The LeeEnfield rifle was derived from the earlier LeeMetford, a mechanically similar black-powder rifle, which combined James Paris Lee's rear-locking bolt system that had a barrel featuring rifling designed by William Ellis Metford. (The Pattern 1914 became the Rifle No. No4 serial numbers too. A further likely consideration was the difficulty of obtaining replacement ammunition in the event of the rifle's theft or the carrier's desertion. It was the British Army's standard rifle from its official adoption in 1895 until 1957. 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. The Serial Number is located on the right side of the receiver ring. 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. This updated and expanded edition also has a ready model identification chapter and colour plates. [104] The CIA's Operation Cyclone provided hundreds of thousands of Enfields to the Mujahideen, funneling them through Pakistan's ISI. It was equipped with a No. In Jordan, the LeeEnfield was in use with the Police and Gendarmerie until 1971, and with the Armed Forces until 1965. Maybe I will phone some gun shops and see if I can get someone who has a guesstimate. Serial numbering of the .303in Lee-Enfield Rifle No.4 Serial numbering of the .303in Lee-Enfield Rifle No.4 This material was extracted from official papers. 4 action, but lightened and shortened, chambered in .303 British. I do remember reading something by Peter Laidler, so forgive me if I dont recall it correctly. Very Good/Excellent condition. the bolt was replaced. Sri Lanka: Phased out in the late 1960s with the arrival of the L1A1 SLR. The No. [95], The Brisbane-based Australian International Arms also manufactured a modern reproduction of the No. So it is possible to have a Long Branch serial applied to a Maltby, or a Maltby serial applied to a Faz. 4 MK. [15] Total production of all LeeEnfields is estimated at over 17 million rifles.[8]. 5 Mark I, as finalized in March 1944 and officially adopted on Sept. 12, 1944, had an overall length of 39 12", a 20 12" barrel with a "flash eliminator" similar to that used on the Bren. Initially, rifles were converted from obsolete Magazine LeeMetford and Magazine LeeEnfield rifles[57][58] but from the First World War onwards SMLE rifles were used instead. The No. [64], After the Second World War, the Rifle, No. 4 Mark I rifle was adopted on Nov. 15, 1939. 4 Mk I was officially adopted in 1941. 5 iron sight line was similar to the No. with lettered prefixes. 4 rifle as well. It is one of 2500 out of 25,000 made by BSA. 32 3.5 telescopic sight. 4 Mk I (T) and No. 4 rifle was further simplified for mass-production with the creation of the No. This puts collectors into a spin trying to figure it out and fake is called!. Thank you for your time. p. 372. "55" is for 1955. Most of the Canadian made No.4 Mk.I* (T) sniper equipments went into British service. Smoothbored shotguns could be legally held with far less trouble. 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. 2/1s (Mk. A super nice example exhibiting many L over B marked parts and early features - low side fore wood and rounded cocking piece. 4 Mk 2 rifle, the British refurbished many of their existing stocks of No. 3 standard) were later modified for use with the 7.6251mm NATO L42A1 Sniper Rifle. [99], 'Khyber Pass Copies', as they are known, tend to be copied exactly from a 'master' rifle, which may itself be a Khyber Pass Copy, markings and all, which is why it's not uncommon to see Khyber Pass rifles with the 'N' in 'Enfield' reversed, amongst other things. The No. The original bolt would be proofed to 18 ton's per square inch of pressure. This example was built by Canadian Arsenals and was one of only 50,000 built at this period of time at the Long Branch facility. The same six serials were used on the six rifles, but not necessarily applied to the exact same ones. [84] The appearance of the L8 series rifles were no different from the original No. Indian police officers carrying SMLE Mk III* and Ishapore 2A1 rifles were a familiar sight throughout railway stations in India after Mumbai train bombings of 2006 and the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. The British probably used helical locking lugs to allow for chambering imperfect or dirty ammunition and that the closing cam action is distributed over the entire mating faces of both bolt and receiver lugs. [53] These rifles were designated as the No. Indian Merchant Service who died 30/12/1915 BOMBAY 1914-1918 MEMORIAL, MUMBAI India. But here is the thing, that number on that No 4 is stamped in an area where some manufacturers stamped the year it was made. I am afraid I must disagree with Shane's opinion on Lee Enfield rate of fire. 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. Rifle & Carbine Serial Number Log. I have no clue what this kind of gun is worth, I guess it is whatever someone will pay. India: In service during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. VIEWS British "Enfield" rifles are some of the most iconic small arms in the world. All 7 of my Lee Enfields (2 SMLE No. The No. The wood shows scuffs and bruises from handling - may clean up even nicer, metal is 90+ condition original finish. It is like detective work trying to figure out the clues. Many surplus LeeEnfield rifles were sold in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States after the Second World War, and a fair number have been 'sporterised', having had the front furniture reduced or removed and a scope fitted so that they resemble a bolt-action sporting rifle. What should I mark down for insurance value? 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. 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. Short Magazine LeeEnfield Mk I (1903), Swedish Army Museum, Stockholm. Often the serial number would be obscured by the Suncorite when refinished, so it was practice to restamp the serial onto the left wrist socket. Very collectable in its own right but still not rare. [14] Top-notch accuracy is difficult to achieve with the LeeEnfield design,[40] as it was intended to be a battle rifle rather than a sharpshooter's weapon,[40] and thus the Enfield is nowadays overshadowed by derivatives of Paul Mauser's design as a target shooting arm. Identifying Serial Numbers Hi guys, A friend just inherited his father's Lee Enfield and doesn't know anything about it. I have no clue. Thailand: (the contract was concluded on 10 December 1920 when the king received shipment of 10,000 rifles.). 