Hello Brithunter and others
I have an 1878 Enfield rifle which was converted to a 303 in 1899. On the right hand side of the receiver it is marked V.R. ENFIELD. 1878, a crown with an arrow pointing down to the Roman numeral !!. On the receiver end of the barrel it has two large arrows pointing at one another. On the flat top are the numbers 16528 over which is a 2. On the left side it has a large crown, beneath is V.R. ENFIELD 1899, then M.E. 303 and below that !! and below that !. On the upper left it has a crown, beneath which is V.R. then crossed swords (flags) under which is 2P. This stamping is duplicated with another of the same symbols right next to it. Below this is a stamped X with a line crossing through the horizontal centre. The top of the steel butt plate is stamped with WD with a small arrow head sitting on the top. On the underside about half way along there appears to be a round plug inserted, just up from where the sling would connect. On the right hand side of the stock is a brass insert with either an 86 or 98 stamped toward the butt end, nothing else is marked on it. About an inch away to the upper right is a circle mark and at the top R. N. separated by a crown, below it Enfield. Right below is a large 1 over stamped by a Roman !!, below that another large 1. Following a diagonal line from the brass insert, up close to the top of the stock is stamped 4/08 and down below is stamped 16528. About in the middle of the stock is stamped a large washer type marking which is somewhat faded. All I can make out is 100+MILyFORCES+Y1, this is on the bottom. Following the letters up and over can be seen, ---NEALI----STR, these letters may not be correct. Under the flipped up sight is the small number 14. I have not taken off the wood so there may be some markings stamped on the barrel. The rifle has no place for a ramrod but would take a bayonet. The front sight is a small steel block with a small rifle sight on it. The back flip up sight is numbered to 18. The old girl is in rather good shape and would not take much effort to bring respect back into her life. People say,"if these rifles could only talk", well perhaps I can find her voice. I really hope to find some answers as to where she came from, where she went, who she really is and what she did in her life. I find it wonderful to hold this kind of history in my hands.
thank you
little pete
