[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. [108] The Tongan security forces also retain a substantial number of No.4 rifles donated from New Zealand's reserve stocks.[108]. 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. The British military switched over to the 7.6251mm NATO round in the 1950s; starting in 1970, over 1,000 of the No. Thank you for your time. Early models of the LeeMetford and LeeEnfield even used a short length of chain to secure the magazine to the rifle. 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. 303 Mk. The No. for the rest of the story you need to post some really good photos , there is a question or two that jump to mind but ill leave those to the more knowledgeable among us . The No. 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. 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. 4 Mk. 4 Mk I* and No. These design features facilitate rapid cycling and fire compared to other bolt-action designs like the Mauser. The two Charlton designs differed markedly in external appearance (amongst other things, the New Zealand Charlton had a forward pistol grip and bipod, whilst the Australian one did not), but shared the same operating mechanism. I, Mk. It's not stamped all that well so that doesn't help. Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership Discuss anti-gun legislation Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses [55], Numbers of LeeEnfield rifles were converted to .22 calibre training rifles,[56] in order to teach cadets and new recruits the various aspects of shooting, firearms safety, and marksmanship at a markedly reduced cost per round. 10. During World War I alone, more than 2,000,000 SMLEs were made at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock, Middlesex (Reynolds 1960: 180). I (T). 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. 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? [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. Perhaps this is how the 1950s serial got onto a 1942 rifle? Japan: Captured from British Army during World War II. 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. 4 variants, Katanga: bought for police force but also used by army. I rifles were made for Trials. 4 MK. Numerous attempts have been made to convert the various single-shot .410 shotgun models to a bolt-action repeating model by removing the wooden magazine plug and replacing it with a standard 10-round SMLE magazine. It should be used only as a general guide. Most bolts were copper plated for identification. LeeEnfields are also popular with competitors in service rifle competitions in many Commonwealth countries. 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. That is. if the 1942 denotes year. I/L bayonet, which has a rotating handle and a large ring on the cross-guard was not for the No. 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. [14], Many people still hunt with as-issued LeeEnfield rifles, with commercial .303 British ammunition proving especially effective on medium-sized game. Are you interested in CNo7 serial numbers as well? Yes, I know, I should get out more! I assume it's a Canadian longbrance, but I am a bit confused as a web post puts this serial number around 1950? [104] The CIA's Operation Cyclone provided hundreds of thousands of Enfields to the Mujahideen, funneling them through Pakistan's ISI. [48] The No. All 7 of my Lee Enfields (2 SMLE No. 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. 4 Mk 1 rifles so upgraded were re-designated No. 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. The No. 1 Mk III to the 7.6325mm Mauser pistol cartridge. 4 Mk I Long Branch aperture sights, LeeEnfield No. The Arsenal Rifles Lee Enfield No.4 mk1 identification. IV[60] from 1921 onwards. III (Mk. 4 Mk. 4 MK. [43], In the years after the Second World War, the British produced the No. These were known as .22 Pattern 1914 Short Rifles[59] during The First World War and Rifle, No. [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 Serial Number is located on the right side of the receiver ring. Greece: Used by Hellenic armed forces during World War II and post-World War II period. It was introduced in service in the 1970s. 5 groove Rifling in excellent condition. General Great War Discussion. The wooden cheek-piece was attached with two screws. It was the British Army's standard rifle from its official adoption in 1895 until 1957. Most of these were 1931 and 1933 dated No. [14] Soft-point .303 ammunition is widely available for hunting purposes, though the Mark 7 military cartridge design often proves adequate because its tail-heavy design makes the bullet yaw violently and deform after hitting the target.[109][110]. A transitional model the No. The No. Along with this will be the model designation, and below this, the serial number. No. If it's a 1942,it will more likely then not,have the rear release tab for the bolt. 4 Mk I* rifles that were brought up to Mk 2 standard were re-designated No. Grizzley1 Registered Joined Aug 31, 2014 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). I do remember reading something by Peter Laidler, so forgive me if I dont recall it correctly. So it is possible to have a Long Branch serial applied to a Maltby, or a Maltby serial applied to a Faz. The latter will have an engraving on the flat side of the receiver which will read something like (taking one of my rifles as an example), F(FTR)49. [35], In 1926, the British Army changed their nomenclature; the SMLE became known as the Rifle No. 1 Mk. 4 rifle was heavier than the No. This means that final head space is not achieved until the bolt handle is turned down all the way. In the early 1930s, a batch of 2,500 No. 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. II in 1943 and finally the Mk. These were similar to the No. The initial BSA batch of L1A1 rifles for the quarter ending December 31 in 1957 was UB57 A1 - A870. Serial number- 37978. Anschutz target rifles fall into this category, and their system is given on the page for these rifles. A further likely consideration was the difficulty of obtaining replacement ammunition in the event of the rifle's theft or the carrier's desertion. Italy: post-World War II Italian Army and Navy. 4 Mark I rifle was adopted on Nov. 15, 1939. [111][112] (For more information see Gun politics in the United Kingdom and Gun politics in Australia. 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. I assume its a Canadian longbrance, but I am a bit confused as a web post puts this serial number around 1950? 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. The rest of the story is that this carbine was accepted into New Zealand service in 1899 and was assigned inventory number 1909. [10] Both underwent a minor upgrade series in 1899 (the omission of the cleaning / clearing rod), becoming the Mk I*. 1 Mark III and No. Several First World War accounts tell of British troops repelling German attackers who subsequently reported that they had encountered machine guns, when in fact it was simply a group of well-trained riflemen armed with SMLE Mk III rifles. 1* is functionally the same as the Mk.1, but various changes were made in the design to make the manufacturing process faster. I've just purchased a 1942 stamped Lee Enfield rifle which has a number 93L8939. It is like detective work trying to figure out the clues. 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'. 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. 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Operation Cyclone provided hundreds of thousands of Enfields to the 7.6251mm NATO round the... ( 2 SMLE No Laidler, so forgive me if I dont recall it correctly the.. Pistol cartridge was not for the No of time at the Long Branch applied! Numbers as well the bolt handle is turned down all the way quarter ending December 31 in was. Number 93L8939 number but I am a bit confused lee enfield serial number a web post puts this serial number, with.303... Number but I am a bit confused as a web post puts this serial number all. For police force but also used by Hellenic armed forces during World War II and post-World II...
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