Hi All: Attached are pics from a really nice looking, matching No. 1 Mk. III target rifle. Supposedly a commercial model. Any info and what a good price to pay would be would be appreciated. Thanks. dj
Looks good, but a couple of pics from the other side showing details and info like the barrel date and is it number matching, will all help your cause n getting a response.
Commercial BSA SMLE III's are hard to date. One way is to look at the rear sight bed profile to see if it is set up for Mk VI or Mk VII ammo (mine is still Mk VI) and if it has volley sights. If so the markings on the plate (LES III = Mk VI, LES 2 = Mk VII). Mk VI ammo was discontinued early WWI, still you could have a pre-war example that was converted post-war, but it is a place to start.
The action is genuine commercial BSA, post WWI. However, I visited the seller's site and examined the rest of the photos... the barrel has post-1947 Ishapore proofs, so it was obviously replaced at some point. A fine piece and it might shoot well....but $2500 raises an eyebrow to me.
Rifle is probably 600-800 depending on originality of parts. Sight another $150-200, perhaps? If it's something you really like, I'd say $800.... $1000 tops.
Not many people used the Short rifle for competition before WW1, unless some special rule obliged them to. Most used the Long rifle, which kicked less and was more amenable to match tweaking.
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