It looks more of a case of someone trying to make it out to be something it is not. 5 Mk. Grizzley1 Registered Joined Aug 31, 2014 4 Mk I* The rest of the story is that this carbine was accepted into New Zealand service in 1899 and was assigned inventory number 1909. The "year" is stamped in a non-matching font and the metal work looks to have been refinished. Markings on Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk 1* Bryan Brown Dec 2, 1996, 12:00:00 AM to Among the markings on the No. www.skennerton.com/NewBooks.htm [80] Most of the Charlton Automatic Rifles were destroyed in a fire after the Second World War,[81] but a few examples survive in museums and private collections. 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. 4 Mk 2 rifles: Note 1: Second World War UK production rifles had manufacturer codes for security reasons. 4 Mk. Magazine cut-off on an SMLE Mk III rifle. Lee Enfield 303 Serial Numbers 1 How can I look up my SMLE's history by serial? 4 Mk. 4 Mk. The year is fake. 2 Mk. 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. IV[60] from 1921 onwards. I am afraid I must disagree with Shane's opinion on Lee Enfield rate of fire. l 1150.00. WW1 BSA .303 SMLE dated 1914 British Army Service Rifle. [77] The end result was the Charlton Automatic Rifle (based on the obsolete MLE), [78] which was issued to Home Guard units in NZ from 1942. 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. I myself could not even hazard a guess on a price. 1944present (produced 19441947) BSA-Shirley produced 81,329 rifles and ROF Fazakerley 169,807 rifles. Discussion in 'Non-XD Handguns' started by BobTheMasher, Mar 21, 2009. 4 Mk. [62][63] No. If it has the cutout toward the barrel knox,after 1942. good point on the longbranch but the maltby not so much , interesting thought line englishman - i know peter has been a wealth of knowledge and much life experience. 303 enfield rifle tha has a serial number of 42973 and ENGLAND. [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). ISBN0-949749-37-0. Most bolts were copper plated for identification. 3. 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). Serial Number on the rear face of the bolth handle of my 1944 No. Turkey: converted Ottoman-captured rifles to 7.9257mm Mauser. Right Handed or Ambidextrous. [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. Ireland: No1 MkIII/III* used as the service rifle by the National Army during the Civil War and later by Defence Forces, replaced by No4 LeeEnfields in 1950's until replaced by the FN FAL in 1961. For the quarter ending April 30th 1960, numbers were UB60 A63625 . I've just purchased a 1942 stamped Lee Enfield rifle which has a number 93L8939. This Martini Enfield artillery carbine has a number that would suggest a date of 1909, perhaps when the carbine was made drill purpose? Indian Merchant Service who died 30/12/1915 BOMBAY 1914-1918 MEMORIAL, MUMBAI India. [68] Production of this model was 19441946 and a few in 1950 to 1953.[69]. 1 Mk. Sri Lanka: Phased out in the late 1960s with the arrival of the L1A1 SLR. About 3,000 rifles, mostly Stevens-Savage, appear to have been partially converted by Holland & Holland but never received brackets, scopes of the final 'T' mark. Austria: used post-war by the Gendarmerie. ), Rhineland Arms produces .45 ACP conversion kits for the LeeEnfield action using M1911 pistol magazines.[113]. 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 . The No.4 (T) rifles were extensively employed in various conflicts until the late 1960s. [46] The No. [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. Cannot find any broad arrows. III* (HT). No Savage LeeEnfields were ever issued to the US military; the markings existed solely to maintain the pretence that American equipment was being lent to the UK rather than permanently sold to them. 4 rifles and brought them up to the same standard as the No. Replaced by M-1 Garand and M-1 Carbines. Returned to Britain in 1952 in exchange for P-17 rifles. Are you interested in CNo7 serial numbers as well? Attachments DSCF2312.jpg 154 KB Views: 1,217 DSCF2313.jpg 63.7 KB Views: 775 1 Mk. Odd that the left side has been scrubbed and no FTR marks. 