I recently acquired a Enfield .303 made in 1915 it is in amazing condition probably 95% no scratches no dings or nicks. (pics coming soon) Now my question is there any way to mount a scope on there w\o destroying the rifle?
303
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Yeah, there are several manufacturers that make no gunsmithing mounts for these rifles. Do a search a read as many reviews as possible!
DougW
Member
Maj Dad
Member
Pictures!
If you have an original No 1 Mk III in 95% original condition, rethink. Lots of them were refinished after WW1 and during WW2 (I have one also made 1915 & rebarreled with a 42 date bbl), but an original SMLE should be cosidered collectible. There is an Enfield website I don't recall off-hand where you could find out a little more if someone doesn't fill in here. But you need to post details and pictures for more educated opinions. Otherwise, it's "unbekannt" as they say auf Deutschland...
If you have an original No 1 Mk III in 95% original condition, rethink. Lots of them were refinished after WW1 and during WW2 (I have one also made 1915 & rebarreled with a 42 date bbl), but an original SMLE should be cosidered collectible. There is an Enfield website I don't recall off-hand where you could find out a little more if someone doesn't fill in here. But you need to post details and pictures for more educated opinions. Otherwise, it's "unbekannt" as they say auf Deutschland...
Here you go:
http://secure.armorholdings.com/b-square/smle.html
A friend of mine had one mounted on his No1 MKIII. He was quite happy with it.
http://secure.armorholdings.com/b-square/smle.html
A friend of mine had one mounted on his No1 MKIII. He was quite happy with it.
Also lots of Lee Enfield info at:
http://www.303british.com/
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http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/bparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums
http://www.303british.com/
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http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/bparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=520378
See my old thread above. My dad's been using it and it works great so far.
See my old thread above. My dad's been using it and it works great so far.
Ok I will be the one to say it, and I agree with Maj Dad. If you have a 1915 No 1 MkIII or MkIII* do not put a scope on it. There are far more less valuable rifles out there to put scopes on. You could have a rather valuable firearm there and putting a scope on it would destroy any collector value it may have. Please post pics soon so we have a better idea of what you have.
About the only way to do it without doing any damage to the rifle is to use a mount that replaces the rear sight leaf and uses a long eye relief scope.
About the only way to do it without doing any damage to the rifle is to use a mount that replaces the rear sight leaf and uses a long eye relief scope.
Put me firmly in the LEAVE IT ALONE camp.
As the proud owner of both a clean No.1 MKIII and a No.4 MKII - i can say that they both shoot just fine the way they are. You wont see much improvement from a shady 'clamp on' mount and a cheap scope that sits 4 inches above the bore.
Please, leave old military rifles alone. If you want a cheap gun with a scope, Walmart is full of rifles that will suit your needs better AND shoot more economical cartridges. See here:
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/57452
Enjoy your piece of history for what it is, and shoot it the way its meant to be shot. If you simply cant leave the poor thing alone, and cant afford the gun you need, then sell the Enfield to me at a reasonable price and buy something like a Stevens or H&R to suit your needs.
As the proud owner of both a clean No.1 MKIII and a No.4 MKII - i can say that they both shoot just fine the way they are. You wont see much improvement from a shady 'clamp on' mount and a cheap scope that sits 4 inches above the bore.
Please, leave old military rifles alone. If you want a cheap gun with a scope, Walmart is full of rifles that will suit your needs better AND shoot more economical cartridges. See here:
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/57452
Enjoy your piece of history for what it is, and shoot it the way its meant to be shot. If you simply cant leave the poor thing alone, and cant afford the gun you need, then sell the Enfield to me at a reasonable price and buy something like a Stevens or H&R to suit your needs.
Incorrect, This target is from 250 yards firing an Enfield Number 4 Mk II. Only thing done to this rifle was an el-cheapo stock and and ATI scope mount and it wears a Nikon 3-9 x 40 On her. Original barrel and action with absolutely no work done to either other than a cleanup.
Since there is no drilling or tapping needed, just how is it "destroying" any value.
Many of the optics mounts I have seen require inletting of the stock to clear the mount. Doing something like that to a 1915 Enfield would take away from the value. Since it is a pre- 1916 rifle there is a slight chance the volley sights are intact. If this is the case doing anything to the rifle other than a mild cleaning will ruin the value of the rifle.
Grey Morel said:
Freedom Fighter said:
Incorrect how? I said that they shoot well as they are, and that crappy mount /scope combo wont improve it - So you are either saying that they shoot poorly in original configuration, or your saying that a crappy scope and mount will improve the guns shooting.
While the description of your 'modernized' Enfield makes me want to puke, it appears your using both a quality scope and a bolt in mount. I don't see why your challenging my statement.
Any mount you put on an Enfield will be of a "raised" nature unless you have the original sight mounts milled off and have the rifle drilled and tapped. And I have yet to see a "clamp on" scope mount for an Enfield. Most all of them are bolted in using the holes for the original rear sight and no drilling or "ruining" of its originality is needed. You can "puke" all you wish to as for one it is NOT YOUR RIFLE and as for 2 You will not find ANYONE that can shoot that particular firearm at that close of a group at 250 yards with the original sights.
