Question regarding Enfield/1911 SHT L.E. IV COND IV

[ctbea]

Hi,
I just joined milsurps and I'm finding so many good categories that apply to my collection and the many questions I have had.

This one applies to a .22 converted Sht L.E buiult on a No.! Mk3 stock.

My question relates to the magazine, stamped ".22"...its just an open shell looking from the open action...a great place to drop a 22LR. Were there any plates or other devices that filled this void or was it just a single shot and hope the rifleman did not have fumble fingers?
The right side of the collar is marked " (crown)/ENFIELD/1894/SHT.22/IV*." The left side is marked " ENFIELD/1911/SHT L.E./CON D IV ." The receiver is marked "a / 3615 " with the forend and buttstock numbered to match. The top of the receiver ring and right buttstock medallion carry Canadian arrow markings. I see no number markings on the bolt or handle.

Any information regarding this rifle and the magazine opening would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Darryl

Information

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[Gil Boyd]

Hi Darryl,
Firstly welcome to the site.
Do you have any photos you could put up regarding your question, as I read it two different ways, also a number!

[ctbea]

OK, I've taken a few pictures into a "gallery" that I've royally messed with. I have no idea if I can now include them but I'll give it a try.....nope. Guess I'll need a more intuitive procedure to make this work. You may be able to access my so called "gallery entitled "ctbea gallery of firearms" ...not very original. I don't know how open the access is. Assuming you will NOT be able to observe the three pics of the left and right wrist markings and the receiver (the pic makes the preceding letter look more like a Q rather than a script "a") please let me now what areas you'd like to see and I'll do my best to get them to you.
Darryl

[Gil Boyd]

ctbea,
If you type into the white Search Milsurps.com panel on the upper right :

How do I upload pictures to my posts for storage on milsurps.com?

You can see how to do it on here.

[bigduke6]

Hi,
I just joined milsurps and I'm finding so many good categories that apply to my collection and the many questions I have had.

This one applies to a .22 converted Sht L.E buiult on a No.! Mk3 stock.

My question relates to the magazine, stamped ".22"...its just an open shell looking from the open action...a great place to drop a 22LR. Were there any plates or other devices that filled this void or was it just a single shot and hope the rifleman did not have fumble fingers?
The right side of the collar is marked " (crown)/ENFIELD/1894/SHT.22/IV*." The left side is marked " ENFIELD/1911/SHT L.E./CON D IV ." The receiver is marked "a / 3615 " with the forend and buttstock numbered to match. The top of the receiver ring and right buttstock medallion carry Canadian arrow markings. I see no number markings on the bolt or handle.

Any information regarding this rifle and the magazine opening would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Darryl

Darryl,

The magazine is just an empty shell on most SMLE.22's, to catch the spent case it is a single shot.
Your rifle started life as either a .303 Magazine Lee-Metford Mk1* or Mk 11 as the date falls between these two Mk's, but considering the left side markings it would be a Mk11.

With the "Enfield 1911 Sht LE ConD IV" (Conversion) on the left these conversions were converted from MK 11 and Mk11* Lee Metford rifles and Lee Enfield Mk 1 and Mk 1* rifles and up graded to the MK 111 SMLE pattern.

The .22 conversion come later on after 1921 with yours it has the .22 marked mag, which was added after 1925.

A very nice an interesting rifle with some fascinating history (to some) and something I'd certainly take in and add to my collection, I would not worry about the condition of the barrel some are awful some nice, my two look like sewer pipes and require regular oiling and cleaning without use....... but print nicely on paper. Try and get some full pictures of it, in the UK prices vary around £700 + when you look at the history of these rifles and also the conversions they have had in throughout the years, I've often said they must be the greenest rifle there is due to the recycling they have gone through, your wood work (fore-end) is probably the original which was converted when it was converted to a Mk111.

[ctbea]

Many thanks to Mr. Boyd for advising on the picture additions. I'll try this again.
Also many thanks to Bigduke6 for your information regarding my rifle and the empty magazine.
Here are the few pics I've made to start with. If there are other markings of interest, let me know and I'll snap a few more. I noticed the bayonet lug is marked with the SN Q3615 but the sight is stamped "G" 3615 (after the original sn of X82114 was lined out). Is there any reason for the change from "Q" to "G" in prefix markings of the SN?

[bigduke6]

Being the same number but different pre fix its probably just an error, a pic of the full rifle would be nice, apart from that, Shoot it and enjoy it, one good thing is won't cost a lot in ammo, most of my shooting now is .22 or pistol calibre's, any full bore is normally downloaded ammo.

.22 Trainers are very collectable and addictive so be aware.....