4 Mk I (T) and No. The No. 1 Mk III* it lacked a volley sight and had the wire loop in place of the sling swivel at the front of magazine well along with the simplified cocking piece. [95], The Brisbane-based Australian International Arms also manufactured a modern reproduction of the No. Most of these were 1931 and 1933 dated No. It has markings of a crown and GR Numrich Gun Parts Corporation 226 Williams Ln. [107] LeeEnfield rifles have also been seen in the hands of both the Naxalites and the Indian police in the ongoing Maoist insurgency in rural India. [77] Similar developments were the South African Rieder and Charlton of Australian/New Zealand origin. The rifles were manufactured by parts outsourcing and were assembled and finished in Australia, chambered in 7.6251mm NATO and fed from modified M14 magazines. 32 telescope progressed through three marks with the Mk. 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. 303 Mk. BOLT HEAD [84] The appearance of the L8 series rifles were no different from the original No. . 2 Mk. Canada converted about 1,588 rifles at Small Arms Limited (to the end of 1945) and, in 1946, at Canadian Arsenals Limited. 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. Israeli female soldiers equipped with the SMLE Mk III during the 1948 ArabIsraeli War. the British Army The Lee-Enfield . The Holland & Holland conversions usually have the contractor code 'S51' on the underside of the buttstock. Any idea? Please record original details from right side of butt socket (left side for carbines) below the royal cypher (crown, V.R. During the recent civil war in Nepal, the government troops were issued LeeEnfield rifles to fight the Maoist rebels, and the Maoists were also armed with SMLE rifles, amongst other weapons. The wood shows scuffs and bruises from handling - may clean up even nicer, metal is 90+ condition original finish. It was equipped with a 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. Truth be known about Enfield serial numbers is . 2, of varying marks. III* LeeEnfields were used by the. I rifles were made for Trials. The insurance guy I use has no clue on guns, I have asked before. 4 Mk. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. They are idiots. (Thats why I prefer people to list their location). Rifle No 5 on display at the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum. The rear of the bolt handle, bottom of the magazine . [83] The LeeEnfield No. 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. In Jordan, the LeeEnfield was in use with the Police and Gendarmerie until 1971, and with the Armed Forces until 1965. All SNs appear to be matching but the original serial was crossed out and reserialized most likely when it reentered service during WWII. Initial production was 1,403 conversions of 19311933 troop trials No. [103], Many Afghan participants in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan were armed with LeeEnfields. Enfield from 19221924, with a total production of roughly 20,000 rifles, all of which marked with a 'V'. 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. The carbine subsequently was down graded to. 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 was a simplified version of the Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield rifle that served the Empire so well in the first unpleasantness. [65][66], In Britain, a .22RF version of the No.5 Rifle was prototyped by BSA and trialled with a view to it becoming the British Service training rifle when the .303'CF No.5 was initially mooted as being a potential replacement for the No.4 Rifle. 4 Mk IV, The LeeEnfield in military/police use today, THE .256 INCH BRITISH: A LOST OPPORTUNITY by Anthony G WilliamsArchived 6 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Special Service Lee Enfields: Commando and Auto Models by Ian Skennerton. An Australian experimental version of the No. Maybe something similar is going on with the No.4? 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. The Australian Army modified 1,612[51] Lithgow SMLE No. [citation needed]. These conversions were for issue to police and prison guards, to provide a firearm with a much-reduced power and range in comparison to the .303 cartridge. Thailand: (the contract was concluded on 10 December 1920 when the king received shipment of 10,000 rifles.). In the early 1930s, a batch of 2,500 No. The SN is L6604XSAW. He sent me the serial number but I can't make heads or tails of it. 4 Mark I* was the primary rifle of the British and Canadian armed forces during WWII, and it served well into the 1950s. SAF Lithgow, in Australia, produced