MLE rifle

[Jc5]

I don't think that's a broad arrow between two T's, but rather a broad arrow inside a serif-U mark. It's another version of the South African ownership markings, of which there were several types over the years. The bottom of the U is not completely visible, so it looks like a T.

IIRC, the U with broad arrow is the earlier mark. The one with the diamond was applied later, after South Africa left the Commonwealth.

Information

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[jrhead75]

I think you've hit on it...makes much more sense.

[Surpmil]

I don't think that's a broad arrow between two T's, but rather a broad arrow inside a serif-U mark. It's another version of the South African ownership markings, of which there were several types over the years. The bottom of the U is not completely visible, so it looks like a T.

IIRC, the U with broad arrow is the earlier mark. The one with the diamond was applied later, after South Africa left the Commonwealth.

Looking again I see you're quite correct on the "Ts" It is a large "U" Interesting that such a rifle would still be in service after 1961.

[Jc5]

In 1961, the UK had only recently switched to the FN -FAL. Lee Enfields continued to be used officially in places like India throughout the 60s and 70s....some even today.

And in these modern times of plastic, short-range rifles with all sorts of flashlights, ipods, and pez dispensers sticking out of them, it is good to remember that well-built bolt action rifles (that have been decently maintained) can probably do their job just as well as they did 100 years ago. A Lee Enfield cannot check your email for you, but it can still reliably feed potent ammo and hit targets hard out to some considerable distance. Milk has an expiration date, but good rifles don't.

[Terrylee]

As stated the Diamond in the U is a South African marking. It signifies that the rifle was sold out of government service. So far as I have been able to establish, it dates from shortly after the Second World War.

[Jc5]

There are at least five different versions of the South African stamp.

See GovernmentMarks

[Terrylee]

A gunsmith, who was a South African military armourer during WW II and shortly afterwards, told me personally that he applied the U Diamond marking to rifles that were for sale to the public. It is certainly not a marking that came in following the Republic in 1961.

[Surpmil]

In 1961, the UK had only recently switched to the FN -FAL. Lee Enfields continued to be used officially in places like India throughout the 60s and 70s....some even today.

And in these modern times of plastic, short-range rifles with all sorts of flashlights, ipods, and pez dispensers sticking out of them, it is good to remember that well-built bolt action rifles (that have been decently maintained) can probably do their job just as well as they did 100 years ago. A Lee Enfield cannot check your email for you, but it can still reliably feed potent ammo and hit targets hard out to some considerable distance. Milk has an expiration date, but good rifles don't.

Yes, I quite agree about the lack of expiry dates, although a MLE sighted for MkVI or earlier is not quite the same thing as a No4 sighted for MkVII.

Looking at that link it seems there is a lack of information on these marks in general, or at least a lot of uncertainty about the whys and wherefores.

Hopefully someone will research this in SA while the people who would know are still alive.