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