Lee Enfields in U.S. service

[bradtx]

"Are there any LEs marked with the US ordinance flaming bomb?" --Ireload2

The Savage produced No.4s are.

Brad

PS dachshund, The most common usage of an Enfield design (modified for .30-06) by US troops would be a M1917 during WWI.

[dachshund]

Great photo! Notice the U.S. style slings in lieu of the British carrying straps.

[Gibbs505]

His Majesty the King reviewing US troops with Gen. Pershing, armed with Short Lee-Enfields, and .45s too, apparently.

I wonder if the troops perferred them to the M1917 or the springfield!!

[John Kepler]

I wonder if the troops perferred them to the M1917 or the springfield!!

I can only give one opinion....my WW I vet Grandfather's! He disliked the Lee-Enfield (lousy sights, "Couldn't hit a bull-in-a-corncrib!" accuracy...his opinion, not mine!), felt much better about the M1903 (good rifle, but the magazine cut-off was about as useful as "...t!ts on a boar-hog" and it needed a different rear sight...a problem corrected in the A3 to Grandpa's delight!)....LOVED the M1917, but wished it had a windage adjust...preferred the M1917 to the M1903 in combat.

[Victor Six Bravo]

Never used any in the military (70 years too late) but I've always preferred the '17 Enfield to the Springfield and the SMLE and No.4 to the '17 Enfield.

Carried demil'd Springfield 03A3s as a cadet and they shoulder well, but for combat use......Springfield sights up till the A3 weren't the best.

[Buzzard]

I have two Savage #4 Mk1*, One went through Ishapore. Both have "Flaming Bomb" stamps.

[John Kepler]

I have two Savage #4 Mk1*, One went through Ishapore. Both have "Flaming Bomb" stamps.

That's OK....I have a Long Branch with a "Flaming Bomb" on the receiver! Probably from some of the many train-loads of parts shipped there from Savage in late 1943.

[Alan de Enfield]

[Surpmil]

IIRC two US divisions used the SMLE in WWI. This has been posted about before and there is a famous photo of US soldiers examining their newly-issued SMLEs, (perhaps staged, perhaps not.)

Here's the photo I was thinking of.

[LDVolunteer]

Hello, new member here too. I have a flaming bomb-marked #4mk1 dated on the wrist 1942. It's also stamped U.S. Property on the receiver. Mine is also marked with an squared "S" inside a box. They were made in the U.S. by Stevens-Savage, and were originally intended for lend-lease.
Years ago I was firing it at a range and an older gentleman walked up during a break. He told me he'd trained with a number 4 Enfield in the U.S. army. They were promised that they'd be issued Garrands before they shipped out. Instead, he was sent ashore in Italy with his .303. When ammunition started running low and the British were unable to spare any, they were sent back to - in his words - the beach. He told me they goofed off for a few weeks until they got word they were being issued new American weapons. When they lined up behind the truck, they were disappointed to see that instead of Garrands, they were handed M1 Carbines. At first they thought they were issued girly rifles, until they realized that they weighed about half what their Lee Enfields did, and complained no more after their first long march. mw