Enfield Rifle Value?

[mod700]

I was over at a friend's house the other day when he showed me his 1917 Enfield rifle. It's marked GR SHT LE Mk III and made by the London Small Arms Co. (LSA). It's in pretty good shape with no obvious corrosion or rust. The only thing I noticed that seemed odd was a shortened forend (about halfway down the barrel) which I haven't seen on any Enfields other than the jungle carbines. I've done a little research on it, and have seen a very wide variety of prices/values on these rifles. It also has the stand-up windage sights which leads me to believe it's not a jungle carbine. Any idea of value? Would the fact that it's LSA made add any value? Thanks for any info....

 

[Curator]

Pretty comon SMLE but with the forearm "chopped" it's worth about $100.Less if the bore is dark.

 

[jcwit]

Being as the rifle is stamped GR SHT LE Mk III and made by the London Small Arms Co. it definitely not an Enfield 1917 which were produced here in the U.S., see link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1917_Enfield

2 completely different rifles.

 

[Robert]

It also has the stand-up windage sights which leads me to believe it's not a jungle carbine.

Do you mean Volly Sights? And it is a MkIII not a Mk III*? If it has the original Volly Sights, both front and rear, and the mag cut off it is worth a fair amount more than $100 even with the cut stock. Need some pics to be sure but to the right person it could be worth paying $300 just to have the Volly Sights.

Does it have a round or blade type bolt head? I assume it able to accept chargers, what we call stripper clips? Pics would really help.

it definitely not an Enfield 1917

He did not say a US Model 1917. He said No1 MkIII made in 1917. He used Enfield as a blanket term refering to the design. And you are correct the US Model 1917 is a different rifle than the No1 MkIII but I thought he was pretty clear on what he had.

 

[jcwit]

I was over at a friend's house the other day when he showed me his 1917 Enfield rifle.

Not to get picky, but as the quote above showes he says "1917 Enfield rifle." with a period being the end of the sentence. To me that means a U.S. 1917 Enfield, not denoting the year of manufacture.

 

[Robert]

It's marked GR SHT LE Mk III and made by the London Small Arms Co. (LSA).

You are right we are spliting hairs.

 

[Ignition Override]

Lots of Enfield topics are at Gunboards and Surplusrifle, if you have not already checked.
They have members in several of the old "Commonwealth" countries.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Markings can be confusing. My "1917" Enfield is marked "G.R., B.S.A.Co., 1917, SHT LE, MarkIII*", but it is a Lee Enfield No.1 Mark III* SMLE, not a Model 1917 Enfield: the 1917 is the year of manufacture, not the model number. The Model 1917 Enfield is a different design altogether. The left side of the receiver has a prominent "F.T.R. 1953" stamp, indicating Factory Thorough Repair in 1953.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee-Enfield
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1917_Enfield

 

[303tom]

Yeh I would give him a 100 bucks for & pay the shipping..........

 

[HKGuns]

It is really worth somewhere between $500 and $700 depending on condition and the amount of apparent sporterizing that has been done and bore condition. Pictures would help a whole bunch.

Those saying $100, simply don't know what they are talking about and shouldn't be posting such nonsense. You can easily find a replacement military stock if this one is chopped.

 

[303tom]

It is really worth somewhere between $500 and $700 depending on condition and the amount of apparent sporterizing that has been done and bore condition. Pictures would help a whole bunch.

Those saying $100, simply don't know what they are talking about and shouldn't be posting such nonsense. You can easily find a replacement military stock if this one is chopped.

Hey I am just kidding, yes pictures would help.................

 

[HKGuns]

Hey I am just kidding, yes pictures would help.................

Sorry then, I took that literally!

 

[DougW]

If the front and rear sights are not altered, then the possibility of restoring the rifle are good. An LSA ShtLe is a bit less common than the BSA's, and is more collectable. If it was manufactured in 1917, it would probably not have the volly sights on the left side of the stock. As I said, if the metal is basically not altered, then $100 would be a fair and good price for it. In it's configuration right now, it is known as a bubba conversion, and was cut down years ago to make a cheep dear rifle. Lot's of them around (unfortunately).