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Just came across this on my morning trawl across the internet, what a waste of what is probably the best looking No1 mk3 I have ever seen!

I don't care how much I was offered, I could not bring myself to cut and weld this particularly fine example!

http://www.gunstar.co.uk/enfield-smle-m ... les/638520

This was my thought when I held it last Saturday at Bisley. I was there to meet with the said dealer (to buy a 1918 BSA SMLE a live one) he had bought a collection from a chap and had collected that morning. The collection had several de acts including a very rough and pitted Gew98 also on Gunstar. The live section included a 1915 SMLE Fultons regulated target rifle which sold as soon as it went onto Gunstar. Dealer was not told the reason for the SMLE's de activation.

Ah well,

Won't be the first or the last time....Probably someone giving up shooting who couldn't bare to part with it, so had it chopped.
I sold an absolutely mint, small ring hammer deactivated C96 last year, a thing of real beauty, German engineering at its very best.

It had been on a Sec 7 until it got deactivated by its owner, crying shame.

Tell me did that SMLE look as good in real life as it does on Gunstar mate?

Yep sure did absolutely mint and the real sad thing completely matching as far as I remember.

Correct my ignorance on this but would a new firing pin and new barrel solve the problem followed by proofing? Or do they completly gob them up?

This would however result in the owner having more money in the gun than it's worth

The receiver is also drilled and pinned normally under the wood line, it's not just the firing pin that is cut they cut the bolt head at an angle as well so you cannot return to shooting condition.

JS569 wrote:Correct my ignorance on this but would a new firing pin and new barrel solve the problem followed by proofing? Or do they completly gob them up?

This would however result in the owner having more money in the gun than it's worth

once a rifle is de-activated to the modern spec it would require more than a new barrel and firing pin. The bolt is machined back (often with an angle grinder). ALL pressure bearing parts - Bolt, Barrel and Receiver are meant to be rendered incapable of being re-instated. Often the bolt is welded in place so that it cannot be cycled. De-activating a gun - might as well chuck it in a smelter as it is now more or less worthless in my opinion. Its only worth is for spare parts that have not been butchered.

A new barrel would not have a matching number?

It could have if needed tongueout

ovenpaa wrote:It could have if needed tongueout

tongueout