MLE I* Barrel

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Interestingly, Lithgow was knocking out "long" LE barrels into the 1930s, until the regulations for the rifle clubs changed and all barrels had to be SMLE length. Thus the peculiar Australian "Range-Pattern" rifles that retain all of the front end features of the LE, but on a SMLE-length barrel. In the crazy days of early WW2, many of these club rifles were recalled and issued to VDC and "odds and sods" establishments. Unfortunately a high proportion never made it back to their previous owners; surprise, surprise. Of those that did, many ended up as "beginner" bush rifles in the 1950s and '60's.

That "chop-job" was the genesis of the "H" barrel. With decent sights, the shortened L E barrel was considerably stiffer than the standard SMLE barrel. Yes it still had the clunky L E trigger and massive cocking piece / safety lump to slow the striker fall, but they shot quite well for all that.

A barrel of equivalent profile fitted to a SMLE proved to be something of a revelation, especially once characters like Motty and Sweet started tinkering with bedding.

The final cherry on the cake was the much-anticipated complete changeover to Mk Vll ball.

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