1917 ShtLE "Fianna Fail"

kwells6 · October 14, 2009, 12:11 AM

well, i got this rifle some years ago.

Markings:

(Crown)
GR
B.S.A.Co
1917
ShtLE
III*

Receiver:
(crown)
GB
(crossed flags)
P

t ("Y" with post in middle of the V) P
2

Barrel:

(crown)
GB
(crossed flags)
P.

(crown)
3C
E

'27

<-

(FF)

(crown)
SB (i cant tell too well)
E

other side of barrel:

U
75xx

D2

(a DEEP) G

rear sight:

T

D (but has an "E", looks like a E and a D)

<-

(crown)
23
(sideways) E

stock ID plate:

4

stock on handgrip behind trigger guard:

the mixed ED
7

can anyone tell me anything about this rifle? All i can tell is that it was a rifle given to Ireland

mp25ds4 · October 14, 2009, 07:40 AM

sounds like a lee enfield no. 1 mk III

kwells6 · October 14, 2009, 12:02 PM

that it is

took the stock off, there are 3 inspector markings, all the same, there's a "R"

James K · October 14, 2009, 06:48 PM

After Ireland became a free state, they formed an army called Fianna Fail (FF) or Army of Destiny. Part of the agreement was for the British to supply the new army with weapons. Your rifle was one of those, so your information is correct. Other than that, it is a standard SMLE Mk III (or Rifle No. 1, Mk III), made by Birmingham Small Arms Co. in 1917 for the British Army.

In the 1950's Ireland sold off a lot of its old weapons in exchange with various arms makers and traders. They sold a large number of those rifles and got in return a [much smaller but sufficient] number of FALs.

Jim

greywalker · October 14, 2009, 10:51 PM

I have an army of destiny too- sadly mine was bubba'd all to hell before I got it (barrel chopped to minimum and the whole thing sprayed with black paint, the charger bridge removed, and some holes drilled for various scope and other mounts)- but I have restored it as best I could, at least in the spirit of its roods, and it sits in a respected place in my safe, and in the event of trouble it will serve proudly in my own personal army of destiny.....

kwells6 · October 14, 2009, 11:29 PM

the wood on mine was cut... thank goodness they didnt cut the barrel or anything else. they did slap a crappy magazine in it tho...

docpadds · October 15, 2009, 07:32 AM

That is one of the guns i want for my collection, being born in Ireland it would be a neat one to have.
My family is a strange bunch, Catholic and Protestant sides to it, and a history of taking up arms on both sides of the conflicts.

kwells6 · October 15, 2009, 11:59 AM

interesting heritage docpadds

Aussie Pete · October 16, 2009, 03:34 PM

Just for accuracy its an Enfield No.1 Mk111* not a No.1 Mk111. in this case the * denotes quite a difference.
The Mk111 is an earlier rifle, had windage adjustments on the rear sight, magazine cut-off and volley sights.
The Mk111* didn't have the above and was used by the Australians in both WW1 and WW2 along with India.

October 14, 2009, 12:11 AM	#1
kwells6 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 437	1917 ShtLE "Fianna Fail" well, i got this rifle some years ago. Markings: (Crown) GR B.S.A.Co 1917 ShtLE III* Receiver: (crown) GB (crossed flags) P t ("Y" with post in middle of the V) P 2 Barrel: (crown) GB (crossed flags) P. (crown) 3C E '27 <- (FF) (crown) SB (i cant tell too well) E other side of barrel: U 75xx D2 (a DEEP) G rear sight: T D (but has an "E", looks like a E and a D) <- (crown) 23 (sideways) E stock ID plate: 4 stock on handgrip behind trigger guard: the mixed ED 7 can anyone tell me anything about this rifle? All i can tell is that it was a rifle given to Ireland __________________ "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." Last edited by kwells6; October 14, 2009 at 12:21 AM.

October 14, 2009, 07:40 AM	#2
mp25ds4 Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Posts: 392	sounds like a lee enfield no. 1 mk III __________________ Liberal Newscaster Katie Couric, while interviewing a Marine sniper, asked: 'What do you feel.....when you shoot a Terrorist?' The Marine shrugged and replied, "A Slight Recoil." Last edited by mp25ds4; October 14, 2009 at 08:05 AM.

October 14, 2009, 12:02 PM	#3
kwells6 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 437	that it is took the stock off, there are 3 inspector markings, all the same, there's a "R" __________________ "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."

October 14, 2009, 11:29 PM	#6
kwells6 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 437	the wood on mine was cut... thank goodness they didnt cut the barrel or anything else. they did slap a crappy magazine in it tho... __________________ "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."

October 15, 2009, 11:59 AM	#8
kwells6 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 437	interesting heritage docpadds __________________ "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."

October 14, 2009, 06:48 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	After Ireland became a free state, they formed an army called Fianna Fail (FF) or Army of Destiny. Part of the agreement was for the British to supply the new army with weapons. Your rifle was one of those, so your information is correct. Other than that, it is a standard SMLE Mk III (or Rifle No. 1, Mk III), made by Birmingham Small Arms Co. in 1917 for the British Army. In the 1950's Ireland sold off a lot of its old weapons in exchange with various arms makers and traders. They sold a large number of those rifles and got in return a [much smaller but sufficient] number of FALs. Jim

October 14, 2009, 10:51 PM	#5
greywalker Member Join Date: June 27, 2008 Location: the midwest Posts: 82	I have an army of destiny too- sadly mine was bubba'd all to hell before I got it (barrel chopped to minimum and the whole thing sprayed with black paint, the charger bridge removed, and some holes drilled for various scope and other mounts)- but I have restored it as best I could, at least in the spirit of its roods, and it sits in a respected place in my safe, and in the event of trouble it will serve proudly in my own personal army of destiny.....

October 15, 2009, 07:32 AM	#7
docpadds Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2009 Posts: 125	That is one of the guns i want for my collection, being born in Ireland it would be a neat one to have. My family is a strange bunch, Catholic and Protestant sides to it, and a history of taking up arms on both sides of the conflicts.

October 16, 2009, 03:34 PM	#9
Aussie Pete Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: Queensland Australia Posts: 15	Just for accuracy its an Enfield No.1 Mk111* not a No.1 Mk111. in this case the * denotes quite a difference. The Mk111 is an earlier rifle, had windage adjustments on the rear sight, magazine cut-off and volley sights. The Mk111* didn't have the above and was used by the Australians in both WW1 and WW2 along with India. __________________ We are what we are because of what we were: