British 303

crankeyyankee · March 27, 2012, 07:02 PM

I have a 303 that wife bought at a yard sale

. If any one can give some info on it i would appreciate it.It has all the normal markings on it,2.222,8.5 tons per,bmp.on top of barrel in front of receiver it has a d with a circle around it.It6 has the Parker hale front sight.rest of stuff is in pictures. http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/....jpg#!oZZ1QQcu
http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/....jpg#!oZZ3QQcu
http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/....jpg#!oZZ4QQcu
http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/....jpg#!oZZ6QQcu
http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/....jpg#!oZZ8QQcu
If i should post any thing please please let me know.

Sigowner · March 27, 2012, 07:36 PM

Looks just like my 303 after I sporterized it in '61. I see nothing unusual in the photos so I assume it's one of the many thousands manufactured just prior to or during WW2.

**44 AMP** · March 27, 2012, 10:14 PM

No.4 mk I....or is it No.1 Mk IV, I always get them confused.

Anyway, its is a WW II pattern SMLE with the stock sporterized to reduce the weight for hunting.

There should be a date and an arsenal marking on the metal between the fore and rear stocks.

wogpotter · March 28, 2012, 08:09 AM

A small correction if I may. The way British rifles were identified was changed so there is no "#4 S.M.L.E." rifle.

The original way of identifying was to have a descriptive name, such as M.L.E, (Magazine Lee-Enfield), or S.M.L.E. Short Magazine Lee Enfield. (the rifle was shorter,not the magazine.

This was changed to a [NUMBER] denoting an actual version, a [mark] meaning a revision to the basic model, & a [* asterisk, or star] meaning a minor update, not quite big enough of a change to be a full [mark] change.

The change happened at the time the older S.M.L.E. was being upgraded to the then new #4 model so the old S.M.L.E. became the Rifle No1 Mk III (or III*) depending on the fittings.

You have a #4 mk1 that has been turned into a sporting rifle by removing, cutting down & shortening/lightening the wood & metal. It has no collector value because of this but may be a very nice hunting rifle. Caliber should be .303 British, but check as some sporters were changed to different calibers. Have the smith check headspacing as well, this is changed with different bolt heads on the #4 & if the head has been swapped (or even the bolt) the headspace could be off. You have the simplified "L type flip rear sight that was set up for 300/500 yards with the original sights & bore, but you'll need to see where your zero is with the changes.

Your rifle seems to have been "scrubbed" (all the original markings removed) during factory rework at some time as there is usually a bunch of stuff stamped onto the right side of the butt socket. Yours has just "England" (an import mark) on the left hand side.

Mr_Raw · March 28, 2012, 12:05 PM

Okey what you have is a Lee-Enfield No4 Mk1, the "D" with a circle around it is a proof mark (for what, I don't know), it should say 18 tons not 8 lol, the barrel is chambered for the .303" X 2.222" (.303 British) BUT HAVE IT CHECK ANYWAYS built anywhere from 1939 to 1957, since it's been sporterized it's only worth a couple hundred dollars.

44 AMP: they made a no1 mk4 from 1930 to 1933, only about 1000 rifles made though.

wogpotter · March 28, 2012, 01:15 PM

Try here:
http://www.enfieldrifles.ca/main.htm
for a catalog of the stamps & other marks. Enfields are famous (infamous?

) for arcane stamps & hieroglyphs.

The proof (BNP, not BMP) should be 18.5 tonnes as has been said. The BNP stands for Birmingham Nitro Proof (from the Birmingham Proof House, London Proof House was just "NP") & was stamped when military rifles were released for civilian sale. The 18.5 tonnes was a system of pressure measurement in use at the time & doesn't mean it can take an 18,5 ton weight or anything, its just nomenclature that was in use.

There are makers marks, proof marks, ownership marks, inspector's stamps & so on so it takes a while to figure them all out & some you probably never will find as they were just "Inspector 12's" mark he checked something.

tdrizzle · March 28, 2012, 04:17 PM

My brother has two, a No4 Mk 1 made in Canada, I believe, still full length stock, v heavy, which it needs to be since it kicks like a b@stard. He got that at an auction years ago for about a hundred bucks. He has another I found him that had been sporterized like this one. The guy I bought it from didn't like the kick on his repaired shoulder, so I got it for about the same price with most of a box of ammo.

Neither would be my choice for a purchase, but he likes them quite a bit.

BlueTrain · March 29, 2012, 11:14 AM

Your wife buys guns at yard sales? Wow!

SIGSHR · March 29, 2012, 06:25 PM

I bought a 1918 SMLE/No. 1 Mk III at a yard sale-here in NJ! It's all a matter of luck-and a healthy bank balance.

cruiser00 · March 29, 2012, 07:11 PM

If you have a wife that buys you guns at yard sales you better hang onto her. A wife like that is more rare than any gun you will ever find.

rickyrick · June 24, 2012, 11:09 AM

Is the magazine missing or did you take it out?

Should be fun to shoot, I have one, it among my favorite rifles.

If you've never shot one, you will have to give the bolt a pretty quick fling to get it to eject properly. Knowing that may save you a future question.

