Short barrelled SMLE No. 1 Mark III or Mark III*?

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01 June 2008, 00:41

Naphtali

Short barrelled SMLE No. 1 Mark III or Mark III*?

Several countries from the beginning of the twentieth century through the end of World War I equipped cavalry or artillery units with short barrelled versions of their standard infantry rifle.

Through the end of World War I only, was any SMLE No. 1 Mark III or Mark III* -- from Great Britain or any part of the British empire -- made as a short barrelled version? If there was, please identify it as precisely as you can.

01 June 2008, 02:05

Edmond

All of them, SMLE stands for Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk I.

01 June 2008, 07:08

Naphtali

"SMLE," as nomenclature, refers to the change from Long Rifle Lee Enfield, that preceded it.

For my query, SMLE infantry rifle would be item #1. Any SMLE No. 1 Mark III/III* with shorter barrel than infantry rifle would be different items. If there is no SMLE No. 1 Mark III/III* prior to 1919 with such a shorter barrel, that's that.

01 June 2008, 19:13

Edmond

There is none. The first and only Lee Enfield Carbine is the WW2 Jungle Carbine.

01 June 2008, 22:05

Grizzly Adams

quote:
Originally posted by Grizzly Adams:
A light weight, shortened, modification of the No. 1 rifle, called the Rifle No. 6 {Aust} was developed at Lithgow, during WW ll. Never produced in quantity. Had to look this up in Small Arms of the World, since I remember seing one of these years ago. As I recall, it looked like the usual SMLE, except it had a shorter butt and a barrel of about 18" length.
Grizz

Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal. John E Pfeiffer, The Emergence of Man

Those who can't skin, can hold a leg. Abraham Lincoln

Only one war at a time. Abe Again.

02 June 2008, 00:34

Edmond

Interesting. Was there a picture? I stopped using this book after I found inaccuracies related to german and french weapons.

02 June 2008, 00:48

starmetal

Here are a couple websites Edmond.

http://cas.awm.gov.au/technology/REL/08458

http://www.rifleman.org.uk/Enfield_Rifle_No.6.html

In the second site posted the rifle at the bottom of the rifle pictures is a No. 6

Joe

02 June 2008, 10:09

Edmond

Oh! That one with the sight protection. I did not know it was made with early receivers. Thanks.
I doubt you find some in gunshows..

10 June 2008, 14:35

Sambar 9.3

It's not an early receiver Ed. It would have been a new production receiver taken off the line and sent to the tool room at Lithgow.
Remember that OZ only made the No1 Mk111 and 111* at Lithgow.
Even the No6 for the RAAF with the detachable 20 rd SLR mag was a tool room example with only around 50 or so made IIRC. It proved less troublesome to equip everyone with the SLR L1A1 than it did to dick around with SMLE conversions...

I have seen several No1 Mk111* with shorter than usual BBLs. The nose cap rear bayonet mount is literally touching the first BBL band. Where these were done is still debated, with some saying it happened at depot level, others at unit level.