Each No. MAGAZINE LEE RIFLES & CARBINES Lee-Metford Lee-Enfield Note: Charger loaders and conversions are family. United States: Used by units of the American Expeditionary Force attached to British and Australian units during the First World War. 1944present (produced 19441947) BSA-Shirley produced 81,329 rifles and ROF Fazakerley 169,807 rifles. The shorter length was controversial at the time: many Rifle Association members and gunsmiths were concerned that the shorter barrel would not be as accurate as the longer MLE barrels, that the recoil would be much greater, and the sighting radius would be too short. The wristguard markings on a 1918-dated Short Magazine LeeEnfield Mk III* rifle manufactured by the London Small Arms Co. Ltd. A transitional model the No. MAGAZINE LEE RIFLES & CARBINES Lee-Metford Lee-Enfield Note: Charger loaders and conversions are family. These unusual rifles have something of a mysterious service history, but represent a missing link in SMLE development. The Commando units of the British military requested a suppressed rifle for killing sentries, guard dogs and other clandestine operational uses during the Second World War. Since formation in 1998, organisations such as the Lee Enfield Rifle Association have assisted in not just preserving rifles in shooting condition (many LeeEnfields are being deactivated and sold as 'wall-hangers' to collectors who do not hold a Firearms Licence in countries where they are required), but holding events and competitions. 4 Mk 2 rifles: Note 1: Second World War UK production rifles had manufacturer codes for security reasons. 7, Rifle, No. [11] The Lee bolt-action and 10-round magazine capacity enabled a well-trained rifleman to perform the 'mad minute' firing 20 to 30 aimed rounds in 60 seconds, making the LeeEnfield the fastest military bolt-action rifle of the day. They are idiots. The serial number is DA22567A, above the serial number it says NO.4 MK1 F (FTR) that is all the markings I can really see on the gun and I was wondering what year the rifle was made, the model it is, & how much it is worth? A conversion specification of No.1 rifles to L59A2 Drill Purpose was also prepared but was abandoned due to the greater difficulty of machining involved and the negligible numbers still in the hands of cadet units. 2 Mk. 4 Mk I, because the Lithgow Small Arms Factory was producing the SMLE Mk III. (The Pattern 1914 became the Rifle No. None of these is known to have been successful,[71] though some owners have adapted 3-round magazines for Savage and Stevens shotguns to function in a converted SMLE shotgun, or even placing such a magazine inside a gutted SMLE magazine. A specific chapter in the new 'Lee-Enfield Rifles' update of the 1992 'Lee-Enfield Story' is devoted to Serial Numbers. [68] Production of this model was 19441946 and a few in 1950 to 1953.[69]. 5) have serial numbers stamped on the rear face of the bolt handle with no indication of any numbers having been stamped or struck out on the bottom of their bolt handles. 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. No. What should I mark down for insurance value? 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. )[36], The SMLE design was a relatively expensive long arm to manufacture, because of the many forging and machining operations required. Serial number- 37978. THE SAVAGE MADE NO4MKI* ENFIELD. Hey guys I bought this 1917 B.S.A CO Lee Enfield Smle a couple of days ago I'm just curious on the nose cap serial number the letter is a J but the numbers match the other parts that are matching have a D. Here are some pictures. They did, however, continue to be used at Bisley up into the 1970s with some success, and continue to perform extremely well at Military Service Rifle Competitions throughout the world. The Mk V did retain a magazine cut-off, but without a spotting hole, the piling swivel was kept attached to a forward barrel band, which was wrapped over and attached to the rear of the nose cap to reinforce the rifle for use with the standard Pattern 1907 bayonet. So as to match critical parts, serial number was also stamped under the rear sight leaf (and fore-ends, nosecaps, bolts, of Lee-Enfields too). [64], After the Second World War, the Rifle, No. Initial production was 1,403 conversions of 19311933 troop trials No. I rifles were made for Trials. 32 telescope progressed through three marks with the Mk. However, many 2A/2A1 owners shoot such ammunition in their rifles with no problems, although it should be noted that some factory loaded .308 Winchester cartridges may appear to generate higher pressures than 7.6251mm NATO, even though the rounds are otherwise interchangeable this is due to the different systems of pressure measurement used for NATO and commercial cartridges. [35], In 1926, the British Army changed their nomenclature; the SMLE became known as the Rifle No. 4 Mk. [50], The term 'Jungle Carbine' was popularised in the 1950s by the Santa Fe Arms Corporation, a U.S. importer who refurbished many surplus rifles, converting many of the No. That is. if the 1942 denotes year. Many early model rifles, of Magazine LeeEnfield (MLE), Magazine LeeMetford (MLM), and SMLE type, were upgraded to the Mk III standard. Serial number- 95L5837. BOLT HEAD James Purdey and Sons fitted special buttstocks later in the war. The demand of new ENFIELD SMLE MARK 3 rifle's has risen 2 units over the past 12 months. Aug 18, 2010 seial # My very first rifle was a #4 Enfield 83CXXXX. LeeEnfields are very popular as hunting rifles and target shooting rifles. Thanks I don't think the stock is original because I don't see a serial number. The Australian military were not permitted to manufacture the No. [52], During the Second World War, standard No. Poland: used by the Polish Armed Forces in the West, Portugal: used by the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps, during the First World War. 5 was shorter and 2 lb (0.9 kg) lighter. The No. 1* is functionally the same as the Mk.1, but various changes were made in the design to make the manufacturing process faster. Rifles so marked were assembled using parts from various other manufacturers, as part of a scheme during the First