March 27, 2012, 07:02 PM	#1
crankeyyankee Junior Member Join Date: March 27, 2012 Location: castroville,TX Posts: 1	British 303 I have a 303 that wife bought at a yard sale . If any one can give some info on it i would appreciate it.It has all the normal markings on it,2.222,8.5 tons per,bmp.on top of barrel in front of receiver it has a d with a circle around it.It6 has the Parker hale front sight.rest of stuff is in pictures. http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/....jpg#!oZZ1QQcu http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/....jpg#!oZZ3QQcu http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/....jpg#!oZZ4QQcu http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/....jpg#!oZZ6QQcu http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/....jpg#!oZZ8QQcu If i should post any thing please please let me know.

March 27, 2012, 10:14 PM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,817	No.4 mk I....or is it No.1 Mk IV, I always get them confused. Anyway, its is a WW II pattern SMLE with the stock sporterized to reduce the weight for hunting. There should be a date and an arsenal marking on the metal between the fore and rear stocks. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

March 28, 2012, 12:05 PM	#5
Mr_Raw Member Join Date: January 20, 2012 Posts: 51	Okey what you have is a Lee-Enfield No4 Mk1, the "D" with a circle around it is a proof mark (for what, I don't know), it should say 18 tons not 8 lol, the barrel is chambered for the .303" X 2.222" (.303 British) BUT HAVE IT CHECK ANYWAYS built anywhere from 1939 to 1957, since it's been sporterized it's only worth a couple hundred dollars. 44 AMP: they made a no1 mk4 from 1930 to 1933, only about 1000 rifles made though. Last edited by Mr_Raw; March 28, 2012 at 12:11 PM.

March 28, 2012, 01:15 PM	#6
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Try here: http://www.enfieldrifles.ca/main.htm for a catalog of the stamps & other marks. Enfields are famous (infamous?) for arcane stamps & hieroglyphs. The proof (BNP, not BMP) should be 18.5 tonnes as has been said. The BNP stands for Birmingham Nitro Proof (from the Birmingham Proof House, London Proof House was just "NP") & was stamped when military rifles were released for civilian sale. The 18.5 tonnes was a system of pressure measurement in use at the time & doesn't mean it can take an 18,5 ton weight or anything, its just nomenclature that was in use. There are makers marks, proof marks, ownership marks, inspector's stamps & so on so it takes a while to figure them all out & some you probably never will find as they were just "Inspector 12's" mark he checked something. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.” Last edited by wogpotter; March 28, 2012 at 01:22 PM.

March 29, 2012, 11:14 AM	#8
BlueTrain Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 6,141	Your wife buys guns at yard sales? Wow! __________________ Shoot low, sheriff. They're riding Shetlands! Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag, and return us to our own beloved homes! Buy War Bonds.

March 27, 2012, 07:36 PM	#2
Sigowner Member Join Date: March 27, 2012 Posts: 77	Looks just like my 303 after I sporterized it in '61. I see nothing unusual in the photos so I assume it's one of the many thousands manufactured just prior to or during WW2.

March 28, 2012, 08:09 AM	#4
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	A small correction if I may. The way British rifles were identified was changed so there is no "#4 S.M.L.E." rifle. The original way of identifying was to have a descriptive name, such as M.L.E, (Magazine Lee-Enfield), or S.M.L.E. Short Magazine Lee Enfield. (the rifle was shorter,not the magazine. This was changed to a [NUMBER] denoting an actual version, a [mark] meaning a revision to the basic model, & a [* asterisk, or star] meaning a minor update, not quite big enough of a change to be a full [mark] change. The change happened at the time the older S.M.L.E. was being upgraded to the then new #4 model so the old S.M.L.E. became the Rifle No1 Mk III (or III) depending on the fittings. You have a #4 mk1 that has been turned into a sporting rifle by removing, cutting down & shortening/lightening the wood & metal. It has no collector value because of this but may be a very nice hunting rifle. Caliber should be .303 British, but check as some sporters were changed to different calibers. Have the smith check headspacing as well, this is changed with different bolt heads on the #4 & if the head has been swapped (or even the bolt) the headspace could be off. You have the simplified "L type flip rear sight that was set up for 300/500 yards with the original sights & bore, but you'll need to see where your zero is with the changes. Your rifle seems to have been "scrubbed" (all the original markings removed) during factory rework at some time as there is usually a bunch of stuff stamped onto the right side of the butt socket. Yours has just "England" (an import mark) on the left hand side. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.” Last edited by wogpotter; March 28, 2012 at 08:24 AM.*

March 28, 2012, 04:17 PM	#7
tdrizzle Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2007 Location: St Paul Posts: 209	My brother has two, a No4 Mk 1 made in Canada, I believe, still full length stock, v heavy, which it needs to be since it kicks like a b@stard. He got that at an auction years ago for about a hundred bucks. He has another I found him that had been sporterized like this one. The guy I bought it from didn't like the kick on his repaired shoulder, so I got it for about the same price with most of a box of ammo. Neither would be my choice for a purchase, but he likes them quite a bit.

March 29, 2012, 06:25 PM	#9
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	I bought a 1918 SMLE/No. 1 Mk III at a yard sale-here in NJ! It's all a matter of luck-and a healthy bank balance.

March 29, 2012, 07:11 PM	#10
cruiser00 Junior Member Join Date: March 7, 2012 Posts: 4	If you have a wife that buys you guns at yard sales you better hang onto her. A wife like that is more rare than any gun you will ever find.

June 24, 2012, 11:09 AM	#11
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	Is the magazine missing or did you take it out? Should be fun to shoot, I have one, it among my favorite rifles. If you've never shot one, you will have to give the bolt a pretty quick fling to get it to eject properly. Knowing that may save you a future question. __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!