303 British

[ottis]

I just gotten a british 303 with the markings SMLE Mk3 1916 on the grip and lots of other markings on the barrel,stock,action, and just about every other part. Can anyone segest were i can find out about the markings

[Anonymous Coward]

Here or here or here or here or here.

[ottis]

thans but i know about the guns history i was want to know about the markings on it.

[JimDog]

------------------------------------------------------------------------


MARKINGS, MAKERS, MODELS


SMLE No.1 MkIII and III*





British proofs stamped on breech end of barrel, receiver ring, bolt head, bolt body.





Serial number stamped on barrel breech, receiver, stem of bolt handle.





Other markings usually stamped on right side of butt socket, including a proof mark, manufacturer, date and model designation as follows, top to bottom:


<UL>

[*]Crown with letters G.R. (for George Rex) on top.

[*]Name or initials of manufacturer (one of the following):

<UL>

[*]ENFIELD (Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock, Middlesex, England)

[*]B.S.A.Co. (Birmingham Small Arms Co., Birmingham, England)

[*]L.S.A.Co. (London Small Arms Co., of London)

[*]ISHAPORE (Ishapore Arsenal, India)

[*]LITHGOW (Lithgow Arsenal, Australia)

[/LIST]

[*]The date (year) of manufacture.

[*]Model designation, as follows:

<UL>

[*]ShtL.E.

[*]III (or III*)

[/LIST]

</UL

The meanings of the model designations are as follows:





Mk III (WW1 production, w/magazine cutoff and metal disks inset in fore-end to accept the long-range "volley" sight)





Mk III* (wartime modification to speed production, eliminating magazine cutoff and "volley" sight disk)





The letters ShtL.E. mean "Short Lee-Enfield" (but are sometimes pronounced "Shittley" by those who don't like the rifle!). The abbreviation SMLE (Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield) is also used to describe these rifles. It is sometimes pronounced "Smellie", by fans and detractors alike! By the way, some folks claim "Short, Magazine" means it has a trimmer, slimmer magazine box than previous Enfields, but this is not so. The "Short" means the rifle is shorter in length than previous issues. The "Magazine" merely indicates, in British Armororese, that it HAS one.





In Britain, the No1 Mk III was discontinued in favor of the No4 in the late 1930s, but LITHGOW Arsenal in Australia continued to manufacture this rifle on through the end of WW2. One possible explanation for this is that by the time the No4 became standardized, the Japanese were occupying most of the South Pacific, and there was no way to ship the tooling and specifications for the No4 to Australia. Another possible reason is that the Aussies were happy with the No1 MkIII and saw no good reason to convert to the newer rifle. If someone can provide documented reasons for the Aussies' retention of the No1 MkIII, I'll happily add it to this document.

[JimDog]

Oh - I found that at http://www.9mmlargo.com/ - I guess I should give them credit. If you scroll down to the end of the page, there is a link to the "Lee Enfield FAX", which you can downoad a pdf file that will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about this rifle (and then some)...

[Warmouth]

Surplus stuff is cool.

I passed on a mint 98 mauser in 8mm a year or so ago, and have been kicking myself over it. What I really want though is a Swede.

[Rafe Hollister]

When you get tired of kicking yourself, just give me a call and I'll take over for you.

That would've been a sweet gun and could kill the heck out of deer.

[Warmouth]

I was going to have it rebarrelled to 257 Roberts, but since I've bought a 257R this year, there is now no need to do that. It would be an effective deer rifle though. The 8mm can be loaded to darn near 30/06 velocities.

A sweede in decent shape would be hard to pass up though.

[sharps4590]

Those '96 Mausers, (Swedes), used to be all over the place and cheap.....have they dried up? What are they going for now?

If I were ever to go back to modern cartridges I'd try to find a Mod 70 Fetherweight in 6.5 X 55, just like the one I used to have. Sweeeeeeet rifle

Vic

[Rafe Hollister]

One of my F.I.L.'s buddies showed up at deer camp one year with a 6.5x55 Swede. It may have been a Model 70, but I'm not sure. It was a flawless weapon and the round put the hurt on his buck that year.

[Triton X2]

ur welcome

[Hellbender]

Remington brought the Classic out in 6.5, but I don't know the exact year.

[Bbob]

1994

[RB]