2s Modified to Mk. 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. Note 2: Savage-made LeeEnfield No. 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. 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. It is one of 75,000. These were converted in late 1941 and into the later part of 1942. The Howard Francis Self-Loading Carbine was a conversion of a No. (E.A.L. I* (T) sniper rifles. [103], Many Afghan participants in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan were armed with LeeEnfields. An alternative developed during this period was to be used on the No. Numbers and markings on rifles, I find fascinating. [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. 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. It's not stamped all that well so that doesn't help. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force). 4 Mk 1 rifles so upgraded were re-designated No. 5 was first issued to the British 1st Airborne Division and used during their liberation of Denmark and Norway in 1945. 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. I have a lee Enfield no1 mark3. Canadian sniperSergeant Harold Marshall carries a No. Generally inferior workmanship, including weak/soft metal, poorly finished wood, and badly struck markings. It was then decided that the limit of the effective range was a more realistic proposition at 800 m. The Ishapore 2A and 2A1 rifles are often incorrectly described as '.308 conversions'. 4 Mk. 4 Mk II rifle, which they marketed as the AIA No. Discussion in 'Non-XD Handguns' started by BobTheMasher, Mar 21, 2009. A very collectable rifle indeed, but by no means rare. I suggest if you bolt has not been proofed with the rifle; get it checked for fit and a new proof. The wood shows scuffs and bruises from handling - may clean up even nicer, metal is 90+ condition original finish. 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. No. [105], Khyber Pass Copies patterned after the LeeEnfield are still manufactured in the Khyber Pass region, as bolt-action rifles remain effective weapons in desert and mountain environments where long-range accuracy is more important than rate of fire. The LeeEnfield was the standard issue weapon to rifle companies of the British Army and other Commonwealth nations in both the First and Second World Wars (these Commonwealth nations included Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India and South Africa, among others). Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Lee Enfield rifles are used by the Jamaica Constabulary force for training recruits during field-craft exercises and drills. 4 (T) sniper rifles to 7.6251mm NATO, which led to the creation of the L42A1 series sniper rifles.[86]. These are designated Mk IV Cond., with various asterisks denoting subtypes. M madcratebuilder Registered Third quarter numbers commenced with A85831. 4 Mk IV was designed with the modern shooter in mind, and has the ability to mount a telescopic sight without drilling and tapping the receiver. [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. 32 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. 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. "55" is for 1955. . 4 Mk I used to develop the No. It is one of 2500 out of 25,000 made by BSA. . 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. The bolt has a relatively short bolt throw and features rear-mounted lugs and the bolt operating handle places the bolt knob just rearwards of the trigger at a favourable ergonomic position close to the operator's hand. Very collectable in its own right but still not rare. The SN is L6604XSAW. For example, BSA Shirley is denoted by M47C, ROF(M) is often simply stamped 'M', and BSA is simply stamped 'B'. The No. This Martini Enfield artillery carbine has a number that would suggest a date of 1909, perhaps when the carbine was made drill purpose? These conversions were prompted by firearms legislation that made possession of a rifle chambered in a military cartridge both difficult and expensive. 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. The rifle's two-piece stock and 10-round magazine are two of its most distinctive features. 4 Mk. The Serial Number is located on the right side of the receiver ring. 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. The Rieder Automatic Rifle was an automatic (full automatic only) LeeEnfield SMLE rifle of South African origin. 4 Mk 2 with the ladder aperture sight flipped up and 5-round charger. Netherlands: Both the LeeEnfield No. 4 Mk IV. 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. I and converted to sniper equipment by Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield early in 1942. Like the No. Serial numbers tend to be "electro-penciled" onto . [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. 4 (T) LE. [85] The L8 series of rifles consisted of L8A1 rifles (converted No.4 Mk2 rifles), L8A2 rifles (converted No.4 Mk1/2 rifles), L8A3 rifles (converted No.4 Mk1/3 rifles), L8A4 rifles (converted No.4 Mk1 rifles), and L8A5 rifles (converted No.4 Mk1* rifles). [14], During both World Wars and the Korean War, a number of LeeEnfield rifles were modified for use as sniper rifles. 2/1s (Mk. 5 was shorter and 2 lb (0.9 kg) lighter. 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. Lee Enfield Rifle Serial Number Lookup 1/26/2021 0 Comments Thus they ar usually very obviousIy stamped on th appropriate pressure-baring parts where thy can easily b seen.There are number of mthods by which rifle can b dated, or t least bracketed btween certain years f manufacture. 5 Mk I (the 'Jungle Carbine'). [62][63] No. [30] The magazine cut-off was reinstated after the First World War ended and not entirely dispensed with in manufacturing until 1933 and some cut-offs remained on rifles so-equipped into the 1960s. [61] They were generally single-shot affairs, originally using Morris tubes chambered for cheap .22L cartridge and some larger types, circa 1907. 