BSA Sparkbrook SMLE

[Kevinakaq]

Ran into a 1906 BSA Sparkbrook earlier today at a pawnshop. Had not been sporterized. Does have a parkerized magazine (not original) and is missing the mag cutoff (an original can be had for 29 at liberty). Volley sight present and so is the charger guide on the bolt. Is in decent overall condition and has not been refinished. Bore wasn’t bad. I have several other Enfields so I’m not new to the breed but I am new to this variant. I understand one marked BSA and Sparkbrook is a bit rare. They were asking 900, I did counter with 600 and he chewed but no bite. Would probably take 700...thoughts?

245208

Thanks,
Kev

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I also have a Sparkbrook (1901) and a BSA LE (1900) shortened range pattern. When chosing a boolit, remember these rifles were throated for Mk IV ammo (215gn) and uses the 220gn from CBE best.

I paid $AU900 for mine so $US700 sounds about right.

https://i.imgur.com/ecTTkwi.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/L8VViXb.jpg

[303Guy]

These rifles were not made in great numbers. I have a sporterized one with the bolt charger removed. The bolt head was bad anyway so I changed it. Looking at prices and availability of any Lee Enfield in original dress, I would say buy it at any price - it is a rare one.

[Kevinakaq]

Just gave them a call and they agreed on my offer and set it aside. Will swing over after work today. Thanks for the enabling...ha!

[Kevinakaq]

Rifle in hand. Pictures linked below. Some details I have begun to piece together using Stratton’s ref book ‘British Enfield Rifles, volume 1’ and general observations.

Rear sight is first gen but appears the adjustment device is second ***i am not confident in this statement***. Backsight protector appears third gen.
Nose cap is second gen. non matching number to receiver.
Buttplate seems first and has some character on upper right corner...My imagination gets the better of me but the realist says a well lubricated soldier dropped it...
Trigger guard appears second gen.
Needs mag cutoff but original with screw can be had.
Bolt matches new num on receiver, not struck through num.
Bore is in very good condition. Ran a few patches of Ed’s Red and was pleasantly surprised.
Research suggests this became an Irish rifle.

Will now start penetrating screws with some Kroil and then tomorrow 100 percent disassemble and sonic clean all metal using simple green and dawn. Then start sanding stock thoroughly to remove all character... Just joking about sanding the stock!!! Ha!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f6f8ocwfcxzux1g/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2031%2044%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l9d1rsiblc14s1i/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2019%2037%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jzfjoz6wqhwu6vl/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2018%2008%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l3jzj6na6lvguby/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2032%2032%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e8d0wdp6tkbwjyu/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2031%2011%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bibwai3xcttyoy1/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2031%2021%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f7ocfc3dpx2la0w/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2031%2025%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yiiy58fbo0bn7y7/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2031%2016%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k2tt9xv3lbho7lg/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2014%2037%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2abvgpo9bz3vibo/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2010%2036%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/viac60k3buc6qix/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2011%2037%20PM.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2uibabk5a9iiisc/Photo%20Jul%2016%2C%205%2018%2034%20PM.jpg?dl=0

Thanks for looking.
Kev

[303Guy]

OMG! You got yourself an early SMLE, the SHTLE I - it even looks the part. What a beauty! Thanks for the photo's. You're going to leave the woodwork just as it is, right?

I think mine is a 1904. The bore was rusted real bad but I got it to shoot after firelapping the rust scale out and shortening the barrel 14.6 inches after straightening it - hard to do when there is zero shine in it. Someone had shortened the barrel then hammered the foresight back on, buckling the barrel in the process. It now shoots paper patched boolits made to fit the now oversized bore.

[Kevinakaq]

OMG! You got yourself an early SMLE, the SHTLE I - it even looks the part. What a beauty! Thanks for the photo's. You're going to leave the woodwork just as it is, right?

Thanks and of course I will not molest the wood, was a joke. As a kid (many years ago) I sporterized two rifles, a Longbranch Enfield and a Winchester 1917. Still have both and still have the guilt of doing so...

[Tripplebeards]

Yep, looks just like the top one in my photo. I bought the Winchester m1917 enfield in the middle for $20, some trigger polishing work,and a pair of scope rings last year. The two Lee enfields he GAVE ME! The top is a 1907 BSA shtke ER MK1***. I've pretty much given up on finding non existent parts for it so it will probably move on to someone else soon. The m1917 I just finished putting back to original specs today and the long branch I reblued and refinished the stock. IMO it was too far gone to bring back but will make someone a nice deer rifle now.

It's killing me because I know it's a rare bird but if parts aren't available to take it back to original it's worth to me as much as it was to the guy who gave it to me I hate to say. I read somewhere they only made 165,000 of them from 1904 to 1907. Here's mine. I removed the peep, filled in the tapped holes, and blued it since the photo.


http://i.imgur.com/zfMTr8l.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3BLLNRT.jpg


My m1917 in the middle. I just finished it this morning!

http://i.imgur.com/fdKSJUn.jpg


And the 1941 long branch after surgery.lol...


http://i.imgur.com/R4e2t6y.jpg



Maybe I'll put the two Lee enfield towards one that's all original.