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Thread: MLE or SMLE
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16-05-2017, 20:48 #1
- Join Date
- May 2017
- Posts
- 18
MLE or SMLE
Hi All.
I am Finally at the stage where I am inheriting my Family .303. After Initial research I first thought that it was a SMLE. I however think that it is a MLE now. I have been researching like crazy and there is so much information on the web that its really confusing. Firstly id like for someone to confirm my MLE vs SMLE theory. I have also been able to confirm that it is Union of south africa rifle. At first I thought it was a boer war rifle, im now of the opinion it was rather used during WW1 in German Namibia. It was my great great grandfathers rifle. passed down to my great grand fater(who sporterized it) (gunsmith did a great job though, barel still full length ). I want to see If I can restore it to original state. I also want to find out How I can find out it it has Metford rifleing or Enfield rifleing? was the barrel upgraded or is it original. I have so many questions. woud really appreciate some help. More questions and photos to follow.
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16-05-2017, 20:52 #2
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- GP, but in my mind, hunting for Ivory in the 1930's
- Age
- 43
- Posts
- 6,255
Re: MLE or SMLE
Rear sight says it's a MLE as well as there is no charger bridge.
Don’t take life too seriously, no one gets out alive.
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16-05-2017, 21:20 #3
- Join Date
- Feb 2017
- Age
- 28
- Posts
- 198
Re: MLE or SMLE
Very cool !
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16-05-2017, 21:24 #4
- Join Date
- May 2017
- Posts
- 18
Re: MLE or SMLE
thanks @CorditeCrazy. is the 4624 the serial number? also. how would I know if it is metford or enfield rifleing?
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16-05-2017, 21:27 #5
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- May 2017
- Posts
- 18
Re: MLE or SMLE
As its a mark 1* and has both B.S.A and L.S.A on it im pretty sure that there has been upgrades on it. any ideas as to what? Can I keep asking questions like this or should I start new thread? I also cant find sold out of service stamp?
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16-05-2017, 22:15 #6
- Join Date
- Aug 2012
- Location
- Stella
- Age
- 46
- Posts
- 10,870
Re: MLE or SMLE
Contact Daan on the forum; he should be able to ID your rifle by smell and feel
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16-05-2017, 22:16 #7
- Join Date
- May 2017
- Posts
- 18
Re: MLE or SMLE
Thank you. Im happy i joined this forum
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16-05-2017, 23:46 #8
- Join Date
- May 2017
- Posts
- 18
Re: MLE or SMLE
Just an Update. I have found the following from markings on my rifle.
1. crown BP - Black powder proof mark
2. crown BV - Inspector view mark after final proof
3. crown NP -Semi smokeless proof of all guns(Not sure what this means)
4. Victoria Regina Monarch Cypher 2nd Proof(Not sure what this means)
5. Union of SA stamp
6. was in both BSA and LSA factories (Or has parts from both)
7. trigger gaurd has crown with X 8 on it (pic attached) cant find any ref to that
8. upwards broad arrow with and then 8f underneath it. Cant find any refrance to that.
9. not sure about the D under what I presume is the serial number.
10. Rear volly sight is BSA made
11. Front volly has SFD stamped on it
There are two other stams that are two corrded or dirty for me to identify. intend to clean to see.
sorry for all the posts. I litteraly cant remeber when last I was this excited about something
http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/591b73a8...14_144050.jpg?
sources: http://proofmarks.tripod.com/englishproofs.html
http://www.allaboutenfields.co.nz/history/markings/
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17-05-2017, 09:02 #9
- Join Date
- Oct 2012
- Location
- Ekurhuleni
- Age
- 44
- Posts
- 272
Re: MLE or SMLE
Hi JP
Your rifle looks very similar to mine. I made a post about my one here http://www.gunsite.co.za/forums/show...-S-A-303-rifle
Daan, the local .303 guru, had a lot of detail to add in post #5
From the pics the receiver is a L.S.A. "Long Lee" MLE 1*
The rifle was rebarreled with a BSA SMLE barrel and the fore-end shortened, probably by the UDF armoury to put it back into service.
Cheers,
DS
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17-05-2017, 09:19 #10
- Join Date
- Jun 2015
- Location
- South Africa
- Posts
- 92
Re: MLE or SMLE
A Magazine Lee Enfield by the London Small Arms Company which was re-barrelled by the Union Defence Force using a barrel from its vast supply of B.S.A. commercials. The rifling will be 5-groove Enfield. Rifle probably ended up with one of the Defence Rifle Associations.
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