Markings on an LE please elucidate

[Daan Kemp]

I received these photos of a LE that I presume to be No 1 Mk III. I don't have access to any other markings as yet.

I would appreciate more information so I can give the owner good advice. It is ex SADF of course.

[Alan de Enfield]

Just a wild guess.
5.62 is the metric size for the .22 round I have seen French rounds labelled as "5.6mmm".

(5.62mm - 0.221")

Could it be a 22 training rifle ?

[Roger Payne]

I don't know either, but it looks like a late (?post war?) SA produced barrel on an earlier, possibly commercial, rifle body. Could the 5:62 be the date of rebarrelling?

[Daan Kemp]

Definitely in 303.

Rebarreling is a distinc possibility with May 1962 a possible date.

[Alan de Enfield]

More questions : I was thinking that the "51 in a D" and "62 in a D" were dates - thoughts ?

[GeeRam]

More questions : I was thinking that the "51 in a D" and "62 in a D" were dates - thoughts ?

Makes sense. South African versions of FTR dates perhaps, which would fit with the May '62 rebarrel as well.

[Sapper740]

From the Broad Arrow second edition the crossed rifles with 'S' and 'A' on top of the Knox form denote: "Rifle factory not specific, 7.62mm No. 4 barrel"

[Roger Payne]

I wondered about dates for the figures within the letter D's, but if they are both read the same way round then the one would have to be 19 not 61, which might make it less likely. Could they be the SA equivalent of examiners' marks, like the D6E of Harry Hardwick on most 4T's, & Canadian acceptance marks set within an oval?

I also wonder about the 57/595...........barrel unique production number with year of manufacture?? And the 5:62 being the date the barrel was actually fitted??
Just thinking out loud....I haven't got a shred of evidence to back me up on any of this!

[shoe303]

Looks to be South African made Mk 3 Enfield barrel made in 1961. Installed in May of 1962 - 5:62. I had some of these I bought surplus years ago. Nice barrels. Supposedly made by Musgrave.

[Roger Payne]

I bought a couple of dozen of those too, some years ago. Here in the UK Charnwood ordnance had a pile of them, back then. I still have about half a dozen. IIRC the batch mine came from were late 50's production. They were (still are) sealed in cosmoline.