Siamese Lee Enfield

[smle addict]

Very nice score! The Siamese contract rifles are a unique find, when you CAN find them.

I have only seen three in my lifetime. The first one I had ever seen was at a gunshow in 1994, and I quickly bought it with no haggling. It is a 1990's import, and like yours, has a mis-matched but correct bolt. Having only seen three, I'm not terribly versed on these rifles, but I believe the only Siamese-number marked parts are the bolt, the receiver, and the barrel. My rifle has no serial under the rear sight bar, and the nosecap is un-numbered as well. The other two I have seen were exactly the same (with very dark, oil soaked, timber). A quick glance at Skennertons LE book (page 192) states the nosecap boss' were numbered in siamese. No mention was made of the rear sight. As I said, my rifle and the other two did not have numbered nose-caps. But three rifles is a very small statistical pool, so this is by no means definitive.

Dont know if you noticed, but your rear sight bed is still calibrated for Mk 6 ammunition. I have attached a few pics of my enfield, and for comparisons. An SMLE Mk III calibrated for Mk 7 is pictured above my siamese SMLE. Note the difference in sight-bed profiles.

Good luck with your rifle, and great find!

[BGunther]

Very nice score! The Siamese contract rifles are a unique find, when you CAN find them.

I have only seen three in my lifetime. The first one I had ever seen was at a gunshow in 1994, and I quickly bought it with no haggling. It is a 1990's import, and like yours, has a mis-matched but correct bolt. Having only seen three, I'm not terribly versed on these rifles, but I believe the only Siamese-number marked parts are the bolt, the receiver, and the barrel. My rifle has no serial under the rear sight bar, and the nosecap is un-numbered as well. The other two I have seen were exactly the same (with very dark, oil soaked, timber). A quick glance at Skennertons LE book (page 192) states the nosecap boss' were numbered in siamese. No mention was made of the rear sight. As I said, my rifle and the other two did not have numbered nose-caps. But three rifles is a very small statistical pool, so this is by no means definitive.

Dont know if you noticed, but your rear sight bed is still calibrated for Mk 6 ammunition. I have attached a few pics of my enfield, and for comparisons. An SMLE Mk III calibrated for Mk 7 is pictured above my siamese SMLE. Note the difference in sight-bed profiles.

Good luck with your rifle, and great find!

Thanks for the help. LE and Mausers have such a variety...often times one gets bad advice because it is out of a members niche. Some good points you have forwarded...this gives me something to work on.
Thank you very much
Regards
BG