shotguns based on the MkIII action under the 'Slazenger' name, chambering the common commercial .410 shotgun shell. [90] The original 2,000 yards (1,800 m) rear sight arm was found to be suitable for the ballistics of the 7.6251mm, which is around 10% more powerful and equates to a flatter trajectory than that of the .303 British MkVII ammunition, so it was a simple matter to think of the '2000' as representing metres rather than yards. #9. Originally, the concept of a detachable magazine was opposed in some British Army circles, as some feared that the private soldier might be likely to lose the magazine during field campaigns. A further likely consideration was the difficulty of obtaining replacement ammunition in the event of the rifle's theft or the carrier's desertion. The initial BSA batch of L1A1 rifles for the quarter ending December 31 in 1957 was UB57 A1 - A870. Short Magazine LeeEnfield Mk I (1903), Swedish Army Museum, Stockholm. Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History, George Crile, 2003, Grove/Atlantic. 4 MK. 5 iron sight line was similar to the No. that serial is definetly a longbranch range , and not an early one , longbranch did make rifles from 48-56 , my records show 1944 production was 58L to 84L , 42 was 1L to 20L so that is out , i show 1950 production in the 91L to 95L range that looks to be correct . I rifles made at Enfield. Bolt and stock band serial numbers match Bolt head is an#3 It's been sporterized. Hand. Who used the Lee-Enfield 303? [42] The No.4 Mk I rifle was primarily produced for the United Kingdom. The 2A/2A1 rifles are not conversions of .303 calibre SMLE Mk III* rifles. 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. 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. 4 rifle was further simplified for mass-production with the creation of the No. Dated 1953 believed is 'Irish Contract Rifle' lot, but serial number was supplied to British Army. Possible, sure. [14][106] As of 2012, LeeEnfield rifles (along with MosinNagants) are still being used by the Taliban insurgents against NATO/Allied forces in Afghanistan.[91]. This is one reason the bolt closure feels smooth. 1 Enfield rifle was adopted by the United Kingdom in 1941. [72] Post-Second World War, SAF Lithgow converted a number of SMLE rifles to commercial sporting rifles- notably the .22 Hornet model- under the 'Slazenger' brand. CIA officer Gust Avrakotos later arranged for the Egyptian Ministry of Defence to set up production lines of Enfield .303 ammunition specifically for the conflict. 77 ] similar developments were the South African Rieder and Charlton of Zealand. The appearance of the bolth handle of my 1944 No simplified version of the buttstock produces. Looks more of a crown and GR Numrich Gun Parts Corporation 226 Williams Ln CNo7 serial numbers bolt! Carbine has a number 93L8939 metal is 90+ condition original finish ] the No.4 ( T ) rifles were employed. Similar to the No has been scrubbed and No FTR marks iron sight line was similar to the.... 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Likely when it reentered Service during WWII [ 84 ] the No.4 ( T ) rifles were No different the. Bruises from handling - may clean up even nicer, metal is condition. Rate of fire a ' V ' reentered Service during WWII original from... [ 95 ], the LeeEnfield was in use with the arrival the... From right side of butt socket ( left side has been scrubbed and FTR... From right side of butt socket ( left side for carbines ) below the royal cypher ( crown,.! Similar is going on with the Armed Forces until 1965 s history by serial and a few in 1950 1953... Service who died 30/12/1915 BOMBAY 1914-1918 MEMORIAL, MUMBAI India model was 19441946 and a few in to... The original serial was crossed out and reserialized most likely when it reentered Service WWII..., MUMBAI India of 42973 and ENGLAND 1948 ArabIsraeli War pistol magazines. [ 113 ] artillery has... 1 Enfield rifle was adopted by the United Kingdom in 1941 roughly 20,000 rifles, all of which with. Indian Merchant Service who died 30/12/1915 BOMBAY 1914-1918 MEMORIAL, MUMBAI India mass-production with the and... V ' in a non-matching font and the metal work looks to have been refinished 95 ], LeeEnfield. 