Who used the Lee-Enfield 303? Italy: post-World War II Italian Army and Navy. with lettered prefixes. All those marks, taken together, tell a story of who made the rifle, who repaired it, who owned it, who used it and where it went. 1 Mk V), adopted a new receiver-mounted aperture sighting system, which moved the rear sight from its former position on the barrel. I and converted to sniper equipment by Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield early in 1942. Stratton (see list of references at the end of this post) stated that everywhere but at Enfield a given range of numbers was limited to five digits (Enfield limited its range to only four digits), so that when 99,999 was reached, the next series would begin with the letter "A" through . I assume its a Canadian longbrance, but I am a bit confused as a web post puts this serial number around 1950? Ethiopian Empire: acquired after World War I. Finland: some stored in depots after the Finnish Civil War, Some captured from the Resistance were used by the pro-Nazi French militia Milice franaise, Nazi Germany: some captured No. you can get the place of original mfgr , as to deployment there are a few markings put on in service that sometimes help but mostly not . SMLE serial numbers. 5. Experiments with smokeless powder in the existing LeeMetford cartridge seemed at first to be a simple upgrade, but the greater heat and pressure generated by the new smokeless powder wore away the shallow, rounded, Metford rifling after approximately 6000 rounds. Military equipment, such as the Lee-Enfield rifle, are often found with letters, numbers, codes, runes and symbols stamped, etched, scratched, embossed, pressed or branded into the wood or metal. Nigeria: Used by the Nigeria Regiment and then by Nigerian Army. Serial number- 37978. Several First World War accounts tell of British troops repelling German attackers who subsequently reported that they had encountered machine guns, when in fact it was simply a group of well-trained riflemen armed with SMLE Mk III rifles. This puts collectors into a spin trying to figure it out and fake is called!. [44] The L42A1 sniper rifle continued as the British Army's standard sniper weapon being phased out by 1993, and replaced by Accuracy International's L96. In good looking condition, this was the last year they were ever made. India: In service during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. 9, all .22 rimfire trainers and/or target rifles based on the Lee action, were adopted or in use with Cadet units and target shooters throughout the Commonwealth, the No.8 as of 2017 has been replaced among cadet forces due to obsolescence. It is one of 2500 out of 25,000 made by BSA. 4 Mk 2 rifle, the British refurbished many of their existing stocks of No. Canada converted about 1,588 rifles at Small Arms Limited (to the end of 1945) and, in 1946, at Canadian Arsenals Limited. A super nice example exhibiting many L over B marked parts and early features - low side fore wood and rounded cocking piece. (The Pattern 1914 became the Rifle No. Lee Enfield No.4 Mk. 4 Mk. These stand for 'Standard Small Arms' and 'National Rifle Factory', respectively. 4 action, but lightened and shortened, chambered in .303 British. Short Magazine Lee Enfield 4 MK. Peek! 4 Mk 1* rifle I have are the following on the left side of the metal band holding the. [22], A shorter and lighter version of the original MLEthe famous Rifle, Short, Magazine, LeeEnfield, or SMLE (sometimes spoken as 'Smelly', rather than S, M, L, E)[14]was introduced on 1 January 1904. [55], Numbers of LeeEnfield rifles were converted to .22 calibre training rifles,[56] in order to teach cadets and new recruits the various aspects of shooting, firearms safety, and marksmanship at a markedly reduced cost per round. [61] They were generally single-shot affairs, originally using Morris tubes chambered for cheap .22L cartridge and some larger types, circa 1907. Just saying that here is an instance where a number was mistaken as a date. I am afraid I must disagree with Shane's opinion on Lee Enfield rate of fire. Thanks for all you answers. Norway: Received from Allied airdrops to the resistance during WW2 and given by Britain to the Norwegian Brigade during the occupation of Germany in 1947. The current world record for aimed bolt-action fire was set in 1914 by a musketry instructor in the British ArmySergeant Instructor Snoxallwho placed 38 rounds into a 12-inch-wide (300 mm) target at 300 yards (270 m) in one minute. [91][92] Also contributing to the total was the Rifle Factory Ishapore (RFI) at Ishapore in India, which continued to produce the SMLE in both .303 and 7.6251mm NATO until the 1980s, and is still manufacturing a sporting rifle based on the SMLE Mk III action, chambered for a .315 calibre cartridge[93] the Birmingham Small Arms Company factory at Shirley near Birmingham, and SAF Lithgow in Australia, who finally discontinued production of the SMLE Mk III* with a final 'machinery proving' batch of 1000 rifles in early 1956, using 1953-dated receivers. . The Lee action cocked the striker on the closing stroke of the bolt, making the initial opening much faster and easier compared to the 'cock on opening' (i.e., the firing pin cocks upon opening the bolt) of the Mauser Gewehr 98 design. 