Anyone into SMLE's?

[Jacobite]

I have a chance to trade one of my excelent condition K31's for a 1919 Lithgow. I get to take it out and shoot it before I decide. From the photos it has a cracked upper handguard and someone put their ladys name in the butt stock other than that it looks really nice.

My question is how desiarable are the Lithgows?

[Optimus Prime]

So far I've got two Enfields, and neither of them were made in England... a Lithgow and a Savage. I've only put a few rounds through the No.1, and only wish I had more .303 to shoot. I forget how much I paid for it, but I know any No.1mkIII is getting harder to find these days, I think AIM had them off there site a week after I ordered mine, only Indian ones left then.
If you're looking for an actual wartime No.1 I'd go for it I guess, price isn't much different from a K31 depending on condition from what I've seen.

[Jacobite]

OP,
You have to do like I do and reload. I have all my 8mm in the tumbler now after this mornings range trip. I have 50, .303's loaded but I neck size and they are for my #4 Mk1 so I am getting some virgin brass prepped to load up so I can try out the Lithgow when she gets here.

[Optimus Prime]

Yeah... We'll see what I can find for work this summer, being a poor college student and a gun nut sucks some times.

[Jacobite]

Yes that makes it tough. But look at it this way, Once you get your education better times await!

[weasel_master]

Yeah... We'll see what I can find for work this summer, being a poor college student and a gun nut sucks some times.

I hear you. I'm done within a year and then time to hit the streets for a job.

[Norton]

I have a chance to trade one of my excelent condition K31's for a 1919 Lithgow. I get to take it out and shoot it before I decide. From the photos it has a cracked upper handguard and someone put their ladys name in the butt stock other than that it looks really nice.

My question is how desiarable are the Lithgows?

The Aussie SMLE has always been one of the more hard to get Enfields. The wood is light colored Iron wood, so it looks different right from the start. Also they kept making the SMLE all through WW 2 and I think up until the Korean war. They never made the Mk 4 no 1 type. I have only two one is a real WW 1 era British made SLME the other a WW 2 Savage. I would love to have a Aussie rifle as well. You should be able to get a butt stock from Australia, their must be some left as the like to make hunting rifles from their own 303s.
Can you afford to buy a replacment K 31 later if you make the trade? If you can, make the trade. ( just my opinion)

[Jacobite]

Norton,
I have 5, K31's this one I am tradeing is an excelent condition beech from 1948 with a soldier tag. However it is the only one I have left I can bring myself to part with. This will be the 4th one I have let go from my collection. I think my collection needs the Lithgow more than it needs the K31. I have a Fazerkly #4Mk1 that is in pretty nice shape and shoots real well. This will give me another version.

[Optimus Prime]

Sounds like you've already made up your mind... and if you've got more K31's than you want, then go for it.

[Jacobite]

Well I would not say I have more K31's than I want. I just had a few I was willing to part with for things I didn't have.

[Woodman in MO]

I think that would be a pretty even trade, especially if you have other K31s. I'd look for the usual, matching serial number on the Bolt, barrel, reciever, rear sight, and nose cap. The front band should be brass, but may still be painted or blackened. If you can, you also want to pull the reciever out of the forestock and make sure that there are recoil pads installed. You can google that to see what I mean. If they aren't there, you might risk cracking the stock when you shoot it.

If you can post pics here, I'll give you other things to look for if I see them.

Good luck, I hope it works out...

[Jacobite]

I googled but don't know what you meen by the recoil pads. Do the No4's have them?

[Woodman in MO]

No....let me do some digging...

[Jacobite]

Thanks I appreciate it.

[Woodman in MO]

Here's the only pic I could find. Basically these went towards the rear of the forearm where the reciever would contact the wood of the stock. They served to keep the recoild from shattering the stock. Usually you would see this on coachwood stocks, but I understand they might be on other woods. If you can take off the forearm, and don't see them, I wouldn't worry two much, but if you see two screw holes with no blocks, I'd worry. I see if I can get a pic tonight of where they would be on a forearm.

[Schultz]

Watch out Enfields get addicting!

Heres a couple of mine i have pics of:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/SgtShultz/Firearms/brit1.jpg

[Jacobite]

O.K. guys the rifle is here. The rifle is actually a 1918 Lithgow not a 1919 like I thought. There are brass blocks in the stock not rubber. There is not a brass hand guard band they are all steel. The top hand guard is two pieces. It looks like it had been broken and a new piece was added. It is just two pieces butted up together right beside the rear sight. The rear of the stock where the brass blocks and the metal block is at is cracked in several directions. However I am really falling for this rifle and think I can use epoxy or glass bedding compound and repair the rifle.

The front band/bayo lug serial number matches the recievers serial number but the bolt does not. When I put an empty case in it and eject it, it drags really bad but almost acts like it is supposed to do this. The rifle functions well and I shot it once and the brass showed no signs of any head space issues. The rifle has the canvas sling, brass oiler and what I assume is a reproduction action cover and canvas case that slings over your shoulder. The action cover has a manufacturer stamp and the date 1944 but looks brand new. I assume they just date it like that for reenactors?

Also can someone explain the reason for the mag cut off?

[Woodman in MO]

Well the mag cut off is that 19th century thinking that you would load ten rounds and then close the cut off. Then you would load and fire single rounds slowly. If things ever got a little 'tight' you would have ten rounds you could fire quickly.

This rifle sounds like a keeper though...especially if you like it.

[Jacobite]

Thanks Woodsman,
I took the rifle out today for a quick test. I used the mag cutoff to load one at a time and it is usefull. With the rear sight bottomed out below the 200 mark I shot a 4 shot group 1 7/8 at POA at 50 yards. Well it was off to the right some. At 100 yards I shot a 5 shot 3 1/2 inch group 1 1/2 inch above POA and about twice as far to the right. This was off a front rest but no rear rest just my hand and with handload that were loaded up for my No.4 Fraz. This load shoot has shot under an inch with my No. 4 at 100 but that was with a rear rest and I have filled my peep sight in and redrilled it smaller. I am thinking the Lithgow did rather well and with some work should do better. Yep I think it is a keeper.

[cetme]

glad you found an SMLE. My dad keeps the SMLE locker. Currently two #4mkI
from canada, a WWI brit IIImk1***, a #5 carbine, an aussie 22 trainer bubba, and a #4 scout sporter.

P.S. If you find any south african 303 at shows snap it up its great stuff.

[Jacobite]

The Lithgow is doing really well. I loaded up a different load for it and got 5 shots just under 2" at 100 yards. It shoots this load a bit higher though. I also bought some 150 grain bullets to try in it and my No.4Mk1. Once the weather breaks I will be having some fun.