World War to boost rifle production in the UK. 4 MK. Lee Enfield Number 4 Mk2 .303 1953. Enfield from 19221924, with a total production of roughly 20,000 rifles, all of which marked with a 'V'. He sent me the serial number but I can't make heads or tails of it. Serial number on barrel is 5349 then on bolt entrance that number. Australia: No.1 MkIII/MkIII* manufactured at Lithgow Arsenal in Lithgow, New South Wales. If it's a 1942,it will more likely then not,have the rear release tab for the bolt. The manufacturer's names found on the MLE, CLLE, and SMLE Mk IMk III* rifles and variants are: Note 1: 'SSA' and 'NRF' markings are sometimes encountered on First World War-dated SMLE Mk III* rifles. Maybe something similar is going on with the No.4? The Australian Army modified 1,612[51] Lithgow SMLE No. IV rifles are externally identical to a .303 calibre SMLE Mk III* rifle, the only difference being the .22 calibre barrel, empty magazine case, bolthead and extractor which have been modified to fire .22 calibre rimfire cartridges. The Arsenal Rifles Lee Enfield No.4 mk1 identification. I cant seem to find his posting right now, but it might help explain things. The No. [42] The No.4 Mk I rifle was primarily produced for the United Kingdom. 4 (T) sniper rifles to 7.6251mm NATO, which led to the creation of the L42A1 series sniper rifles.[86]. 4 MK. 4 variants, Katanga: bought for police force but also used by army. Still have it. It's not stamped all that well so that doesn't help. The Pattern 1907 bayonet consisted of a one-piece steel blade and tang, with a crossguard and pommel made from wrought iron or mild steel, and a wooden grip usually of walnut secured to the tang by two screws. The original bolt would be proofed to 18 ton's per square inch of pressure. It was a further simplification and cut down on both material costs and machine time in its construction, much as the No. WW1 BSA .303 SMLE dated 1914 British Army Service Rifle. 0 Location:London SW19 Interests:British military Small Arms and ammunition. 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. Volley Sights Arabic butt disc marked ( Ottoman Empire captured) This has come out of the 'Hans Gnter Collection' 890.00. [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. I* (T) sniper rifles. Note 2: Savage-made LeeEnfield No. The British military switched over to the 7.6251mm NATO round in the 1950s; starting in 1970, over 1,000 of the No. [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. The LeeEnfield is a bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle that served as the main firearm used by the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century. Just saying that here is an instance where a number was mistaken as a date. 4 action, but lightened and shortened, chambered in .303 British. [23] The barrel was now halfway in length between the original long rifle and the carbine, at 25.2 inches (640 mm). Many of these muskets were rechambered, after being sold as surplus, and can now be used with commercially available ammunition. These were known as .22 Pattern 1914 Short Rifles[59] during The First World War and Rifle, No. A new rifle based on the Mauser design was created to fire the round, called the Pattern 1913 Enfield. All he really wants to know when it was built. The Lee-Enfield No. Japan: Captured from British Army during World War II. thats what I thought. All serial numbers on Savage made No4s have a serial number format which includes a C in it, for. 1 Mk. I rifles made at Enfield. Can any one help with identifying this rifle? We cannot say for certain it is a year, nor can we say for certain much of anything else about that number. Right Handed or Ambidextrous. BSA Co. 1917 dated, mag cut-off, matched serial numbers. For the quarter ending April 30th 1960, numbers were UB60 A63625 . Sterling Armaments of Dagenham, Essex produced a conversion kit comprising a new 7.62mm barrel, magazine, extractor and ejector for commercial sale. The Royal Canadian Air Force also used these as a survival rifle in the remote parts of Canada. There were more than 317,000 Mk I MLE rifles produced and nearly 600,000 Mk I* MLE rifles. 4 Mark I would be adopted in 1941 and serve until 1952, until replaced by the M1 Garand. Vietnam: Vit Minh captured LeeEnfields from French forces. 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. LeeEnfields are also popular with competitors in service rifle competitions in many Commonwealth countries. Or you can e-mail Ian. Yes, I know, I should get out more! The Original Yesterdays Weapons Lee Enfield - Serial Numbers Moderators: millwright39, PaulM, Amatikulu Share 15 posts 1 2 Next Amatikulu 223 veteran member Aug 17, 2008 #1 The link below is to a web site I created some time ago. Forum for discussion by serious collectors of Lee Enfield arms, accessories, ammunition, and accoutrements [95], The Brisbane-based Australian International Arms also manufactured a modern reproduction of the No. 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. The rifle's two-piece stock and 10-round magazine are two of its most distinctive features. [10], The LeeEnfield rifle was introduced in November 1895 as the .303 calibre, Rifle, Magazine, LeeEnfield,[10] or more commonly Magazine LeeEnfield, or MLE (sometimes spoken as 'emily' instead of M, L, E). 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. Where are the serial numbers on a Lee Enfield? 1 Mk III or III*, with the original MLE and LEC becoming obsolete along with the earlier SMLE models. The No. Short Magazine Lee Enfield A standard (complete) 1942 Longbranch Lee Enfield No4 Mk1* Rifle made for Britain during WW2. . [77] Similar developments were the South African Rieder and Charlton of Australian/New Zealand origin. Note the block-style S of the J. Stevens Company. [14] The Canadian Rangers unit still use Enfield rifles, with plans to replace the weapons sometime in 20172018 with the new Sako-designed Colt Canada C19. 4 Mk I* It is one of 2500 out of 25,000 made by BSA. [62][63] No. Conversion of rifles to smoothbored guns was carried out in several locations, at various times, for varying reasons. 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