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  1. #1
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
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    WW2 UK dispersal SMLE production

    Hi all,

    I have been pondering a deeply anorak question regarding WW2 SMLE production.

    Quite a few of the 1942/43 rifles on the market today appear to be made up from unused/dismantled WW2 parts, or subject to the massive post war BSA refurbishment program .... I suspect this (and the PH/Interarms enormous bulk Enfield buy) is also the origin of many of the available SMLE bolt/action bodies still floating round the trade.

    As a result of this, they tend to have No4 butts fitted. Nothing wrong with that as this was common place anyway, as Peter, Roger and others have said many times in the past.

    What I'm pondering is this, were these dispersal rifles fitted with SMLE pattern butts 'as originally assembled' in WW2, or were they fitted with the No4 butts?

    Told you it was an anorak question!
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Legacy Member Simon P's Avatar
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    All the late SMLEs I have had comes through with 1940 dates that have been mostly fitted with the correct SMLE butts, all in Walnut

    I have had a few of these post WW2 FTR SMLEs with FTR dates between 1953-56.

    All have beech fore-ends and No4 butts modified for the SMLE
    Last edited by Simon P; 05-04-2019 at 09:18 AM.
    Regards Simon

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    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
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    Thanks Simon, that's the information I have been pondering!
    .303, helping Englishmen express their feelings since 1889

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    Legacy Member newcastle's Avatar
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    I have one marked identically to that FTR 1953 which is a .22 LR with BSA stacked rifles on the barrel.

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    Legacy Member harry mac's Avatar
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    My first LE was (is) a 1941 Dispersal. When I got it, it showed no signs of ever having rebuilt and had a proper SMLE butt fitted. However, 23 years later and the only original parts left on it are the body, nose cap, foresight and rear sight. The whole stock, the barrel and the bolt are all new replacements.

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    Advisory Panel Brian Dick's Avatar
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    I have one dated 1940 that also sports an FTR stamp under the butt socket markings on the right side. It's still sports it's walnut SMLE butt complete with a brass marking disc. The forend and rear handguard are beech and the front handguard walnut. A nice rifle still full of grease as it was imported by the dreaded Century Arms. It's got a nice barrel. matching serial numbers and is right as rain.

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    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Dickicon View Post
    I have one dated 1940 that also sports an FTR stamp under the butt socket markings on the right side. It's still sports it's walnut SMLE butt complete with a brass marking disc. The forend and rear handguard are beech and the front handguard walnut. A nice rifle still full of grease as it was imported by the dreaded Century Arms. It's got a nice barrel. matching serial numbers and is right as rain.
    Thanks for all your feedback guys, so we can say with some of the provided clarification that the 1950's BSA FTR program is largely responsible for No4 butts, with some being service REME replacements and others being modern builds,from parts, either broken down rifles, or less likely, unused parts.

    A further point, what's the option of the group on unused action bodies and bolts?

    I accept that there must have been left overs when production stopped, but could these be rejected parts, if so, were they marked as such I wonder?

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    Legacy Member Charlie303's Avatar
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    My 1942 dispersal SMLE is fairly typical, and matches the description and photo in Skennertonicon's The Lee-Enfield Story (P176/177). Walnut butt with unmarked brass disc, beech fore end (stamped with s/n), beech front hand guard, walnut rear hand guard. No FTR stamp.

    Has 4 groove barrel (also referred to in Skennerton as a BSA simplification measure) - how unusual is this?

    Charlie

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Charlie303 View Post
    Has 4 groove barrel
    Four groove .303? Really...
    Regards, Jim

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