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Hello, my name is Eddie and i have bought a 1944 303Enfield rifle from a guy out at work for $50.00. It has markings all over the rifle, such as III*, " mao ", " HV ", " BA ", " SMLE ", it has no clip but mabey you could help me with some of the terms or meanings of this rifle? It has stamped 101 on the wood underneith the front brass sling ring, not the butt. I sure would appritiate any help you could give me on this..........thank you Eddie
Here's a link that will help with official markings. :thup:
It's a site provided by Amatikulu with some good information to bookmark for the future.
Lee Enfield Rifle Markings (click here)
MA = Manufacturer's mark for Lithgow, New South Wales ,Australia
HV = Sighted for Mark VII high velocity ammunition
Pics would help, but $50 sounds pretty good to me ... ;)
Regards,
Badger
Eddie, In short it reads like you have a No.1 Mk.III* that was either manufactured or rearsenaled by Lithgow, in Australia.
Brad
I thank the both of you so very much, it does have a cracked stock, where the clip goes in underneith on the wood and by the way, where can i get a new clip ( clips ) for this kind of rifle, and is there only a ten round clip, do they make or can they make a twenty, thirty? IT has an " F " then numbers underneith it 88445 at the end of the barrel, and the same on the lever, and i see MA LITHGOW S.M.L.E. III* 1944 on the right side of the trigger, underneith the bolt action lever. I also would like to know if they make re-placement wood for these kinds of models? Very faintly you can see a "slaz" underneith and behind the trigger frame as well, and on top it has an "M" circled around it on top by the bolt action lever on the wood. I tried clicking on that link you posted for me but it wouldnt let me click on it for it to go through. So that is why i am asking questions again, i do appritiate all your help, like i said i paid $50.00 for this and ill try and get a picture posted so you all can see what ive purchased, ok. Thanks once again for all your answers.............Eddie
The proper magazine will have a rib going all the way down the back; the wrong one has the rib going only down halfway. See magazine compatability for a discussion about the difference. You will not find encounter larger magazines, although five round ones converted to suit state hunting laws may appear.
Decent wood for these is a problem these days, there is no newly made stuff, at least not in the US. For just 'a stock' that works then there are walnut Enfield ones about, Australian ones may be harder to find. Cracked ones can sometimes be repaired.
This rifle uses a magazines, not a clip. It is meant to be loaded from the top using chargers(stripper clips). The magazines are "tuned" to the rifle and are not always successfully interchanged. Each rifle was issued with one magazine and did not get another unless the original was damaged.
I want to thank you all for your help in this new but old 1944 Enfield 303 Rifle i have, I have not even shot a gun, rifle or shotgun ever since i was a teen, so im now getting back into this so bare with me on the terms but how am i going to learn if i dont ask questions? Anyway, i tried finding some 303 ammo yesturday and i cant seem to find any, id like to know if a 30-30 or 30'06 ammo would work with this rifle, or mabey someone can tell me what ammo to use so i dont do this wrong. Even walmart the other day are all out of gun cleaning kits believe that. So help me out folks, I have a 1944 303 Enfield Rifle that id like to shoot but what ammo would i use incase i dont find any 303 ammo for it, I do thank you very much for your information, any specs or details would be appritiated.......Eddie
Never ever try firing any cartridge in a firearm that it was not designed for! Commercial 303 can be found just google 303 ammunition I am sure you can find some. Most of us reload as the surplus ammo has become rare.