Enfields_In_Queue:England

Rifle 66
SMLE No. 1 Mk III , Enfield 1904. Originally a Mk I with the sliding charger guide, this volley-sighted rifle was upgraded to Mk III configuration to work with the Mk VII HV round. Dated 4-15 (April, 1915) and marked AOC (Army Ordanance Corps).

Rifle 88
SMLE No.1 Mk III*, BSA 1918. All matching; marked DEP SHROP on buttstock marking disc. The King's (Shropshire Light Infantry) 13 battalions saw service all over the globe. In 1918 the 1st was in France; the 2nd in Salonika, soon to depart for South Russia; the 3rd and 4th India, Burma, Singapore, Hong Kong and Colombo; 5th, 6th & 7th in France; 8th in Salonika; 10th in Egypt and Palestine.

Rifle 93
SMLE Rifle No.1 Mk III*, NRF 1918. Before the Great War some minor rifle components were produced by non-government factories. This was expanded to a "Peddled Scheme" to increase rifle production. The Standard Small Arms Company (SSA) was set up with a government grant. Under this plan, the Standard Small Arms Factory would provide rifles in addition to those produced at RSAF Enfield, BSA, and LSA. SSA was to produce receivers, barrels, and certain other parts and act as an assembly unit for parts produced by other contractors (hence the name "Peddled Scheme" since the parts were "peddled" to outside civilian contractors). The first contract to deliver SMLE rifles was signed in 1915. Due to mismanagement and other factors, SSA did not deliver its first rifle until late 1916. Even then production was slow. By 1918 only about 200,000 rifles had been delivered and SSA went bankrupt. In June 1918 the British Government bought the facility and established the National Rifle Factory No.1 (NRF) which produced about another 50,000 guns. By the end of the war in November 1918, "Peddled Scheme" rifles accounted for only a small fraction of more than 3 Million SMLE rifles produced by BSA, LSA, and Enfield during WWI. The rifles are marked differently than all other SMLE rifles in that they have no manufacturers name on the buttsocket, with the manufacturer - either SSA or NRF - being stamped on the rear of the receiver to the left of the bolt channel. Overall 90% + finish; bore sharp and bright; wood is VG with only the usual nicks and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, rear sight leaf, nosecap, forestock). No import marks.

Rifle 98
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III*. BSA, 1916. Marked to 1 E.A.F.A./R.A.M.C. (1st East Anglian Field Ambulance/Royal Army Medical Corps, 6/18). In June 1918, the E.A.F.A. was attached to the 2nd Division on the Western Front. Overall 90%, bore VG (sharp and bright). Wood VG with typical small dings and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks. Field Ambulance marked pieces are very rare.

Rifle 101
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III BSA, 1940. 2 INNIS (2nd Battalion, Inniskilling Fusiliers). 2nd Battalion was formerly the 108th Foot (3rd Madras European Infantry) formed in 1854 and amalgamated with the 27th Foot (Tiffin's Regiment) in the Cardwell reforms of 1881. Overall 95%, bore VG (sharp and bright). Wood VG with typical small dings and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks.

Rifle 102
SMLE No. 1 Mk III* BSA 1916. Marked “2 S.W.B.” and dated “2 17” – the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Raise as Dering’s Regiment in 1689, the South Wales Borderers (then known as the 24th Regiment of Foot) are probably best known for the defense of Roark's Drift in the Zulu War. In 1914 the 2nd Battalion (along with the Japanese Army) took the German concession of Tsingtau in China. The battalion was then part of the ill-fated Gallipoli Expedition in 1915. In March of 1916 the battalion was sent to France where it remained until 1919 – only to be sent to India to serve in the 3rd Afghan War. By November 1918 the regiment numbered 18 battallions. Overall 90% + finish; bore sharp and bright; wood is VG with only the usual nicks and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, rear sight leaf, nosecap, forestock). No import marks.

Rifle 105
SMLE No. 1 Mk III* EFD 1918. Marking disc is marked “39 M.G.C.” and “9 19” – indicating service with the 39th Machine Gun Company. In 1915 the Army began to form Machine Gun Companies to concentrate the firepower of the newly introduced Vickers MMG. these machine gun units were attached to both infantry and cavalry formations as well as the Motor Machine Gun Sections which were attached to the Royal Tank Corps. Although machine gunners were armed with revolvers, many of these units had to function as infantry and were therefore also equipped with rifles and other infantry kit. The 39th MGC was formed in 1916 and initially served in Mesopotamia. In August, 1918 the company was sent to Persia (Iran) and subsequwntly ordered into Southern Russia under General Dunsterville, where is remained well into 1919 fighting the Bolsheviks on the shores of the Caspian Sea in the area around Baku. Overall 90% finish; bore sharp and bright; wood is VG with only the usual nicks and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, rear sight leaf, nosecap, forestock). No import marks.

