Wanted Lee Enfield SMLE (Irish marked)

dirtbag

Hello all pleased to meet you, I will try not to make this a one post wonder.

I am in the U.K and missed the chance to get a Lee Enfield SMLE Mk1***1905 which was Irish marked the other day

Why do I want an Irish marked SMLE , easy my other half was born and bred in Galway and we both travel there each year to visit the in laws, so it would be nice to have a rifle in my collection that has some Irish significance.

Is there anybody that has one for sale - or any dealers in Ireland that sell them ?

any help is apreciated !

cheers

DB

dCorbus

John Kavanagh of Fingal Sports http://www.fingalsports.com/catalog.html

From everything I've heard and seen, he's the main man for what you're looking for. Haven't had the chance to buy anything from him yet myself, but everything I've heard has been exceptionally positive - and he's a gent and a damn good shot toboot.

I'd suggest you give John a buzz directly to see if he has what you're looking for and he can advise you.

(P.S. there's a couple of lads on here shooting the Enfield's so I'd be pretty sure they'll be along in a sec with some more informed advice for you - Bunnyshooter, Kryten, etc.)

dirtbag

dCorbus wrote: »

John Kavanagh of Fingal Sports http://www.fingalsports.com/catalog.html

From everything I've heard and seen, he's the main man for what you're looking for. Haven't had the chance to buy anything from him yet myself, but everything I've heard has been exceptionally positive - and he's a gent and a damn good shot toboot.

I'd suggest you give John a buzz directly to see if he has what you're looking for and he can advise you.

(P.S. there's a couple of lads on here shooting the Enfield's so I'd be pretty sure they'll be along in a sec with some more informed advice for you - Bunnyshooter, Kryten, etc.)

Excellent many thanks - are most lee enfields irish marked that you find over there ?

William Powell

For the ignorant (like me) what exactly does Irish marked mean?

dCorbus

are most lee enfields irish marked that you find over there ?

Sorry, db, can't help you there with that one - Far too specialised a question for me. Don't shoot the Vintage & Classic's myself, so I wouldn't have the foggiest. But other lads who specialise in the V&C rifles, and the Enfield specifically, should be along shortly to advise you, no doubt, as soon as they see your post.;)

Sorry can't be of more use than that!:o

dC

dirtbag

William Powell wrote: »

For the ignorant (like me) what exactly does Irish marked mean?

Hi mate sorry I mean like these

http://www.enfield-stuff.com/regimentals/rifles/enfield_queue/Queue_Ireland.htm

The one I saw had "E.R" which I think means Eire Republic on the reciever with the British serial scrubbed and a new serial stamped.

It was an LSA 1905 up for £850, lotta money. Wish I got it now

dirtbag

dCorbus wrote: »

Sorry, db, can't help you there with that one - Far too specialised a question for me. Don't shoot the Vintage & Classic's myself, so I wouldn't have the foggiest. But other lads who specialise in the V&C rifles, and the Enfield specifically, should be along shortly to advise you, no doubt, as soon as they see your post.;)

Sorry can't be of more use than that!:o

dC

No worries mate - just to add what a nice part of the world you live in. I look forward to going out there every year. Also stayed in Kerry,Cork,Donegal. Real nice place

bunny shooter

Have a look here

http://www.vcrai.com/

Howdy, that "ER" is something to do with the royal crest afaik.

What you're looking for is an SMLE the was used by the Royal Irish Constabulary or one of the British Army regiments based in Ireland?

John Kavanagh here

http://www.fingalsports.com/

might be able to point ya in the right direction.

I have & shoot a Long Branch (Canadian), 1941, NO 4, MK 1 Lee Enfield in .303

dirtbag

bunny shooter wrote: »

http://www.vcrai.com/

Many thanks - do they sell Enfields, or is it a club only ?

William Powell

dirtbag wrote: »

Hi mate sorry I mean like these

http://www.enfield-stuff.com/regimentals/rifles/enfield_queue/Queue_Ireland.htm

The one I saw had "E.R" which I think means Eire Republic on the reciever with the British serial scrubbed and a new serial stamped.

It was an LSA 1905 up for £850, lotta money. Wish I got it now

ER ? = Edward Rex VII – 1901-1910 but only a guess

Would E.R have been used in 1905 to mean Eire Republic

bunny shooter

William Powell wrote: »

............Would E.R have been used in 1905 to mean Eire Republic

Not a chance

bunny shooter

dirtbag wrote: »

Many thanks - do they sell Enfields, or is it a club only ?

It's an "association". The members shoot all kinds of classic rifles including Enfields, Moisin Nagants, Mausers etc.

Fingal Sports would be my recommendation for anything to do with classic rifle shooting in Ireland :cool:

dirtbag

bunny shooter wrote: »

Not a chance

No there were stamped that after the 1920's. The british serial srubbed or lined through, and new serial stamped

dirtbag

bunny shooter wrote: »

It's an "association". The members shoot all kinds of classic rifles including Enfields, Moisin Nagants, Mausers etc.

Fingal Sports would be my recommendation for anything to do with classic rifle shooting in Ireland :cool:

Okay mate thanks, I will check em out

bunny shooter

dirtbag wrote: »

No there were stamped that after the 1920's. The british serial srubbed or lined through, and new serial stamped

Unless it is a rifle "taken" from the British and subsequently used by the (Old) IRA and/or Free State forces ?

dirtbag

bunny shooter wrote: »

Unless it is a rifle "taken" from the British and subsequently used by the (Old) IRA and/or Free State forces ?

Not sure bout that.

but this thread explains most

http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/reply/217783/t/Re-How-many-Irish-No-1-MkIIIs-out-there-.html

bunny shooter

:cool: Great link

Stuff like that wouldn't come up for sale too often I reckon :eek:

Be nice to have one though

dirtbag

bunny shooter wrote: »

:cool: Great link

Stuff like that wouldn't come up for sale too often I reckon :eek:

Be nice to have one though

Dam it, i KNEW i should of bought it !!!!!!

Kryten

The Irish army used the old SMLE from the 20s up to the 50s all through the Emergency, where we had an army many times larger than today. You would think that, chances are, you could pick up an Irish SMLE, No hassle. Wrong! The Irish army had, and still has a habit today, of destroying anything they do not want anymore. Old uniforms, Metal badges, cloth badges, webbing and all types of weapons. Most of the Gustafs went in the 90s. Cut up with a torch and shipped to hammond lane.

If you do get an Irish one, treasure it. Likewise I also shoot a 1943 Longbranch No.4. Would an SMLE Next. :D

dirtbag

Kryten wrote: »

The Irish army used the old SMLE from the 20s up to the 50s all through the Emergency, where we had an army many times larger than today. You would think that, chances are, you could pick up an Irish SMLE, No hassle. Wrong! The Irish army had, and still has a habit today, of destroying anything they do not want anymore. Old uniforms, Metal badges, cloth badges, webbing and all types of weapons. Most of the Gustafs went in the 90s. Cut up with a torch and shipped to hammond lane.

If you do get an Irish one, treasure it. Likewise I also shoot a 1943 Longbranch No.4. Would an SMLE Next. :D

Thanks for the great info - this makes me very determined to get one now as they are more rare than i thought !!!