"SMT.LE" marked receiver

[dirty doc]

Hi guys & gals, My first time on thread. I've had various Enfields, mostly Mk 4 all varients and a fine shooting Mk III. I just acquired a sporterized Lithgow Mk III and put back original wood. I've looked at scored of these over 40+ years of collecting and this is first I've seen with this marking. Instead of "SMLE", it is marked "SMT.LE". What does the "T." stand for in the stamping? Thanks, Doc

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[5thBatt]

It is SHTLE for Short Lee Enfield, only Lithgow in Australia ever marked the No1 as a SMLE (from 1926 on), British remained with SHTLE though entire production of the No1 (the No1 MkVI being the only exception) & Ishapore switched to the marking No1 Mk3 but unsure of date.

[dirty doc]

MANY kudos for the quick, solid answer. I collect USGI WWII stuff and all the sidelines which go with it. LOVE the #4; Sold all but my "US PROPERTY". Don't like the "flip" sights. Need to find extra adj sight. Will it plug in or am I screwed? Thank you SO much for the info. Both my #3s are WWI vets w/ exc bores and BUTT ugly. Am mostly Garand, Carbine & 1911 nut. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

---------- Post added at 12:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 PM ----------

i really HOPED THAT "T" stood for "Target." Dumarse Garand nuts!!!!!!!!!

[ActionYobbo]

how do you know that your #3's were in WW1. Vickers were not able to produce them quick enough so mostly they stayed at home unless they were converted for sniper use. in WW2 they were mostly issued to the home guard

[Surpmil]

how do you know that your #3's were in WW1. Vickers were not able to produce them quick enough so mostly they stayed at home unless they were converted for sniper use. in WW2 they were mostly issued to the home guard

I think dirty doc was probably referring to his SMLE's as "#3's", rather than the P14, aka No.3 MkI.

[dirty doc]

how do you know that your #3's were in WW1. Vickers were not able to produce them quick enough so mostly they stayed at home unless they were converted for sniper use. in WW2 they were mostly issued to the home guard

tHE ONLY WAY TO TELL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IGNORANCE ANS STUPIDITY IS THE BLISS PART After reading a book, I meant to say No.1, Mk III, which both are. My 1 hole, 5 shot group was with my 1917 Lithgow #1 Mk III. My OTHER one is a WWII date, like 1943 or 4. I did have the #4(?) like my U.S. made one /1,2,3,etc but sold all but one. I apologize if I offended Brits, Chits or English arms collectors. They, unlike my U.S. martial arms, are newish to me. FINE danged beasties. Love my Mk IIIs because they have both seen battle, buy shoot like NM rifles. Thanks for putting up with my....uh.....ignorance(?)...

---------- Post added at 10:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 PM ----------

Actually, I collected bayonets for 20 years and have spent the last 50 years trying to match up my bayonets with each's rifle. THAT'S how I wound up with 5 #4s. THEN, I realized that 2 of my 1017 bayonets were Mk III bayonets.

[22SqnRAE]

[/COLOR]I collected bayonets for 20 years and have spent the last 50 years trying to match up my bayonets with each's rifle. THAT'S how I wound up with 5 #4s. THEN, I realized that 2 of my 1017 bayonets were Mk III bayonets.[/QUOTE]

Mark,

Thanks for your query, it does help with knowledge sharing.

I'll help you with one little piece of advice: Despite the United States' preference for that hash mark (#) it means nothing in the world of British Commonwealth Military equipment. Pedantic? Maybe. Correct? Quite.

So the SHT.L.E (or Short Lee Enfield Rifle) became the Rifle, No 1 Mk III and the Mk III*

The Pattern 14 became (post 1926 nomenclature) the Rifle, No 3 Mk 1 and the Mk 1*

The next 'in service' rifle was the Rifle, No 4 Mk 1 The North American produced rifles were called the No 4 Mk 1* (both Canadian and US)

The subtle, but important element of each of these naming conventions is the use of No and never #

So while you're on a steep learning curve and diminishing your apparent 'ignorance' there's another little criticality that arms you with superior knowledge to the mob.

Hope that is of interest to you and others.

[Alan de Enfield]

Need to find extra adj sight.

There are a number of sight options for both the No1 Mk3 and the No4 Mk1 / 1*
that are just 'plug & play' and require no gunsmithing or drilling an tapping - they utilise existing screws


For the No1 rifle the most popular tends to be the PH5A

For the No4 rifle there are a number of choices from the PH4, PH5C, AJP8/53, AJP 4/47

(PH = Parker Hale, AJP = AJ Parker)


I have included a sight that is often sold as a No4 'target sight' but IT ISN'T and it requires modification to your rifle by drilling out holes. Be aware and do not buy it by mistake.

Examples :

[army1882]

.... Need to find extra adj sight. Will it plug in or am I screwed? Thank you SO much for the info.

You can replace the flip sight on your Savage No4Mk1 with a Mk1 sight without any problems. The Mk1 sight is the original micro adjustable rear sight for the No4. Check with eBay or Numrich for this item.