Quote:

---

Stuart:
I like the setup of the sights on the Martin-Enfield. I have just purchased one on internet....You say you installed an SMLE no1 mk III barrel? What had to be done to fit it to the receiver? Are the treads alike or need to be redone?

---

88Mau,
The original bore on my Martini-Enfield was quite pitted and the groups were disappointing. I'm guessing it may have had a lot of corrosive ammo put through it:


I made some enquiries and was told that the barrel thread on the SMLE Nš1 was the same, so I acquired a barrel and sent it off to be fitted. As far as I know, all that had to be done was to machine the cuts for the extractor. You can see the original cutout for the SMLE extractor in the pic:



The original barrel on mine was minus the rear sight so I'm not familiar with it. I must admit that my first range session with the new barrel was a little disappointing but I see no reason it shouldn't shoot well as the bore appears to be very bright and sharp so I looking forward to further sessions at the range with my reloading gear.

I've also widened the rear notch a little and have now made a new, even taller front sight as it was shooting a bit high with the rear sight set as low as it would go, this with RN Remington bullets over 43 grains of RL 15.

I think there may also have been some issues with the contact of the forearm. It has a hook into the breech but a prev. owner had also replaced the rear breech hook plate screw with a machine screw into the bottom of the knox form to secure it properly. I didn't want to do this so soldered a 10-32 nut on to the bottom of the rear sight and put a screw through near the end of the forearm. I have since glass-bedded the entire forearm. Probably one could free-float the forearm if a suitable "hanger" could be welded into the breech but I'd rather not go there at this point.


I've also refinished all the wood. This carbine has absolutely no markings on the side of the action so I have no idea of its provenance. The original barrel has lots of marks but the crowns are indistinct so it's hard to say whether it is a Victorian or Edwardian rifle.

I had some correspondence with a chap on Canadian Gunnutz from Tuscon named John Sukey (who also posts on other forums) who put an entire SMLE Nš1 forend set on his Martini and it looked pretty sharp. I think it was John who told me about the threads being the same.

There is along-barreled M-E in .303 (with a good bore) for sale up here which I am very tempted to pick up. Is resistance futile? We shall see... The *^&%% things can be addictive. I'm also having ideas of another barrel for it, maybe in a mid-30's calibre such as 38-55 or, in moments of total madness, a .333 Jeffrey (but with a .338 bore as there is a better selection of bullets.) A 7x57rimmed (.275 Flanged Rigby) might be interesting, too. (Yes, I am clearly out of my mind.) But I want to get it shooting nicely as a .303 first.

Well, I think that pretty well hijacks this thread!

Stuart