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Posted: 10/16/2005 2:57:47 PM EDT
| I recently aquired a Shrt MLE III and really don't know much of anything about it. It's S/N is 815xx and has a man. mark LSA Co. L 1918. it appears to have original wood. and is in great shape with a few dings and dents and a small crack on the butt stock. The bore is in Great shape and the metal is in impecable condition. Any information on this rifle and on Lee Enfields in general would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks. |
| I'm no exact expert but that mark may be a Lithgow mark, and/or a rubbed out BSA (Birmingham Small Arms). Does it have a brass disk in the buttstock (or a whole where one should go)? .303 Brit is a little harder to come by now, but enough people made it so it's not too bad. Enjoy it, it should be a fun one. I've got one made in 1917, and it's better than my 1951 Ishapore. |
| It's made by the London Small Arms Co. LSA. I have one dated 1916. They supposedly quit making Smellies in 1917 or 1918. You don't see many of them around. Hang on to it. You need to get the book"SMLE(No.1) Rifles , MkI and Mk.III" by Charles R. Stratton. It is Volume 1 of the British Enfield Rifles series. North Cape Publishers. Get it at Amazon or where ever. |
It has the brass disk. What is/was that? It also has a piece of rope iwht a metal handle and a brass container with some type of tool in the but stock. Thanks for the replies. I will definetly look for that book. |
Brass disk is an ID tag. A way to ID which unit it went to, etc. The rope with metal handle is a pull through bore cleaner and the brass container is an oiler, I believe. Check out ima-usa.com in the Enfield stuff and see if what I've called them match what you have. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for her? |
Thanks for the info. I paid $100. Like I said I really don't know anything about them but I something about it just caught my eye. I hope I didn't get took. |
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