MLE rifle

[Jc5]

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

See GovernmentMarks

[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.

[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.

[smellie]

Thanks for that one, Terrylee! I had this awful vision of 90-year old Burghers hiding out in the veldt and awaiting a column of 90-year-old British cavalry, all of them swilling Geritol while they got into position for one last fray!

That said, this IS a darned fine rifle! Magazine Lee-Enfield Mark I*, all correct. I would not be surprised if this one were an actual veteran of that sad, terrible conflict. Only wish mine was as pretty.

Wonderful chunk of history! How does she shoot?
.