Lee EnField Rifle - Found it in a basement.

[Tactical30]

I will post pics if needed, I just havnt got around to it yet.

But this rifle I found in my uncles basement that was his fathers rifle from WWI. It is a used rifle he was also taken as a POW in WWI. I also found his old WWI helmet also it looks like a couple old wooden footlockers but I havnt went thru them yet. He gave me everything!

Anyhow the markings I found on it are below. I could only find so much info online but was wondering if anyone has any ideas.

Some of the markings below the bolt handle say:

1.)Some sort of Crown picture on top of all the lettering.
2.)Then says LSA CoLo = London Small Arms co.
3.)Below that says: 1911 = Im thinking thats when the rifle was manufactured.
4.) Under that it says: SHtLE = Im thinking thats means Lee Enfield
5.) Under that marking it has the roman numeral III = Im thinking thats the MKIII rifle.
The brass on the sling says C&T Ltd 1914

There are markings all over this gun, on the bolt, on the reciever, under the safety and other places.

I took the bolt apart and seen the firing pin tip was broken off. I then read online that when soldiers thought they were going to be taken POW they broke the firing pin tip off so no one else could use it. There is actually a place which is a small hole on the outside of the reciever to stick the firing pin in to snap the tip off. I then later learned he was taken POW which makes sense for the broken firing pin.
So this rifle does have some history to it.

I checked the bore and the barrel is rusted and pitted probly from sitting in a basement for almost a 100yrs. To bad it wasnt possible to shoot this gun. If I remember it a .303.

If anyone has any knowledge of this rifle let me know.(any price range) If needed I will post pics.

By the way I would love to find the bayonet for this rifle and hang it on my wall since i cant shoot it.

 

[acttacus]

Re: Lee EnField Rifle - Found it in a basement.

I had a No.1 Mark III, great rifle, had a really good feel to it. Used it as my primary hunting rifle for 3 years in New Zealand. The .303 is a little slow on take-off, but definitely pack a good punch out to 400yds.

The rifle, with bedding and a new crown was shooting around 1 to 1.5 MOA, depending on barrel temperature.

 

[mjh30]

Re: Lee EnField Rifle - Found it in a basement.

Lots of great websites with info on the Lee Enfield 303, looks like you have found a treasure trove of family history right there.

 

[acttacus]

Re: Lee EnField Rifle - Found it in a basement.

yes sir, have the Enfield re-conditioned by a professional smith, and keep it in the family. I'm still kicking myself for selling mine when I moved to the US. It's a beautiful rifle and have that solid battle worthy feel to it.

 

[ganyana]

Re: Lee EnField Rifle - Found it in a basement.

Fix fireing pin, scrub bore and shoot. 95% of all Lee's I see (and they are the most common single make of rifle in Southern and Cental Africa)have boers with so much crud in them it looks like a freshly plouged potato field.

This is because all Brit/Ausie and Indian made Ammo up until the 1960's used corrosive primers and South African made ammo retained the corrosive primers up until about 1980. Very very few people ever bothered to clean the bore out with boiling water after shooting (which is the only way to counter corrosive primers- all the oils in the world will not stop the rust).

Only the pre 1907 rifles require extra care - they were proofed for the old Mk VI ammo at 18 Tons/" instead of 19.4 for the later rifles that used the Mk VII ammo. Yours is for Mk VII ammo

 

[Anchor Zero Six]

Re: Lee EnField Rifle - Found it in a basement.

Sgt York is smiling upon you.

 

[Hummer]

Re: Lee EnField Rifle - Found it in a basement.

If you don't have the tools or inclination there is a guy in Edgefield, SC who specializes in Brit rifle work. Website is http://bdlltd.com/
I have seen his work. A good barrel is hard to come by.