The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

shotgun sam wrote:Here is my 1917 SMLE great fun to shoot and I have a lot for another 303 which will be a world war two No4

That’s a beautiful thing, lovely furniture, is it original?

steve853 wrote:

shotgun sam wrote:Buy an SMLE (World War One versions) a piece of history which are getting harder to get a good one.

That’s what I was thinking Sam, 4 great-grandads had the SMLE, both granddads had the N4. I think I need to search around and get both.

The SMLE is nice to shoot when I get allowed to fire it, my son says that I have not to wear out his inheritance, the same will happen when I buy the No4 as well.

I did not get hung up about matching numbers as the way I looked at it was for things to get changed there was a more than passing chance bits had been damaged in battle and bits from other damaged guns patched it up, it adds to the history.
My SMLE was sent to South Africa after the First World War (stamped) so it could also have been used to shoot big game for all I know.
At some point it arrived back in the UK where I bought it.

I've got all three, (No1,4 and 5) my advice, get all three, they are all superb rifles in there own right, a true rifle of Empire, in all its many variants.

In the end I have opted to abandon the Mosin Nagant and go for the No1mk3*, the No4mk1 and a K98Mauser. I think that’s enough history for January.

steve853 wrote:In the end I have opted to abandon the Mosin Nagant and go for the No1mk3*, the No4mk1 and a K98Mauser. I think that’s enough history for January.

Good choices....

I've the got the K98, No.4 Mk.1 and a No.5 so a similar selection.