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 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. Vietnam: Vit Minh captured LeeEnfields from French forces. The gun itself is in very good condition. Externally the new rifle is very similar to the classic Mk III*, with the exception of the buttplate (the buttplate from the 1A SLR is fitted) and magazine, which is more 'square' than the SMLE magazine, and usually carries twelve rounds instead of ten,[88] although a number of 2A1s have been noted with 10-round magazines. is there a site or data base of Enfield serial numbers where a person could track their rifle back to place of manufacture, deployment etc.? Long before the No. The LeeSpeed Sporter was a higher quality British made version of the LeeEnfield. The LeeEnfield family of rifles is the second oldest bolt-action rifle design still in official service, after the MosinNagant. 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). BSA Shirley undertook 100 conversions to .22'. Matching serial numbers. Small numbers of LeeEnfield rifles were built as, or converted to, experimental automatic loading systems, such as the British Howell and South African Rieder and the best-known of which was the Charlton Automatic Rifle, designed by a New Zealander, Philip Charlton in 1941 to act as a substitute for the Bren and Lewis gun light machine guns which were in chronically short supply at the time. 1 Mk. If no one knows, then is there a place where I could go to figure out the manufacture date? Published by Ian D Skennerton, PO Box 80, Labrador 4215, Australia, 2001. [10][11] The WWI versions are often referred to as the 'SMLE', which is short for the common 'Short Magazine LeeEnfield' variant. [10] Both underwent a minor upgrade series in 1899 (the omission of the cleaning / clearing rod), becoming the Mk I*. MAGAZINE LEE RIFLES & CARBINES Lee-Metford Lee-Enfield Note: Charger loaders and conversions are family. [18][19], The LeeEnfield was adapted to fire the .303 British service cartridge, a rimmed, high-powered rifle round. Nigeria: Used by the Nigeria Regiment and then by Nigerian Army. Lee-Enfield No 4 Mk 2, .303 British. RFI, in India, converted a large number of MkIII rifles to single shot muskets, chambered for the .410 Indian Musket cartridge. III* rifles by adding a heavy target barrel, cheek-piece, and a World War I era Pattern 1918 telescope, creating the SMLE No. 1 Mk VI also introduced a heavier 'floating barrel' that was independent of the forearm, allowing the barrel to expand and contract without contacting the forearm and interfering with the 'zero', the correlation between the alignment of the barrel and the sights. I (T) chambered in .303 British. [83] The LeeEnfield No. In good looking condition, this was the last year they were ever made. Often the serial number . 1 Mk. 4 rifles, selected for their accuracy during factory tests, were modified by the addition of a wooden cheek rising-piece, and telescopic sight mounts designed to accept a No. 303 british identification 303 british rifle identification 303 british serial number search 303 british serial numbers Many Mk. [14] LeeEnfield rifles are still popular in the region, despite the presence and ready availability of more modern weapons such as the SKS-45, the AKM, the Chinese Type 56 assault rifle, and the AK-74. 1930 (trials only; 1,025 produced and leftover parts assembled into rifles early in WWII), 1931present (2,500 trials examples produced in the 1930s, then mass production from mid-1941 onwards). We cannot say for certain it is a year, nor can we say for certain much of anything else about that number. Again Big B, you have a very collectable and sought after rifle and in pristine condition would fetch a handsome sum of money. 4 action was similar to the Mk VI, but stronger and most importantly, easier to mass-produce. The Birmingham made version reads "1853" over "ENFIELD." Neither one is period correct but besides an early four digit serial number, the lock plate is a quick way to identify a 1st generation Birmingham made Parker Hale. [77] Similar developments were the South African Rieder and Charlton of Australian/New Zealand origin. I* (T) sniper rifles. Such rifles would have 5-digit serial numbers with either an "E" or an "F" serial number prefix, and the serial number would be stamped on the rear of the bolt handle and on the bottom of the fore-end, as well as on the receiver ring. Enfield Trials Rifle . Lee Enfield SMLE MKIII * - .303 British $ 799.00 For sale is a Lee-Enfield SMLE MKIII* bolt action rifle in .303 British. Israeli female soldiers equipped with the SMLE Mk III during the 1948 ArabIsraeli War. They were supplied to the UK under the Lend-Lease programme during the Second World War. SMLE serial numbers. Other Equipment. The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, Small Arms Limited and later, Canadian Arsenals Limited, Spelling errors in the markings; as noted the most common of which is a reversed 'N' in 'Enfield'), V.R. Still have it. 1* is functionally the same as the Mk.1, but various changes were made in the design to make the manufacturing process faster. 4 Mk. BSA Co. 1917 dated, mag cut-off, matched serial numbers. Greece: Used by Hellenic armed forces during World War II and post-World War II period. I and converted to sniper equipment by Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield early in 1942. Serial number is of 1950s and date stamped 1942? 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 . 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. There were more than 317,000 Mk I MLE rifles produced and nearly 600,000 Mk I* MLE rifles. 5 Mk I as a 'Jungle Carbine'. Despite a rubber butt-pad, the .303 round produced excessive recoil due to the shorter barrel. The insurance guy I use has no clue on guns, I have asked before. 5 Mk I (the 'Jungle Carbine'). [32] The Lithgow Small Arms Factory finally ceased production of the SMLE Mk III* in 1953.[27]. The 7mm Mauser rounds fired from the Mauser Model 1895 rifle had a higher velocity, flatter trajectory and longer range, making them superior on the open country of the South African plains. [74], In the early 1950s Essential Agencies Ltd. The magazine cutoff was also reintroduced and an additional band was added near the muzzle for additional strength during bayonet use. 2s Modified to Mk. No5 rifles (Jungle Carbines) serial numbers consisted of a sequential 4 digit number starting with 0001 running through to 9999, the numbers were preceded by a letter prefix. Republic of China (19121949): used during Warlord Era. 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