Is this stamp correct? in The Lee Enfield Forum Forum

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Is this stamp correct?

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ShootLow77	Is this stamp correct?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 4 Jun 13 12 11:28 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None I just picked up what I believe is a 1918 SMLE #1 Mk III* (Mk 3 Star), Ser # 1 over 542xx, however, the stamp on the buttstock strap does not show the "" as I have seen on other Rifles. As can be seen on the attached photos, where the "" should be, there appears to be a misstamp, or some type of corrupted stamp. Can anyone recognize the stamp in question, and tell me if I do, indead, have an SMLE #1 Mk III* ? I do NOT have a "Volley Sight", nor a "windage adjustment", nor a "mag cuttoff". The butt I.D. brass plate is missing and the hole is plugged with a wooden plate. Thanks for any help. ShootLow77 Fayette County, WV
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Bear43		#1	[-]
Posts: 987 Jun 14 12 8:08 AM Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Youf rifle did indeed start life as a No 1 Mk III. You can see the faint on the wrist, but it was cancelled. Notice the horizontal line going through the ? Between the wars this was done for some reason or another. The was cancelled and a magazine cutoff would have been fitted. I am not sure if they went back to the windage adjustable rear sight. Your action body is slotted for the magazine cutoff as seen in your second picture. So, got any pics of the whole rifle? Oh, and welcome to the forum!
ShootLow77		#2	[-]
Posts: 4 Jun 14 12 12:13 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Bear43, Thanks for your response. It's great to peruse all the info presented on this site. I appreciate all that you, and the many other contributors, do to make my gun ownership interesting and fun. I was hoping you would tell me that my Smelly was special, for having single-handedly won the War, but I'll settle for the Truth, instead. I hope these additional photos will help to further identify this Rifle. It fires very nicely, the action is smooth and sure, and the bore is in fine shape. I haven't yet tested it's accuracy. This is the first I've heard of a "" stamp being "cancelled", but I only recently began learning about the Enfield. I will research that issue. The Ser # matches on the barrel, the receiver and end of the bayonet nose, but does not match the mag and bolt handle. A few questions, if you would be so kind: -Why would the "" have been cancelled? -If this Rifle was called "Sht L.E. Mk III*", but was then "cancelled", what should I call it now? -Is the "1" above the Serial Number actually part of the whole number, so that it should be "154225"? -Would this Rifle be happy with an apperture-type sight, such as the "PH-5C" I've read about, or would that be a bad thing to do?
Bear43		#3	[-]
Posts: 987 Jun 14 12 12:38 PM Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	-Why would the "" have been cancelled? I don't recall why it was done, but it happened in the '20's I believe. I'm sure others could shed more light on that. Notice that your barrel is stamped '23, right side, right in front of the receiver? That was when it was rebarreled and probably when the "" was cancelled. -If this Rifle was called "Sht L.E. Mk III", but was then "cancelled", what should I call it now? When these rifles were first made the nomenclature did not include the "No. 1" portion. Hence the "Sht L.E." marking. The name of the rifle at production time was the "Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk III". Notice that is where the SMLE comes from. In 1926 the nomenclature was revised and the rifle afterwards became the "Rifle, No 1 Mark III". Anyway, the rifle's name is still the same, the only difference between a Mk III and Mk III is a couple parts and the "*". Minor differences. -Is the "1" above the Serial Number actually part of the whole number, so that it should be "154225"? The item above the serial is probably the prefix letter. Without a good image of it it's tough to say. -Would this Rifle be happy with an apperture-type sight, such as the "PH-5C" I've read about, or would that be a bad thing to do? I say shoot it first and see how it does in general. You could put an aperture sight on it, but try it out first. You may just find you like it as is. I'm not familiar with the Parker-Hale sights, but if it requires and irreversible modifications to the rifle then I would NOT do it. Oh, and one final thing in case you didn't know. Your rifle was made by Birmingham Small Arms.
ShootLow77	Is This Stamp Correct?	#4	[-]
Posts: 4 Jun 14 12 1:38 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	-Is the "1" above the Serial Number actually part of the whole number, so that it should be "154225"? (Hope this photo helps) Yes, I agree that I should find out how accurate it is before installing any sighting aids. Good advice. Thanks. ShootLow77
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Bear43		#5	[-]
Posts: 987 Jun 14 12 2:57 PM Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That item above the serial number is the letter prefix I. So yes, it is part of the serial number, as in I-54225.
Ed Novak		#6	[-]
Posts: 4319 Jun 14 12 6:22 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The PH sight (and some others) do not require permanent modifications to the rifle but the PH5C is for the No.4 rifle, not the SMLE. I agree with Bear; shoot it first to see how well you like it. PH sights are NOT cheap! NRA Endowment member LECS #2 Air Force Association Life Member MOAA Member
ShootLow77		#7	[-]
Posts: 4 Jun 14 12 10:26 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Ed, I see what you mean; I just found a PH Sight on mybay, and GARSH!!! I think I'll stick with the iron sights for now, and wait for someone to give me a nice Peep sight as a gift. I have a nice "Armstrong" peep sight that I removed from my sporterized P14 Rifle when I got it. It's similar to a Lyman sight. I checked it today, but found that it will not attach to the SMLE. I won't violate my SMLE, so don't worry. Thanks for your response. ShootLow77
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