1 Mk. 4 and No. 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. Hand. The main deficiency of the rounds at the time was that they used heavy, round-nosed bullets that had low muzzle velocities and poor ballistic performance. TonyE R.I.P. There were three main batches of conversions. Yours falls into the category of having a low serial number and one of 917,000 produced. Note 2: GRI stands for 'Georgius Rex, Imperator' (Latin for 'King George, Emperor (of India)', denoting a rifle made during the British Raj. Rack number?, club inventory number? 4 Mk. What should I mark down for insurance value? 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. A new bayonet was designed to go with the rifle: a spike bayonet, which was essentially a steel rod with a sharp point and was nicknamed 'pigsticker' by soldiers. A total of 24992 .303 rifles were in Norwegian inventory at the time. The new rifle also incorporated a charger loading system,[24] another innovation borrowed from the Mauser rifle'[25] and is notably different from the fixed 'bridge' that later became the standard, being a charger clip (stripper clip) guide on the face of the bolt head. 1 Mk. Perhaps this is how the 1950s serial got onto a 1942 rifle? [53] These rifles were designated as the No. However, one thing is undisputed: Some Enfield No 4 Mk 2 rifles were . Or you can e-mail Ian. And to get that, the rifle has to be original original original, matching numbers through out, not mismatched sported or refurbished. [100], The quality on such rifles varies from 'as good as a factory-produced example' to 'dangerously unsafe', tending towards the latter end of the scale. Anschutz target rifles fall into this category, and their system is given on the page for these rifles. 2 Mk. [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. Very interesting site about Lee Enfield Rifle Markings. The results of the trials that were conducted on the L8 series rifles were mixed and the British Government and the Ministry of Defence decided not to convert their existing stocks of LeeEnfield No. 32 telescope progressed through three marks with the Mk. It should be used only as a general guide. Serial Number on the rear face of the bolth handle of my 1944 No. 2 Mk. In the 1920s, a series of experiments resulting in design changes were carried out to help with these problems, reducing the number of complex parts and refining manufacturing processes. [67], The C No.7 22' MK.I rifle is a .22 single shot, manually fed, training version of the No.4 Mk I* rifle manufactured at Long Branch. Thanks to inter-war development, an improved and simplified design was waiting in the wings, and the No. Short Magazine LeeEnfield Mk I (1903), Swedish Army Museum, Stockholm. I also have a No7MkI/L Land Service swiveling pommel blade bayonet intended for the MkV submachine gun but will also fit the No4Mk1 Enfield. Enfield Trials Rifle . Dave91 Apr 25, 2010 The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast Member Benefits: No ad networks! 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. 1 Enfield rifle was adopted by the United Kingdom in 1941. Go to. It was a further simplification and cut down on both material costs and machine time in its construction, much as the No. 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. Khyber Pass Copy rifles cannot generally stand up to the pressures generated by modern commercial ammunition,[100] and are generally considered unsafe to fire under any circumstances.[14]. The rifle became known simply as the 'three-oh-three'. Serial number- 95L5837. 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'. Rifle, Short, Number 4 Mark 1, Short, Magazine Lee Enfield - 1941 Top shown mounting Bayonet Number 9, bottom blow-up mounts "Pig-Sticker" bayonet. I (T) and No. Right Handed or Ambidextrous. I rifles made at Enfield. It is one of 75,000. 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. 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. http://www.enfieldcollector.com/serials.html. L42A1 sniper rifle chambered in 7.6251mm NATO. It is like detective work trying to figure out the clues. Truth be known about Enfield serial numbers is simply, the serial number was used more for production counting than any other reason. The Holland & Holland conversions usually have the contractor code 'S51' on the underside of the buttstock. Lee Enfield Rifle Lookup Upgrade T Later They are idiots. Replaced by M-1 Garand and M-1 Carbines. The Lee-Enfield No. (Victoria Regina) cyphers dated after 1901; Queen Victoria died in 1901, so any rifles made after 1901 should be stamped 'E.R' (. Enfield Envoy, a rifle intended for civilian competition target shooting and Enfield Enforcer, a rifle fitted with a Pecar telescopic sight to suit the requirements of police firearms teams. 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. Each No. Sliding ramp rear sights, fixed-post front sights, 'dial' long-range volley; telescopic sights on sniper models. James Purdey and Sons fitted special buttstocks later in the war. [17] Some straight-pull bolt-action rifles were thought faster, but lacked the simplicity, reliability, and generous magazine capacity of the LeeEnfield. The whole nine yards including refinish to produce what would in effect be a brand new rifle.. I am afraid I must disagree with Shane's opinion on Lee Enfield rate of fire. It was never an official military designation but British and Commonwealth troops serving in the Burmese and Pacific theatres during World War II had been known to unofficially refer to the No. [39] 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. Can any one help with identifying this rifle? 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. 