Need a .303 Enfield expert

[DeepSouth]

I'm planing on buying a new synthetic stock for my .303 Brit. and I am not sure how to tell if it is a Mk1,2,3,4, or 5. And the only listings were for a Mk1,2,3, or 5.

The gun is dated 1942, and I think I was told by the guy I got it from that it was a Mk3, but that was years ago and I just want to make sure I get the right one.

This is what I'm looking at buying.

Thanks for any help.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Look at your rifle and see what model it is. Beware these stocks are heavy.

 

[JWF III]

Posting a pick would make it easier for us. But I'll give it a go...

The No.1 Mk.III (&Mk.IV) had a "nose cap" that fit flush with the muzzle. On this cap there was a round protrusion below the barrel in which the bayonet ring fit around. The Mk. III was usually set up as a grenade launching platform, which is normally identified by a wire wrapped handgaurd.

The No.4 Mk.1 (most likely being that yours was manufactured in 1942), had the muzzle protruding from the stock. There is a handgaurd ring arond the stock ~ 1" from the end of the stock, and the front sight is tight to the stock. Just back from the muzzle, there will be 2 square protusions (one on each side of the barrle) that hold the bayonet.

Those are the most common Enfield rifles encountered today. The next being the No.2 and No.2A, these are most commonly found in 7.62x51 (.308 Win.). There is also the Pattern 14 Enfield, that really is an Enfield in name only. It is a Mauser action, built in the US by Remington, Eddystone (also a Rem. company), or Winchester. It is chambered for the .303 British cartridge. The "P17 Enfield", is wrongly (nick)named also. It is the US Model of 1917, chambered for the .30-06 cartridge. It is identical to the P14 in every way except for it's chambering.

That covers most of what I know on the subject,
Wyman

ETA-You can do as .351Win suggests. The model # is on the left side of the reciever, but if the gun has been rearseneled, it may be filled in with black paint.

 

[bartonlong]

meaning of mk for no4 rifles

a no4 mk1 rifle has the trigger pinned to the triggerguard (when you unscrew and remove the triggerguard the tigger comes with it). A no4 mk2 and mk3 has the trigger pinned to the reciever. A no4 mk5 is the jungle carbine (shorter barrel, lighter reciever). There are some more variations in the above mk but those are the important ones for getting a stock to fit. The stocks are different for a no4mk1 and no4mk2 or mk3 and different again for a no4mk5. The ati stock is made for a no4mk1 and can be made to fit a mk2 but doesn't work great. I had one on a no4mk1/2 and didn't like it-went back to a an original wood stock. Btw the above mentioned rifle is for sale, if anyone is interested-we can take that discussion to pm.

hope this helps.

 

[shinz]

Long Story short, the No.1 Mk3 or SMLE is basically the WW1 Lee Enfield , has its rear sights on the barrel & as stated before a flush front cap with seperate bayonet lug. The No.4 Mk1/2 (trigger differences only) had a rear peep sight on the action & protruding muzzle that the bayonet mounted over. The No5 Mk1 had the same action as the No.4 but with some lightening cuts, a shortened barrel & cut back wood with belled muzzle. Have a look at this link http://www.surplusrifle.com/smle/index.asp for details on the No.1 Mk3 or SMLE as its also known. The menu to the left of the info has details for Enfield No.4 & Enfield No.5.
Steve

 

[DeepSouth]

Thanks for the info, I'll try to get some pics to help but I worked midnights last night and have to go back in tonight at 5:30 so it may be a day or so. I will also add the stock has been cut off 18 inches or so from the end of the barrel and you can tell there has been fairly major sanding and such on the stock sometime in the past. I have also looked for model numbers and such but there is a ton of markings on this rifle and I don't know what I'm looking at half the time.

 

[DeepSouth]

The wife has our camera and she is out of town for a couple days, but I do have one pic already on the computer, don't know if it will help but here it is.

 

[Limeyfellow]

That is a sporterised Lee Enfield No1 Mk3. The No4 rifles and afterwards have peep sights mounted at the back of the receiver and the back of the bolt is a clear No1 Mk3 style. The stock of course has been cut down. This happened quite regularly back in the 50s and 60s however.

The manufacturer, country and date mark is typically on the right side of the butt socket. There is also typically a country's acceptance mark on the metal receiver in front of the bolt, with serial number and a few other markings there. Usually you can get a date from the serial number too. The markings on the wood look like they will be gone and you have no nose cap anymore so those markings are gone too.

 

[JWF III]

Yep it's definantly a No.1. I'm not too up-to-date on the differences in No.1 Mk.?, so I can't comment on that. But it is, without a doubt, a No.1.

Wyman

 

[panrobercik]

Why would you want to change THIS stock to a synthetic ??? Money burning hole in your pocket ?

 

[DeepSouth]

Thanks for the feedback, I knew there would be someone here that could help me out. I'm plan to order the new stock in a couple of weeks, so don't be surprised if I come back in need of some installation help. I've had this gun for years and never done anything more than take the bolt out for a cleaning so I might have some trouble. Might need to clean it real good to huh?

The main reason I am wanting to change the stock is mainly because I am a fairly large guy, 6'6" and 260, and this stock just doesn't fit me that well. I don't know how the new one will fit me but I'm gonna give it a try. I just love this gun and want to shoot it more than I do, believe it or not this sucker is deadly accurate. The first 3 shots I ever fired out of it were at 100 yds and tight enough to be covered with a nickle.And I have since seen smaller. I normally hunt with a Rem 700 in a 7mm mag and a Swarosvki 3x9x56 on it. And this gun with a 25 to 30 year old Leupold 3x9x40 will out shoot it all day, and it only cost me 50 bucks way back in the day.

 

[panrobercik]

Enfield stocks do feel kind of short. If the new one is made to similar size as the original than you may be disappointed . To remove the old stock you will have to take the recoil pad off and use a large screwdriver to undo the big screw. I used a flat head bit inserted into a 1/4 inch socket on a long extension. This gives more leverage than a large screwdriver alone (that you probably don't have the right size at home anyway)

 

[Limeyfellow]

They did make buttstocks for the Lee Enfield that were longer than normal. I think long gave an extra 1/2 inch over normal and they had smaller ones. You maybe better off though having an extension part made for the buttstock that screws in to place.

 

[shinz]

That link I put up for surplusrifle.com has some very detailed instructions as to how to strip you rifle including removing the butt stock, also stripping the action for cleaning if you need to.
Steve