amazing as to how much crud, oil, and grease it will remove.

Thanks, I will get some and give it a try.
Sako

sakodude

Gene L wrote: »

More info on the Lithgow rifles. http://www.telusplanet.net/public/philqgbr/lithgow.html

Finding a bolt head will be more difficult. They're out of stock, or were a few years ago. I suppose the surplus dried up. It's a stretchy action.

Weather permitting I am going to shoot this one tomorrow. with luck headspace will be good.
Sako