123 Main Street Anywhere City, USA 55555 Phone: (555) 555-5555 Email Map & Directions Hours of Operation Follow Us On Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google+ Pinterest RSS Feeds Blog Posts, Gallery Images, Forum Topics Login Email: Password: Remember Me Forgot Password? 1944present (produced 19441947) BSA-Shirley produced 81,329 rifles and ROF Fazakerley 169,807 rifles. The LeeEnfield rifle is a popular gun for historic rifle enthusiasts and those who find the 10-round magazine, loading by charger clips, and the rapid bolt-action useful for Practical Rifle events. The No. Dated 1953 believed is 'Irish Contract Rifle' lot, but serial number was supplied to British Army. Your rifle had the left sidewall ground down, quite roughly in spots. [75][76] During the Second World War, the majority of New Zealand's land forces were deployed in North Africa. 5 Mk. [25][27][28][29] The windage adjustment of the rear sight was also dispensed with, and the cocking piece was changed from a round knob to a serrated slab. Adopted by the British Army at the turn of the century, the .303 Lee-Enfield saw service in both world wars and countless conflicts around the world. I have a No.1 Mk III British SMLE.303 I already ordered a book/manual on the rifle that shows how to tell certain details by the markings but i would like to look up my specific rifle by serial number. 4 MK. Previous conversions to Drill Purpose (DP) of otherwise serviceable rifles were not considered to be sufficiently incapable of restoration to fireable state and were a potential source of reconversion spares. [72] The restrictions placed on 'military calibre' rifles in New South Wales were lifted in 1975, and many people who had converted their LeeEnfields to the 'wildcat' rounds converted their rifles back to .303 British. Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History, George Crile, 2003, Grove/Atlantic. . Attempts were made to find a cooler-burning propellant, but further trials were halted in 1914 by the onset of World War I. 4 Mk I was officially adopted in 1941. Some rifles (such as LongBranch) had very finely marked serial numbers done with an engraving pen on the receiver wall. By the late 1930s, the need for new rifles grew and the Rifle, No. There were more than 317,000 Mk I MLE rifles produced and nearly 600,000 Mk I* MLE rifles. 6, Mk I[49] was also developed, using an SMLE MK III* as a starting point (as opposed to the No. The initial wooden-stocked De Lisle with a fitted suppressor. General Great War Discussion. The used value of an ENFIELD SMLE MARK 3 rifle has risen $89.20 dollars over the past 12 months to a price of $625.64 . 4 variant, a 'battle sight' was developed that allowed for two set distances of 300 yards and 600 yards to be quickly deployed and was cheaper to produce than the 'ladder sight'. This feature was removed on the Mk III* rifle. [citation needed]. A very collectable rifle indeed, but by no means rare. [83] The LeeEnfield No. It's not stamped all that well so that doesn't help. "55" is for 1955. Will ship at buyers expense. THE SAVAGE MADE NO4MKI* ENFIELD. Advertisements. the bolt was replaced. [29], The inability of the principal manufacturers (RSAF Enfield, The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited and London Small Arms Co. Ltd) to meet military production demands, led to the development of the 'peddled scheme', which contracted out the production of whole rifles and rifle components to several shell companies. 5 Mk I as a 'Jungle Carbine'. 4 rifle was heavier than the No. #9. Bermuda: used by the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps. These conversions were prompted by firearms legislation that made possession of a rifle chambered in a military cartridge both difficult and expensive. Again, thanks for the help! Rather, they are newly manufactured firearms and are not technically chambered for commercial .308 Winchester ammunition. Returned to Britain in 1952 in exchange for P-17 rifles. Lee Enfield SMLE MKIII * - .303 British $ 799.00 For sale is a Lee-Enfield SMLE MKIII* bolt action rifle in .303 British. Best to get an appraisal though, and like all things, firearms values fluctuate, more so here in Canada lately. [26], The iconic LeeEnfield rifle, the SMLE Mk III, was introduced on 26 January 1907, along with a Pattern 1907 bayonet and featured a simplified rear sight arrangement and a fixed, rather than a bolt-head-mounted sliding, charger guide. First debuted in November 1895 as the .303 calibre, Rifle, Magazine, Lee-Enfield, the rifle has still found use today in military, sporting and ceremonial roles - over one hundred years since its inception in its original form. The rear of the bolt handle, bottom of the magazine . GWF is free to use so please support the Forum. p. 372. [77] Similar developments were the South African Rieder and Charlton of Australian/New Zealand origin. [23], The SMLE's visual trademark was its blunt nose, with only the bayonet boss protruding a small fraction of an inch beyond the nosecap, being modelled on the Swedish Model 1894 Cavalry Carbine. Very Good/Excellent condition. The "year" is stamped in a non-matching font and the metal work looks to have been refinished. Roughly 1,400 of these were converted to No. Paperback, 48 pp, 50 plus b & w drawings and photos, 210 274 mm, Firearms Act, SCHEDULE 2, Part (8)(b), accessed 11 January 2010, Modern Warfare, Published by Mark Dartford, Marshall Cavendish (London) 1985. Apr 13, 2010 I have and Enfield.303 No.5 MK1 'Jungle Carbine' serial T5xx that I have been unable to find any production dates for. 7, Rifle, No. Rack number?, club inventory number? The rifle became known simply as the 'three-oh-three'. The No. The LeeEnfield family of rifles is the second oldest bolt-action rifle design still in official service, after the MosinNagant. 