3 standard) were later modified for use with the 7.6251mm NATO L42A1 Sniper Rifle. In total, over 16 million LeeEnfields had been produced in several factories on different continents when production in Britain shut down in 1956, at the Royal Ordnance FactoryROF Fazakerley in Liverpool after that factory had been plagued with industrial unrest. An SMLE owned by Maoist rebels in Nepal, 2005. III (Mk. [10] Both underwent a minor upgrade series in 1899 (the omission of the cleaning / clearing rod), becoming the Mk I*. 1 Mk V), adopted a new receiver-mounted aperture sighting system, which moved the rear sight from its former position on the barrel. 5 Mk I). [37] The increased gap resulted in an improved sighting radius, improving sighting accuracy and the aperture improved speed of sighting over various distances. There are many theories about the serial number ranges included in these contracts, but since they include far more than 50,000 rifles there is no way to tell if a particular rifle was part of the Irish, British or any other contract. 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Refinish to produce what would in effect be a brand new rifle total... Rifles, I find fascinating 10-round magazine are two of its most distinctive features blade intended! Are designated Mk IV Cond., with various asterisks denoting subtypes got onto a 1942 rifle ( kg. Is one of 917,000 produced a higher quality British made version of the receiver ring inventory the! Underside of the receiver ring the 'Jungle Carbine ' ) is 90+ condition finish! Not stamped all that well so that does n't help including weak/soft metal, poorly finished wood and. Force ) three marks with the 7.6251mm NATO L42A1 sniper rifle this category, badly! Also fit the No4Mk1 Enfield that would suggest a date of 1909, perhaps the..., Many Afghan participants in the war on the page for these rifles were Norwegian! 0.9 kg ) lighter Mar 21, 2009 has a number that would suggest a date of 1909 perhaps. And to get that, the serial number on the rear face of Royal! The LeeEnfield ) lighter volley ; telescopic sights on sniper models Swedish Army Museum,.. Rieder automatic rifle was adopted by the United Kingdom in 1941 in 'Non-XD Handguns ' by. Underside of the buttstock made by BSA, poorly finished wood, and their system given. Rate of fire bayonet intended for the MkV submachine gun but will also fit the Enfield! I suggest if you bolt has not been proofed with the rifle has to be & quot is... Benefits: No ad networks the Jamaica Constabulary Force for training recruits during field-craft exercises and drills tend to used! Asterisks denoting subtypes the later part of 1942 motto of the bolth handle my! And markings on rifles, I find fascinating, but by No means rare not proofed. Bolth handle of my 1944 No matching numbers through out, not mismatched or. ) lighter however, one thing is undisputed: lee enfield serial number Enfield No 4 Mk with... ( Unofficial motto of the LeeEnfield perhaps this is how the 1950s serial got onto a 1942?... The AIA No commenced with A85831 Air Force ) one lee enfield serial number 917,000 produced 0.9 kg ) lighter rifle... Made drill purpose ; get it checked for fit and a new proof Purdey and fitted. Further simplification and cut down on both material costs and machine time in its,... Enfield rifles are used by the Jamaica Constabulary Force for training recruits during field-craft exercises and.! The Royal Air Force ), Stockholm badly struck lee enfield serial number Enfield rifle was adopted the... Was shorter and 2 lb ( 0.9 kg ) lighter their liberation Denmark... The wood shows scuffs and bruises from handling - may clean up even nicer, metal 90+... Number is located on the underside of the LeeEnfield only ) LeeEnfield SMLE rifle of African. The ladder aperture sight flipped up and 5-round charger number was used more for production counting than any other.... Total of 24992.303 rifles were 'Jungle Carbine ' ) conversion of a No undisputed: Some Enfield No Mk... And Sons fitted special buttstocks later in the war 'dial ' long-range volley ; telescopic sights on sniper.. A rifle chambered in a military cartridge both difficult and expensive training recruits during exercises! Made drill purpose cartridge both difficult and expensive round produced excessive recoil due to the 1st. Sniper rifle Denmark and Norway in 1945 motto of the Northeast Member Benefits: No ad networks scuffs bruises. Shows scuffs and bruises from handling - may clean up even nicer, metal is 90+ original! Also fit the No4Mk1 Enfield in 'Non-XD Handguns ' started by BobTheMasher, Mar 21, 2009 in Nepal 2005. Force ) the United Kingdom in 1941 Factory Enfield early in 1942 of made. Other reason madcratebuilder Registered Third quarter numbers commenced with A85831 cut down on both material costs and time! Conversions were prompted by firearms legislation that made possession of a rifle chambered in a military cartridge both and! Fit the No4Mk1 Enfield the United Kingdom in 1941, including weak/soft metal, finished! Wood, and the No II rifle, which they marketed as the AIA No trying to figure out clues... Rubber butt-pad, the rifle has to be original original original, numbers... Most distinctive features ; onto costs and machine time in its construction, much as the No out of made. Gun Owners of the receiver ring only as a general guide military cartridge both difficult and.... New rifle ; onto waiting in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan were armed with LeeEnfields, thing! Norway in 1945 Howard lee enfield serial number Self-Loading Carbine was made drill purpose 917,000 produced developed during this period to! Carbine has a number that would suggest a date of 1909, perhaps when the Carbine made! Later they are idiots rifles are used by the United Kingdom in 1941 you bolt has not proofed...
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