ShtLE No1

I bought this rifle yesterday at a gun show for $135. I have a No.5 Mk1 and a Savage made No.4 Mk1 but I am just starting to gather knowledge on the early ShtLe rifles.
I have photographed all the stamps I could find but of course I do not know what they are all about except for the maybe the British proofs. The rifle is of course dirty and looks like it will clean up okay and the bore has strong rifleing but is dark and pitted. I still think it will shoot. Has the butt plate been replaced? The buttstock is loose in the socket and I haven't been able to get the butt plate screws loose so I can tighten it up, they are stuck good.
I worked a couple of the rustier spots with 0000 steel wool and oil and they did clean up fine.
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I'd say that you have a bit of a bargain there.

Irish SMLE MK I***

4015 of them were Imported by Interarms in February of 1961 directly from ireland. That is the only known import of these rifles into the US of A.

CR indicates the rifle has the MK III sight protector added, as well as having the rear sight assembly replaced with that of a SMLE MK III*.

I have a database of these rifles (~125 to date )and about 40 percent come up as CR rifles, the rest are ER and G marked.

The N on the blank stock disc is a naval marking, or so I am lead to believe, this is seen on many of these rifles. Your bolt is a recycled MLE bolt, not all that common to see on these rifles.

The WWII stamped safety spring is also seen on these rifles, many unserviceable rifles were reworked and issued during the great "emergency"in Ireland between 1939 and 1945. A large spares order from the UK in late 1941/early 1942 allowed this.

Very good deal and a nice example of this type of rifle.

If you are interested check out the gunboard forums there is a more detailed discussion on these rifles on that site, along with many of the areas that are subject to debate at this time.

regards

Frederick303

Very difficult to find in the USA without the CR, ER or G prefix with a new serial number. This BSA 1906 Mark 1*** is serial number s over 87176 with matching bolt,rear sight and '06 barrel and still with original serial number

Thanks for the great information fellas. Which of the marks denotes it was Irish issued?

Most of them will have the old serial number lined out and the new serial number with the prefix of CR or ER being the Irish issue. Not sure on the G marked, photo shows a Enfield 1904 with both original serial and Irish serial lined out with the new serial G 839 (bolt is G 837). Check your barrel to find the date could still be original

Nice rifle partner and at a good price ... :thup:

Check the MKL for another example of a MkI*** ... :)

1907 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) MkI*** Rifle

Also, an original untouched 1903 Mk1 ... :)

1903 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) Mk1 Rifle

Regards,
Doug

Here's another one for your list. Just happened to be trying to keep out of the snow and ckeaning up this one a bit today.
This rifle, an LSA, has been downgraded to EY/2 and is still a no star, but again renumbered. The rifle is probably best described as a "bingo card".
Attachment 32476Attachment 32475

How come the rifle I have only has one serial # and no line outs?

Your original serial number was scrubbed or removed during the rebuild

Quick correction to my first post. Number imported was 4,105, not 4015.

What a steal on that one. Hope someday to find something that nice so cheap.

Just as no one has said; these often show on gunbroker at or above $1,000. Yours is aged and in need of clean up but it is complete and a good overall package which is also a unique configuration, $150 is an awesome price.... can I also point you towards enfield resource.com as a good info source as well, cheers rjwnz

Very nice rifle and a GREAT price as well ! I've seen these rifles with a few different variants in their rebuild. Your rifle still has the original Mk.I rear hand guard with it's integrated sight protector removed... I've seen them with both the Mk.III "upgraded" rear sight protector and Mk.I integrated protector on the same rifle. Some of these rifles are still in complete Mk.I configuration having only their serial numbers changed, as is the case with mine.

I got the old girl apart(I had to wreck one of the butt plate screws to do it)and took some photos of the remaining marks. The butt stock, barrel, and the fore end stock have the same numbers on them.
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What a nice rifle. Does it have a Mk I or Mk III type butt swivel? I'm trying to gather parts for mine. Mines 1905 dated CR 1818. My butchered one cost me $90, so you did well.


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Actually, the rear sling swivel is missing, I need one too!

It could be either one that's why I asked. I like how the Mk I hand guard was converted to the Mk III type, the sight was changed. Interesting rifle.


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My G 839 (pictured in above post) still has the early rear sling swivel

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Originally Posted by Beerhunter

I'd say that you have a bit of a bargain there.

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Based on what I have been paying I'd say you made a bit of an understatement there. Nice score & pictures!

My 1907 Mk I*** wire wrapped serial no. G538 has the inletted type swivel. But the rest is MkI.


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My ShtLE MkI*** was built by Sparkbrook in 1904. All numbers are matching, but, it has a later type of rear handguard and rear sight protector. I have had the rifle for 44 years. The bore is excellent. The stock and front handguard wood nicely match. It has some arsenal wood repairs. The magazine appears original to the rifle. Serial# is CR814. The rear sight was replaced and its number cancelled. Barrel is marked 'HV' behind rear sight. The rifle still has the 'volley sights'. A good honest well used rifle.

My Aunt's Father, Jimmy Miller (from Wick, Scotland), served in the British Army during the Boer War and again was drafted during the 1st W.W. I was allowed to copy this picture of Jimmy Miller, over 40 years ago. It was said to have been taken in South Africa. It must date from around 1903-04. Jimmy is holding a SMLE Mark I. The rear sight guard and the 'charger guide' on the bolt head are visible.

Great picture! Looks like a recess under the cutoff? If so it could be a converted Lee Metford. Is that an SMLE ConD I or is it still an SMLE ConD II? Or it could just be a shadow and I'm seeing things. The M1903 bandolier is a touch!


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gsimmons: Regretably, the original of this picture of Jimmy Miller, Scottish Soldier, may have been lost with my Aunt's death four years ago. I have tried a detail shot of my copy. It appears this picture may date after 1906 changes were made to the MarkI Short L.E. (there appears to be a cut-off, there is a front stacking-swivel, the raised rear sight has a windgage, there appears to be a sling swivel lug in front of the magazine). I don't think its a converted stock and it lacks finger groves.

Not to get off subject. Nice rifle by the way. I didn't know the Irish had a navy back in the day.

At the risk is sounding like an idiot, how in the heck did the volly sights work, and is mine missing any of the volly sight parts?

To use the volley sights goes sort of like this:

Set the front "dial" part by moving the pointer around until it points at the desired range marked on the plate.
Then flip up the aperture sight arm which is next to the safety catch lever.
Look through the hole in the aperture, and raise the rifle muzzle until you can draw a bead on the lug on the dial pointer. The muzzle will be well up in the air.
Your rifle should then be set for INDIRECT lobbing fire at a target at that range. You don't actually sight at the target object itself with the volley sights.

Your rifle seems to have all the relevant parts still fitted.

Note that volley sights were not used by individuals, but rather by platoons or companies to blanket an area either where enemy troops were assembling or advancing. The Vickers made the volley sight irrelevant as it was far better at doing that.

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Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY

Based on what I have been paying I'd say you made a bit of an understatement there.

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I'm English. That's what we do.

BTW, ref a previous post. The volley sights are not necessarily for "Indirect Fire". Volley sights can and were used for "Direct Fire".

John's description of the use of volley sights is a good one.

Given the date, that rifle must have had a later forend. On one of that vintage, there usualy was a metal bit inletted into the rear of the forend that the squared off end of the buttstock bolt locked into. Always remove the forend FIRST! When I started collectiing Enfields many years ago I removed the buttstock bolt first and SPLIT the forend!!!!:eek::eek::crying:
Of course way back then, replacement timber was a lot easier to find.