My First Lee Enfield....

[mfzr01]

G'day,
Thought I'd post a few pics of my first LE. Its a Lithgow 1918 S.M.L.E. Any information about the markings would be greatly apprciated..
Cheers
Chris

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Aussie48]

It's definitely a Lithgow with Lithgow wood SLAZ, at some stage it has been set up as a Range Rifle hence the $500 Aus Parker Hale sights and a Heavy Barrel, a good pick up and it was at some stage in 3MD (3rd Military District in Victoria)

[mfzr01]

Thanks Aussie48,

Exactly what does SLAZ signify? And where or what is the 3rd Military District?
I had another photo to upload but its too big. it has the ->S<- marking on the side of the buttstock and also a ..

R
MA
3/46

Can anyone help with this? Trying to guage rifle value, as it came with the sights and a spare heavy barrel.

Thanks

Chris

[muffett.2008]

Pretty much the norm for Range rifles, ww1 actions were much preferred due to tighter tolerances, the earlier the better.
The opposed arrows S stands for sold out of service, the R MA 3/46 means it was refurbished by the Small Arms Factory or one of it's Satelites in March 1946.
This was the normal refurb period post war, trying to keep servicemen employed and skills maintained as the country and industry recovered post war.
A large proportion of the firearms forcibly recalled in the early years of WW2 were all target rifles, not all were returned to their owners, but what were returned were completely rebuilt to the standard they were when resumed, those rifles that were lost in the system were replaced by 1942-44 receivers made up in heavy barrel configuration and new timber, not as good as the original, but better than nothing at all.
Imagine a kind hearted government giving back firearms now.

3MD is Victoria, Slazenger were the timber manufacturers.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Thought I'd post a few pics of my first LE.

Likley not your last and what a wonderful foundation for an Enfield collection. Beautiful rifle.

[mfzr01]

Thanks for all the information. Could someone also please tell me the type of bayonet I need to find to complete this???

Will post pics of my No4 Mk1 T this weekend.

Cheers