SMLE

[Bindi2]

Can any body tell me what year the No1Mk3* was last made in England.

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[Paul S.]

Ian Skennerton, might be able to tell you that. I can only say that I've seen at least one dated 1943.

[Patrick Chadwick]

According to Stratton, Vol. 1, BSA produced an estimated 60,000 No 1 MKIII from 1942-44.

BSA made only a couple of thousand No.4s in 1941, but reached full production in 1942. So any No.1s made from 1942 on will surely have been a case of using up stocks and emptying the parts bins.

[Strangely Brown]

BSA would still put one together from parts for you in the mid 1950's according to an old club member I knew some years ago.

[Roger Payne]

The latest military contract SMLE I've seen was a 44 dispersal factory (essentially BSA) rifle. I am sure BSA would make you one up to order long after that though.
There's no doubt that for two or three years both SMLE's & No4's were being made contemporaneously by BSA, but AFAIK there was no immediate competition for production space as SMLE's were made at the Small Heath facility (M47/A), & No4's at the 'new' factory in Shirley (M47/C).