British MK1 1941 Lee enfield Sniper Rifle

[Lancer506]

Even some more

[Lancer506]

Moore

[Lancer506]

M0re

[Lancer506]

M0r3

[Lancer506]

Yep

[Lancer506]

The 2016 blizzard has been fantastic in NJ if anyone was curious

[Lancer506]

Roger, hope you like the site! It's great here and has helped me more times than I can remember, for the yearly fee, it's made me more money off good deals and saved me more on bad buys the community is great, knowledgable and friendly.

Thanks one more time everyone for the help, I can post some photos of the WWI / WWII Lee Enfields if interested

[hoover]

Very interesting thread indeed.

But I am just curiuos if the stock is original to this rifle or replaced. Also, what is about the Mk.1.1941 stamping, not Mk. I?

First time I see this kind of stamps.

[Lancer506]

Very interesting thread indeed.

But I am just curiuos if the stock is original to this rifle or replaced. Also, what is about the Mk.1.1941 stamping, not Mk. I?

First time I see this kind of stamps.

I myself am clueless, they are gifts from a relative. Many WWI/WW2 rifles, but plenty of them are just nice display pieces or wall hangers, some however could be serviceable for some range shooting. I have no idea anything about this rifle as I'm just now of age to own them myself in my state... Nj....

I can say that he's had it for many years just as is, however alterations could be from before his purchase

[Roger Payne]

Hi Lancer,
If you can read (or photograph) the maker's markings on the woodwork that may give us a further clue if it is replacement or not. On the underside of the butt where it fits into the butt socket, & on the underside of the forend just behind the muzzle. Likewise there may be a serial number stamped into the wood just back from the muzzle. If the original wood has been replaced then it has been replaced by wood that is also of early manufacture (at least the forend as it has the low cut side to clear the magazine cut-off which is only found on Trials rifles, although provision for it in the forend persisted well into run of production). It could well be genuine to the rifle, but look more 'fake' than it is because it has been sanded down at some point. Is there a 'S51' stamped into the underside of the butt?
The front band is off an Enfield Trials rifle. The receiver side wall markings are typical for a 1941 Maltby. It should read 'R O F M' (Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby) but the first bit has been covered by the front body pad. Look at the inner face of the receiver side wall where the 4 BA screws show through - they are very neatly faced off indeed - just what you'd expect from H&H - not Bubba's work at all.
I note that the rifle lacks the triangular swivel that replaces the front trigger guard screw - but these did not appear till 1944 so it's of no great consequence on an early rifle. They were supposed to be retro-fitted, but it didn't always happen.

The above are a few more thoughts generated by the additional pix - hope they help.

Will be out of the UK without internet access for just over a week after tomorrow, but if I can help any further I'd be delighted to on my return.

Thanks everyone for the kind welcome.

[Svt40]

Is there a website someplace that shows the makers marks for Enfield stocks?

[Lancer506]

Thank you, it's almost like hearing a foreign language being spoken with all the terminology! Time to really brush up on firearms...
I do have a picture of a serial number from the enfield right where you described it would be on the butt stock, so here it is!

[Roger Payne]

Thank you, it's almost like hearing a foreign language being spoken with all the terminology! Time to really brush up on firearms...
I do have a picture of a serial number from the enfield right where you described it would be on the butt stock, so here it is!

Hi Lancer, that's the serial number of the scope that was originally fitted to the rifle. IIRC it would be a No32 Mk1 made by the Houghton Butcher Manufacturing Company ('HBMCo' for short!). If you look at the front end of the butt once again, but on the underside, you may see small markings indicating where the wood was made. A little further back, just behind the semi-pistol grip on the underside is also where Holland & Holland stamped their factory code of 'S51'. However, it is sometimes missing on very early conversions & even if it was present, any markings could have been lost or made difficult to decipher due to sanding down of the wood. I do suspect though, that it's probably the original wood - that scope serial looks like it's been there a long time..... There may also be a manufacturer's mark on the underside of the forend just back from the nose cap.

Re SVT's enquiry, anyone will tell you the different manufacturer's if you go onto one of the milsurps sites (Lee Enfield page), but the best written references are the books by an Australian chap called Ian D Skennerton. His 'The Lee Enfield Story' is the bible, & contains all the details you seek, plus much more, but must be five or six hundred pages long & isn't cheap. Well worth the investment though, if you're seriously into Enfields.

[timg]

Hello Roger,

Have followed the posts from the enfield forums etc in the past that you have put up.

I can assure you Lancer that if Mr Payne is content with the rifle it is "Pucka"
He is a most knowledgable chap on Enfield Sniper Equipments and enfields et al.

Whilst you have stated that you will be bailing out for a week, I will be able to get some pics organised of the early No 4 I have.

I would welcome your comments on it Roger.

Regards

TG.

[Roger Payne]

Many thanks Tim. You are very kind. Got back from a very soggy week on the Somme (although I wouldn't miss it for the world), so feel free to let me have a look at your photo's as & when you get a chance to upload them. Can't promise I will be able to help but I'll have a look for you!

ATB