the smle (short magazine lee enfield) .303 infantry rifle

The Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee Enfield

Its predecessors, successors and accoutrements.

Tony EdwardsLecture to the HBSA

Imperial War Museum, London21st January 2011

Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association of Great

Britain

Magazine Lee Enfield Mark I*

Carbine Lee Enfield Mark I

Requests from South Africa:Lighter barrel

More free floating

Lighter butt

Longer top handguard

Nosecap for better bayonet fixing

Better backsight, further forward, larger “V”

Better trigger pull-off

Bead foresight

Higher sights above barrel

Loading by Chargers

Polished wood furniture

Watkin’s Improved Model 1901

Modified Model A

Modified Model B

SMLE Mark I

December 1902 LoC 11715

& September 1903

Pattern 1903 Bayonet

12 inch double edged bladeIdentical to Patt.’88 except for fitting

Chargers Marks I - IV

SMLE Mark I Cond.

November 1903 LoC 11948

Converted from MLM Mk.I

SMLE Mark II Cond.November 1903 LoC 11949

Converted from MLM Mk.II and MLE Mk.I & I*

SMLE Mark III

January 1907 Loc 13853

From LoC 13853 26 January 1907

SMLE Mark III – Principal changes:

Charger bridge on body

Rear sight improved and strengthened, U notch not V

Foresight changed to blade and improved

New bayonet to extend reach

Pattern 1907 bayonet

Based on Japanese Type 38

17 inch blade

Hooked Quillon until 1913

|Introductii

Introduction of the Ball Mark VII Cartridge

Mark VI Mark VII

Round nosed Spitzer

215 Gr. 174 Gr.

1970 fps 2440 fps

17.5 tons 19.5 tons

SMLE PatternsMark I New manufactureMark I Cond. From MLM Mk.IMark II Cond. From MLM Mk.II & II*, MLE Mk.I & I*Mark I* New Manufacture and from SMLE Mk.IMark II* Cond SMLE Mk.II Cond to Mk.I* standardMark I*** SMLE Mk.I* resighted for Mark VII ammunitionMark III New manufactureMark IV Cond MLM Mk.II & II*, MLE Mk.I & I* to Mk.III standardMark I** Naval SMLE Mk.I to Mk.III standardMark II** Naval SMLE Mk.II Cond to Mk.III standardMark II*** Cond SMLE Mk.II* Cond to Mk.III standardMark I** IP SMLE Mk.I* IP, SMLE Mk.I or SMLE Mk.II Cond to Mk.III

standard

SMLE Manufacturers:

RSAF EnfieldRSAF SparkbrookBSALSA

SSA/NRF

Lithgow from 1912

Ishapore from 1907

Pre-WWI production:

RSAF Enfield 1,000 new and 1,000 converted per week for the army

BSA 700 per week for Colonies

LSA 250 per week for Colonies

Lithgow 100 per week

Ishapore 100 per week plus 125 conversions per week

SMLE in World War One

Territorial and Colonial Forces still had MLEs with the Patt.’88 bayonet and SMLEs with the Pattern 1903 bayonet, sighted for

Mark VI ammunition

SMLE Mark III*January 1916 LoC 17622

(Production commenced late 1915)Omitted:

Long Range sightsWindage adjustment

Magazine cut-offLug on firing pin collar

Swivel lug in front of magazine

World War One production1916-17

New Rep’d

p.w. p.w.

RSAF Enfield 10,000 10,000

BSA 9,000

LSA 2,000

Peddled (SSA/NRF) 1,000

4,000,000 SMLE Rifles delivered in WWI

WWI SMLE Sniping Rifles

Principal types were:AldisPeriscopic PrismWinchester Plus a number of other suppliers:WattsEvansJeffriesPurdeyEtc.

Total 9,788 telescopic sighted rifles accepted

Periscopic Prism Co.

Aldis on Purdey Mounts

Winchester A5

Accoutrements

Optical SightsWire breakers and cutters

Grenade dischargers 20 round Magazine

Mudflap

Galilean Optical sights

Lattey Mark I

Others were Martin, Gibbs, Neill and BSA

Wirebreaker No.1 Mark I

WirecuttersNo.1 Mark II No.1 Mark I

No.2 Mark I No.4 Mark I

Grenade Discharging

First grenade was the “J” Pattern, approved as No.3 Mk.I in January 1915.

Range was adjusted by angle of rifle and by length of rod

Cup, Grenade, No.1 Mark I

Cup Discharger No.1 Mark I

20 round Magazine Mark I No.4200,000 made in 1918 by Linley & Co.

“Flanders Flap”

SMLE Mark V

Not announced in LoC

Approx 20,000 made between 1922-24

SMLE Mk.I & Conv. 91,118SMLE Mk.III 252,998SMLE Mk.III* 1,333,865

Rifle Stocks in 1924

Nomenclature changes May 1926

Rifle, SMLE Mk.III Rifle No.1 Mk.III

Rifle, SMLE Mk.III* Rifle No.1 Mk.III*

Rifle, Short, .22 RF Mk.IV Rifle No.2 Mk.IV*

Rifle No.1 Mark VIPrototype in 1923

Troop Trial rifles 1929-31

SMLE .410 MusketApproved for India September 1927

World War Two

BSA only organisation making the SMLE

Had made mainly foreign contracts during 1930s

BSA Smallheath production 1939-1943, but limited by bomb damage

“Dispersal Scheme” overseen by BSA 1941-44

Total c. 160,000

.22 inch Training Rifles

SMLE Aiming Tube Mark IApproved 1906

.22 inch Short Rifle Mark IIIApproved August 1912

.22 Inch RF Pattern 1914 Short Rifle No. IApproved May 1915

.22 Inch RF Pattern 1914 Short Rifle No. 2Approved April 1916

.22 Inch Pattern 1918Approved July 1918

.22 inch Rifle Mark IV, later No.2 Mark IV*Approved November 1921

THE END