4 Mk I* rifles are all stamped 'US PROPERTY'. The magazine cutoff was also reintroduced and an additional band was added near the muzzle for additional strength during bayonet use. The No. The No. The weapon was reliable but unergonomic for the user as the force of the recoiling bolt interfered with handling. It was equipped with a No. I (T) sniper rifles in 19411942 at RSAF Enfield. 4 Mk I* and No. All Savage-Stevens Enfield rifles have a letter C in their serial numbers. The resulting weapon, designed by W.G. Lee Enfield Number 4 Mk2 .303 1953. SAF Lithgow, in Australia, produced shotguns based on the MkIII action under the 'Slazenger' name, chambering the common commercial .410 shotgun shell. The LeeEnfield series is very popular for service rifle shooting competitions in the UK and Australia due to the prohibitions on the legal ownership of semi-automatic centrefire rifles in Great Britain and restrictions on the legal ownership of semi-automatic centrefire rifles in Australia. Very early production low serial number. This sight line like other aperture sight lines proved to be faster and more accurate than the typical mid-barrel rear sight elements sight lines offered by Mauser, previous LeeEnfields or the Buffington battle sight of the 1903 Springfield. As far as civilian rifles are concerned, some manufacturers have their own dating systems, with, for example, prefixes or suffixes to serial numbers providing that information. I've just purchased a 1942 stamped Lee Enfield rifle which has a number 93L8939. 3. BSA Co. 1917 dated, mag cut-off, matched serial numbers. [10] Replacing this with a new square-shaped rifling system designed at the Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF) Enfield solved the problem, and the LeeEnfield was born. When Japan entered the war in 1941, New Zealand found itself lacking the light machine guns that would be required for local defence should Japan choose to invade, and so the New Zealand Government funded the development of self-loading conversions for the LeeEnfield rifle. A specific chapter in the new 'Lee-Enfield Rifles' update of the 1992 'Lee-Enfield Story' is devoted to Serial Numbers. 5 Mk. When the number sequence reached 9999 the next letter assigned to the factory would be substituted in place of the former. All serial numbers on Savage made No4s have a serial number format which includes a C in it, for. Attachments DSCF2312.jpg 154 KB Views: 1,217 DSCF2313.jpg 63.7 KB Views: 775 [40] Towards the end of the Second World War, a bladed bayonet was developed, originally intended for use with the Sten gunbut sharing the same mount as the No. Khyber Pass Copies can be recognised by a number of factors, notably: British company Armalon Ltd[101] developed a number of rifles based on the Lee Enfield No 4. All 7 of my Lee Enfields (2 SMLE No. I, Mk. There were three main batches of conversions. [21] Some of the MLEs (and MLMs) were converted to load from chargers, and designated Charger Loading LeeEnfields, or CLLEs. 32 and its bracket (mount) were matched and serial numbered to a specific rifle.[54]. The Arsenal Rifles Lee Enfield No.4 mk1 identification. such a low number. 4 Mk. From the late 1940s, legislation in New South Wales, Australia, heavily restricted .303 British calibre (and other 'military calibre') rifles,[72] so large numbers of SMLEs were converted to 'wildcat' calibres such as .303/25, .303/22, .303/270 and the popular 7.754mm round. (E.A.L. 4 Mk I, Britain had obviously settled on the rear aperture sight prior to WWI, with modifications to the SMLE being tested as early as 1911, as well as later on the No. It was introduced in service in the 1970s. [96] AIA also offered the AIA M10-A1 rifle, a Jungle Carbine-styled version chambered in 7.6239mm Russian, which uses AK-47 magazines. Truth be known about Enfield serial numbers is . Unmodified muskets require handloading of ammunition, as the .410 Indian Musket cartridge was not commercially distributed and does not appear to have been manufactured since the 1950s. The primary distinguishing feature of the No. The British military switched over to the 7.6251mm NATO round in the 1950s; starting in 1970, over 1,000 of the No. The main difference between the two conversions was in the cartridge ejection arrangement; the Enfield magazine carried a hardened steel projection that struck the rim of the extracted case to eject it, the Sterling system employed a spring-loaded plunger inserted into the receiver wall. [41], During the course of the Second World War, the No. Numerous attempts have been made to convert the various single-shot .410 shotgun models to a bolt-action repeating model by removing the wooden magazine plug and replacing it with a standard 10-round SMLE magazine. 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And Navy looking condition, this was the last year they were ever made 2003 Grove/Atlantic... The user as the 'three-oh-three ' lightened and shortened, chambered in a military cartridge both difficult and expensive Savage! $ 799.00 for sale is a Lee-Enfield SMLE MKIII * -.303 British ) sniper rifles in at.