#3 Bolt Head for No4 Mk1

[Alan de Enfield]

Or malleable iron

The M on the SMLE bolts meant 'mild steel' (although internet 'facts' have suggested it is malleable iron)

SMLE Steel Specifications :

Specification No S.A./462 P, being for Rifle's No1 Mklll, with bantam long, normal and short butt (S.M.L.E., .303-in. With cut-off.)

And it says:


Body -- Steel. B.S.S.5005/401 -- Partially oil hardened, tempered and browned.

Barrel -- Steel. D.D.8 -- (Heat treated)

Bolt, Breech -- Steel. D.D.8 -- Oil-hardened, tempered, polished and browned or oil-blacked.

Head, breech bolt -- Steel B.S.S.5005/103 -- Case hardened and polished

Further, on page 8 it states: "If the bolt-head be made of mild steel it is to be marked with the letter "M" on the top of the wing."

NOTE: earlier specifications (S.A./242 for Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield (Mark 1). |C.|) 13th July 1903, called for the bolt-head to be made from malleable cast-iron, specifically 34F Special gun iron, case hardened.

[Brian Dick]

The "M" stamped on a No.4 bolt head is ROF Maltby manufacture.