CroppyBoy said:
Hi there, this is my first post here and I was just wondering if anyone at all could help me.....
Thanks once again,
CroppyBoy
Hope this helps!
It's a Short Magazine Lee Enfield, No1 Mark III. It's what is referred to as a "Smelly Enfield" in some circles. They're a good solid rifle, kick like a mule and are very accurate. A 1962 model would typically sell for $125 USD.
A Brief History of the SMLE Mk III:
By the turn of the century the British War Office had determined that a new service rifle was required to replace the Magazine Lee-Metfords, Magazine Lee-Enfields (Long Lee's) and the Lee-Enfield Carbines. Deficiencies in these arms were specifically noted during the Boer War of 1899-1902, significant enough to warrant addressing. Certainly economy played it's part as what was requested was one rifle to take the place of both the Long Lee's and the Cavalry Carbines.
The task of designing this rifle was handed to the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield and by 1901 trials began on a new "short rifle". By December 1902 the Short Magazine Lee Enfield MkI (SMLE MkI) was adopted and production began in 1903 at RSAF Enfield. Soon to follow was RSAF Sparkbrook, Birmingham Small Arms Co. (BSA) and London Small Arms (LSA).
The SMLE (short referring to its length as compared to the Long Lee's) designed with compatibility in mind, allowed existing MLE's and MLM's to be converted to the new rifle with little effort and so during this same period many Long Lee's were converted to the SMLE pattern.
The SMLE MkI from its adoption through to 1914 underwent a series of upgrades and modifications. What started as the SMLE MkI finally evolved by 1914 to the SMLE MkIII. The MkIII being the most plentiful as it is the rifle that Great Britain fielded during World War I. Through the course of the war, further modifications were made to the SMLE which resulted in the MkIII*, these changes were made in an effort to simplify and speed up production. Also with increased production in mind Standard Small Arms (SSA) and the National Rifle Factory (NRF) were contracted to produce SMLE's. These rifles became known as "peddled scheme" rifles as neither SSA nor NRF actually produced rifles from start to finish but rather assembled them from delivered parts. Joining England in the production of SMLE's were the rifle factories in Ishapore India and Lithgow Australia.
The SMLE MkIII and MkIII* provided Great Britain with an extremely battle hardy rifle. The Lee action design with, rear locking lugs and cock-on-closing bolt operation made the rifle very fast and relatively effortless to cycle. So quick in fact that German soldiers would think the British were armed with machine guns. Another benefit to the SMLE was its chamber dimensions that helped in preventing jams caused by the conditions of the battlefield. So successful was the SMLE design, Canadian troops armed with the infamous Ross rifle would conveniently loose them during battle and claim a discarded SMLE in order to carry on their fight. The SMLE, which became known as the Rifle No1 MkIII, this due to a government nomenclature change in 1926, carried on to equip the British and Commonwealth countries right up to and including World War II.
Production of the SMLE rifle continued at BSA Co. until 1943, Lithgow Australia until 1956 and Ishapore India produced them until 1974. It was Ishapore that in the 1960's developed a SMLE patterned rifle chambered for the 7.62mm NATO cartridge, this rifle was designated the 2A and 2A1.
All this makes the SMLE one of the longest produced military rifles of modern history. SMLE's or Smelly's can still be seen in the hands of troops to this day. Pretty good for a design that was first developed in 1879.
History: The Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE), affectionately referred to as "smelly," was originally adopted in 1902 and served with British, Commonwealth, and Indian forces, in one form or another, well into the 1970's. The Indian Ishapore factory produced No. 1 Enfields, throughout the much of the century. In the 1960's they began producing No 1 Enfields chambered for the 7.62x51 NATO round. These Enfields were designated as either the Enfield 2A or 2A1. The 2A(1)s are reportedly made with stronger steel to handle the higher chamber pressure produced by the 7.62x51 NATO round.
ISHAPORE RIFLE PARTS:
India produced a large number of SMLE rifles of various marks. Most of these were produced at the rifle factory in Ishapore (Bengal). Indian produced rifles are stamped RFI (Rifle Factory Ishapore) and rifles produced while India was a British colony are marked GRI (
George Rex Imperiatus, King George- Emperor) whereas on post independence rifles the British crown stamp is replaced with the Indian Ashoka.
Slightly different production methods and available materials (especially wood) means that there are several varations in components unique to rifles produced in India. Widespread use of Indian produced rifles by British and other empire troops, and the large number of rifles repaired in Indian arsenals means that Indian components are frequently found on rifles originating in the UK or Australia. Indian marks (especially FTR stamps) can be found on No4 rifles although India did not produce No4s.
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