History of a SMLE MK 1

[mattyboy82]

Good day to all!
I have recently purchased a 1904 MK1 never converted to any other mark and whilst I am awaiting its arrival from the UK I am going to ask for help on some markings and possible history,
The rifle is Enfield made however has 7/05 on the butt with Australian service markings and 263 which i take to be its rack number. I cannot find anything relating to SMLE's entering ozzie service that early? Can anyone clarify? Also it has ALH on the ID disc and C or GMI or L over T. What could this possibly be? The seller has trouble reading the letters there so he told me thats what he believes it it. I am stoked I bough it as it has all matching numbers except the rear sight and was rebarreled in 1913 at Lithgow with no other FTR since that year. Ill post up pics if i can figure out how to, cheers all

Richo

Information

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[mattyboy82]

And i forgot to add, serial number is 9372 with no prefix!

[user1]

Gday mate,This is also a 1904 Mk1 that hasnt been upgraded, I wionder if your markings are similar to these.ALH stands for Australian Light Horse a very desirable marking.The CMF over T is Citizen Military Forces Tasmania .Looking forward to your pics when it arives
cheers

[user1]

Some more pics to wet your apertite

[mattyboy82]

Thats a decent rifle you have, hope this one is as good nick. Apparently it is. CMF was 1948 onwards i believe. The gentleman who is selling it states it has the letter 3 on the butt disc which might account for 3 Light horse regiment....the unit my relativ served with in Gallipoli and was KIA there. If its spent a lot of its service life in tassie that would be ironic as i grew up there and enlisted from there. Much thanks jate for throwing your pictures up on here. I appreciate it.

---------- Post added at 06:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:06 PM ----------

And i need to not have sausage fingers when typing on my ipad sorry mate

[user1]

The info i have from the Australian war memorial has the CMF being known as the CMF is from
1916 - 1929 then again from 1943 -1948
cheers

[mattyboy82]

You are a good source of info there mate, the chap from EFD rifles in the UK will be sick of me sending him emails asking for more info...but heres the link to it

EFD Rifles - The Enfield Specialists

[user1]

very nice mate,thats a bit of a scarce firing pin keeper on it as well thats iceing on the cake !
ill be looking forward to the more detailed pics when you get it. did you have to jump thru hoops to get it here ?

[mattyboy82]

not too many hoops. the seller is getting it shipped to another dealer here so that takes care of the admin side of the house, if i had it sent under my name then it would be a little more paperwork. he shipped it over to the UK about 2 years ago after it sat in Australia for a few years