Lee Enfield SMLE
MkIII*
Enfield 1916
Calibre .303

Serial No 32261
Price: £695

Very Good Condition

Fitted with a Long Butt marked L which is 1/2" Longer Than Standard (Normal)

A standard WWI SMLE MKIII* manufactured at the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield

This rifle is the MkIII* variant, which originated in attempts to speed production during the First World War.
Approved on 2nd January 1916

It differs from the MkIII in the omission of the long-range sights, windage adjustment on the back sight & and magazine cut-off.

The long-range sights were intended to permit volley fire at extreme ranges (and therefore pointless in the conditions prevailing during the First World War).

The magazine cut-off was more useful, in that it enabled the user to retain a full magazine of cartridges in reserve for rapid-fire purposes, while loading single rounds.

In 1926 the SMLE was re-designated 'Rifle No 1 Mark 3 (or 3*)'.

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This rifle has lived a life, remaining in military service well past WW2

It ended up in India and remained in Indian Service Post Independance

It has been refurbished and has mainly RFI (Rifle Factory Ishapore) marked parts Circa 1950

In 1904, a rifle factory was established by the British at Ichhapur, anglicized as Ishapore, and began production of the Lee–Enfield rifle, which has continued- more or less- until the mid-1980s.

The metalwork covered by the wooden fore-end is correcty painted for corrosion protection, which was standard practice by the British for weapons used in
India, Burma, Korea etc

Action, Barrel, Bolt, Nose Cap & Fore-end & Magazine have matching numbers

Butt is the Long Version

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The action is stamped RPF which I believe is the Railway Protection Force

Railway Protection Force (RPF) is an armed force of the Union under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.

This rifle is in Good Condition with a Good Bore measureing .3025"