The wood on this particular weapon was in sorry shape to say the least so it had no value whatsoever but the bore was bright (after a good scrubbing) and rifling was crisp and sharp. Made for a VERY good deer rifle and actually one of my favorites to take to the field. But I guess you "historical" guys would rather it sit in some safe and never be fired again while you "talk about it" to your other "enthusiasts". In all actuality, just where is the "value" in that??? Unless it was a firearm that had PROVABLE history, I.E. was used in a certain battle and was key in that battle, just what "value" does a vintage firearm have that it shouldn't be sported to make it a USABLE tool again for which it was made for? Maybe some of you collector guys should pull your heads out of the air and look at these vintage weapons for what they are. TOOLS.
Now for the Ops question ATI makes bolt on bases for Enfields. No drilling or tapping needed. You just take off the rear sight and use the holes to mount the base. Pretty solid. Google "Scope Base for Enfield" whichever model it is. I.E. if it is an Enfield Number 1 Mk III then put that in on the search. Cheaper Than Dirt has them.
The wood on this particular weapon was in sorry shape to say the least so it had no value whatsoever but the bore was bright (after a good scrubbing) and rifling was crisp and sharp. Made for a VERY good deer rifle and actually one of my favorites to take to the field. But I guess you "historical" guys would rather it sit in some safe and never be fired again while you "talk about it" to your other "enthusiasts". In all actuality, just where is the "value" in that??? Unless it was a firearm that had PROVABLE history, I.E. was used in a certain battle and was key in that battle, just what "value" does a vintage firearm have that it shouldn't be sported to make it a USABLE tool again for which it was made for? Maybe some of you collector guys should pull your heads out of the air and look at these vintage weapons for what they are. TOOLS.
Now for the Ops question ATI makes bolt on bases for Enfields. No drilling or tapping needed. You just take off the rear sight and use the holes to mount the base. Pretty solid. Google "Scope Base for Enfield" whichever model it is. I.E. if it is an Enfield Number 1 Mk III then put that in on the search. Cheaper Than Dirt has them.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
While putting a scope on the rifle may increase it's utility, if there is indeed a chance that it has some sort of collector's value, might it not be a good idea to assess what that value is, and if it's sufficiently high, set the gun aside as a collector's piece to be enjoyed for it's rarity rather than using it as a shooter?
I'm told that plain vanilla Enfields are readily available for around $400, and if the gun that the OP has is worth significantly more than that, it might behoove him to drop the money on a new rifle that would make for a good shooter rather than running the risk of destroying the collector's value of a gun that is rare.
I'm told that plain vanilla Enfields are readily available for around $400, and if the gun that the OP has is worth significantly more than that, it might behoove him to drop the money on a new rifle that would make for a good shooter rather than running the risk of destroying the collector's value of a gun that is rare.
A No4 MkII is not even in the same class a 1915 No1 MkIII. The No4 MkII is of nominal value and makes a great sporting rifle, no argument there. But a 1915 No1 MkIII in better than good condition would be of much greater value left in it's original condition. I own a 1941 Lithgow No1 MkIII* and shoot is more than any other rifle. It is a tool and a damned good one at that. But if you want something scope buy a No4 MkII. Or a modern Savage as it will be more accurate to begin with.
GBExpat
Member
ONLY, if there is an importer marking, what does it say?
It will be something like:
IA CO SAC CA
JJCO
NY,NY
N.A. RDGFLD. N.J.
CDI SWAN VT
It will be something like:
IA CO SAC CA
JJCO
NY,NY
N.A. RDGFLD. N.J.
CDI SWAN VT
I shoot my unaltered, original Enfield several times a year, its beat up, its old, but it works as a tool for shooting. It does sit in the safe, because its not my only gun. If you don't collect for historical purposes, you will never understand why folks like Me and Grey Morel cringe at new aftermarket parts for original vintage guns. While I can't shoot 24/7, I enjoy looking at or just admiring some of my guns, Enfield included. I like the idea that my gun is "all original" and some may even use the word "pure," adding a plastic stock or even a scope mount of ANY kind is sort of a turn off for me and some others. Now if its an original British Sniper scope + mount, thats a different story.
Well Win, Gus, and Grey, I have MANY sported Enfields and Mausers. Most didn't shoot worth a tinkers damn before I worked on them. Stocks, scopes, Action squaring, bedding, all the good stuff and most all of them are now tack driving tools. And they all now have a USEFUL place in the future. Were any of them worth a lot beforehand? A couple MAY have been. Do I care? No sir. I place value in a firearms ability to perform a certain function which is to SHOOT WELL. Placing value in an inanimate object simply because it is old, to me, is about as useful as teets on a boar hog. Value is in the eyes of each person and some of you "collectors" get just a bit over zealous about "protecting history". Small clue here guys, that rifle has not a dern thing to do with history. It can't up and speak to you and tell you where it was and what it did. What it CAN do is receive some attention and be brought up to date to perform in the function that it was made for. To fire. Gets my dander up when someone pops off with "makes me sick that you did that to an old rifle". Just what is sooooooo bad about bringing new life to an old girl? Not a thing.
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