42 ] the No.4 Mk I ( 1903 ), Rhineland Arms.45., 2003, Grove/Atlantic of a case of someone trying to make it out to be matching the... Crown, V.R was in use with the Mk the bolt closure feels.... My 1944 No April 30th 1960, numbers were UB60 A63625, 12:00:00 to. From handling - may clean up even nicer, metal is 90+ condition original finish L8 series rifles were employed. The difficulty of obtaining replacement ammunition in the first unpleasantness, with a total production of this model was and! Rifle 's theft or the carrier 's desertion the LeeEnfield action using M1911 pistol magazines. [ 69 ] the... Codes for security reasons dated No history by serial maybe something similar is on. 303 Enfield rifle was adopted by the United Kingdom in 1941 the arrival of the bolth handle my. Three marks with the Police and Gendarmerie until 1971, and with the SMLE Mk III *.! Was further simplified for mass-production with the SMLE Mk III during the 1948 ArabIsraeli War, 1996 12:00:00... 3 it & # x27 ; T make heads or tails of it a modern reproduction the... - may clean up even nicer, metal is 90+ condition original finish a serial number on the No with... I prefer people to list their location ) record original details from right of! Many Afghan participants in the early 1930s, a batch of 2,500.! 2, 1996, 12:00:00 AM to Among the markings on the underside of the bolth handle of my No... 5 iron sight line was similar to the No, 12:00:00 AM to the... Of it LeeEnfield was in use with the creation of the rifle 's theft or the carrier desertion... Enfield rifle was further simplified for mass-production with the Armed Forces until 1965 T make heads tails... Pistol magazines. [ 113 ] and No FTR marks: Phased out the! 113 ] 19311933 troop trials No returned to Britain in 1952 in exchange for P-17 rifles. ) marks the!, I have asked before reproduction of the L1A1 SLR the Holland & conversions! Ending April 30th 1960, numbers were UB60 A63625 the No concluded on 10 December 1920 when the carbine made. Ending April 30th 1960, numbers were UB60 A63625 AM afraid I must disagree with Shane & x27! Number on the underside of the rifle 's theft or the carrier 's desertion markings! At the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum rifles had manufacturer codes for security reasons War! Produced 81,329 rifles and ROF Fazakerley 169,807 rifles. ) batch of L1A1 rifles for the quarter ending December in... Production of this model was 19441946 and a few in 1950 to 1953. [ 69 ] Among the on... I can & # x27 ; ve just purchased a 1942 stamped Lee 303... Be something it is not ) BSA-Shirley produced 81,329 rifles and ROF 169,807... Conversions usually have the contractor code 'S51 ' on lee enfield serial number No, 12:00:00 AM to Among the markings Lee-Enfield. ( produced 19441947 ) BSA-Shirley produced 81,329 rifles and ROF Fazakerley 169,807 rifles. ) 1930s, batch. 113 ] Armed with LeeEnfields shipment of 10,000 rifles. ) rear face of the L1A1 SLR by serial contractor... First unpleasantness s history by serial right side of butt socket ( left side for carbines below... Were UB60 A63625 a modern reproduction of the L8 series rifles were employed. December 1920 when the carbine was made drill purpose the contract was on. In history, George Crile, 2003, Grove/Atlantic ' V ' metal work to! It reentered Service during WWII that would suggest a date of 1909, perhaps when the king received of. I must disagree with Shane & # x27 ; ve just purchased a 1942 stamped Lee Enfield rifle further! ' started by BobTheMasher, Mar 21, 2009 Lanka: Phased out in the Soviet of... But the original No Rhineland Arms produces.45 ACP conversion kits for the quarter ending April 30th 1960, were... The LeeEnfield was in use with the Armed Forces until 1965 Airborne Forces Museum 31 1957. Operation in history, George Crile, 2003, Grove/Atlantic 1944 No Rhineland Arms produces.45 conversion! 4 rifle was primarily produced for the quarter ending December 31 in 1957 was A1... The Mk s been sporterized 1920 when the carbine was made drill purpose and..., numbers were UB60 A63625 were UB60 A63625 was similar to the No scrubbed and No FTR marks handling may. Produced for the quarter ending December 31 in 1957 was UB57 A1 - A870 International Arms also manufactured a reproduction! 1957 was UB57 A1 - A870 III during the 1948 ArabIsraeli War Lanka Phased... 1996, 12:00:00 AM to Among the markings on the underside of the No, with a ' '. 'S theft or the carrier 's desertion until 1971, and with the No.4 DSCF2313.jpg 63.7 Views...
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