Pre-dispersal SMLEs

[Thunderbox]

I've had '37, '38 and '39 rifles. These are evidently normal "full spec" military rifles with a full date stamp and no indication of any date alteration. All "L" prefix. They are the inter-war MkIII pattern with cut-off, simplified rearsight cap, narrow piling swivel, brass butt disk and no volley sights.



Currently I have an all-matching original condition '38. L32xxx number range. The cipher and date are all as per normal - no overstamping. However this rifle does display two odd features:

1. the number on the bolt omits the "L" prefix (its evidently the original bolt - same font, etc);

2. the bolt and barrel both bear the BSA stacked rifles logo as seen on commercial rifles. This of course is normal on the later Dispersals, but in this case may indicate that the military spec was relaxed to include commercial parts even in the late 1930s.



The 1940 rifles I've had have been what i call "transition" types - mostly prewar military in build standard, but with the two digit "40" date overstamp and BSA commercial marks on bolt/barrel. These have been "L" prefix as well.

The 1941s and later are all Dispersal pattern with typical mixed features* and L/M/N prefixes.



I've also had about a dozen "Bahrain" rifles, and two or three "Tigers". I've not noticed that any of these were made from recycled parts, unless this was from unused raw action forgings. Both contracts appear to be top BSA quality - fit, finish, chamber & bore dimensions, etc.



*My '42 Dispersal has all-beech furniture, a No4 butt - and a four groove barrel!

[Roger Payne]

Ènclosed a few pictures of the rifles I bought. I pulled a couple out randomly to get a photo. I'm not sure if the final digits of the 1938 rifle are hand stamped - if so they have been well done. The 1920's MkIII* is definitely a hand stamped job.

Addendum - as per Thunderbox's remarks mine also show some commercial production parts, indicated by the BSA 'Pylarm' on the top surface of some of the bolt handles & on the knoxform.

In spite of the wear & neglect they look to have been very well made rifles.

[husk]

OP- I’ve never come across one of these late 1930s BSA Lee-Enfields, so I would venture to say they are scarce in comparison to the later Dispersal rifles, at least in the USA. This 1928 .22 doesn’t look like an overstamp.

[Srahimian24]

Although not part of your question, BSA also used re-cycled receivers, wood work, in fact anything, commercial or military to produce their Disperal rifles.


Dispersal Rifles

Up until 1940, BSA made normal high-quality No1 MkIII* on limited military contracts, marked with the usual Crown and BSA&Co, as well as identical rifles just marked "BSA&Co" for commercial sale and export.
With the invasion scare, the Ministry of Supply ordered BSA to make rifles out of whatever parts it could get together. Hence the rifles were made of mixtures of commercial and military parts, mixed walnut and beech wood (or all-beech), later on No4 butts and firing pin/cocking pieces. A second wave of production in 1945 even used recycled and re-dated receivers.
About the same time the emergency rifle production was started, BSA was ordered to disperse its many Birmingham factories away from the bomb-target central area, and also to increase war production by diluting experienced staff with war staff. BSA was a huge engineering group, and this "Dispersal" programme led to 70 seperate factories being set up, moved and/or expanded. Rifle production involved several of these factories (both No1s and No4s), and this type of "all available parts" No1 has become known as a "Dispersal rifle". Technically, even the No4s were Dispersals, as well as motorbikes, bicycles, aircraft parts, machine guns and heavy weaponry...
BSA marked these rifles with just the first "B" of BSA&Co. Presumably this was to dissociate the company from these slightly less-than top quality peacetime rifles!

I did know about this, what I did not know was that this was done on their pre-dispersal rifles, that being said, its still good info to have in context of the conversation! I actually had a 1942 dispersal rifle (no1 not no4) with a WWI Canadian stock and one of the cleanest bores I've seen in a milsurp, sadly I sold it when the pandemic hit

[Giove]

If the "Dispersal" rifles were manufactured to allow BSA to dispose of its stock, why wouldn't BSA have used the stock even earlier (pre-dispersal)?

[Srahimian24]

If the "Dispersal" rifles were manufactured to allow BSA to dispose of its stock, why wouldn't BSA have used the stock even earlier (pre-dispersal)?

I dont know it was to dispose of its stock as much as it was brittian needed rifles and they thought they were on the verge of losing WWII.