Rifle 106
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III* (without cut-off). Enfield, 1918. Marked "5 C.G.". 5th (Wartime) Battalion, Coldstream Guards. The 5 C.G. was part of the 32nd Guards Brigade of the Guards Armoured Division from June 1942 where it served as "lorried infantry" (i.e., mechanized infantry) in support of Guards armoured formations. The Guards Armoured Division was not committed to battle until D-Day, by which time all line formation had been equipped with the Rifle, No. 4. Thus, this weapon served in a training status from Dunkirk until just prior to D-Day. Overall 95%, bore VG (sharp and bright). Wood VG with typical small dings and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks.

Rifle 113
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III*. Enfield, 1918. 41st (Field) Company, Royal Engineers. 41 COY was a mine clearance company attached to the British 8th Army during the campaigns in the Western Desert, Tunisia, and Italy. The piece still retains desert camo "sand" colored paint over about 40% of the metal parts. Overall 90%, bore VG (sharp and bright). Wood VG with typical small dings and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks.

Rifle 114
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III BSA, 1938. Marked " 4 KOYLI". 4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Finish 95%, bore VG. Wood VG. Matched. No import marks.

Rifle 118
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III*. Enfield, 1918. 8 K.R.R.C. (8th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps – The 60th Rifles, 5/18). In May 1918 the 8 KRRC was serving in France. It was disbanded in France in August 1918. Overall 95%, bore VG (sharp and bright). Wood VG with typical small dings and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks.

Rifle 120
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III (with cut-off). BSA, 1940. Marked with both military acceptance proofs and the BSA "tepee" logo on the knox form. Marked on the stock disk "NRA" indicating it was part of the British National Rifle Association's service rifle marksmanship program (probably post-WWII). Overall 98%+, bore VG+ (very sharp and bright). Wood Excellent - very fine walnut which appears virtually new. Even the buttplate has no scratches or dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks. An absolutely beautiful SMLE in just about factory new condition.

Rifle 122
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III. LSA, 1915. With long range auxiliary sights and windage rear sight. Marked on stock disk "10 15" and "17 RF" indicating that it was in use by the 17th (1st Public School) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (The City of London Regiment) in October 1915. The 17th Battalion entered the line in France in November 1915 and was disbanded in France on 24th April 1916 at which time the survivors were commissioned as volunteer officers and posted to other regiments. A number of these men ultimately achieved General Officer rank in the regular army. Overall 90%, bore VG (sharp and bright). Wood VG with typical small dings and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks.

Rifle 134
1904 BSA. The rifle is all matching except for the bolt, cartouche is faint but if held right visible. Barrel is undated, replaced during upgrade to Mk I*. "V" notch sight with barley corn front sight, rear sight ramp still "high", thus still set up for Mk VI ammo. Type 4 mag , no import marks. Marked W.Y. - (The Prince of Wales' Own) West Yorkshire Regiment, August, 1914. Overall very good wood (usual dings and bruises), very good plus metal, and unfortunately fair bore. Complete with cut-off and volley sights. The very first day of the Battle of the Somme the 10th Battalion sustained 710 casualties. A handful of men were brought out by their only surviving officer, a wounded 2nd Lieutenant.

Rifle 153
SMLE No. 1 Mk III*. BSA, 1941. A typical "Dispersal Rifle" without the BSA cartouche on the buttsocket. Barrel is dated '41 and is marked with a combination of BSA commercial "BM" proofs and military broad arrow. Buttstock is marked "R.A.F. over 1122". Royal Air Force. All furniture is birch and is in VG+ condition. Bore is very sharp and bright. Finish is 95%+. Except for a couple of storage dings, the weapon appears unissued. All matching (receiver, barrel, bolt, sight, nosecap, and forestock). No import marks. An unusually nice specimen with rather uncommon RAF markings.

Rifle 156
SMLE No. 1 Mk III*. Enfield 1918. Marking disk is marked "RAF", "UXB", and "5 . 25" - RAF Uxbridge Aerodrome, May, 1925. It was while serving as an RAF "other rank" at Uxbridge that T.E. Lawrence (aka "Lawrence of Arabia") was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1925. 95% finish. Wood VG with usual dings and dents. Bore is sharp and bright. All matching (receiver, barrel, bolt, sight, nosecap, and forestock). No import marks.

Rifle 172
SMLE No. 1 Mk III*. Enfield 1916. Marked to the 7th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry ( 7 H.L.I.) and dated September 1918 (9 18) on the marking disk. The 7th Battalion was a wartime battalion, which saw initial service at Gallipoli (along with the 5th and 6th Battalions of the H.L.I.) in 1915. In 1917, the battalion was sent to Palestine where it served with General Allenby until being sent to France in April of 1918. In September 1918, the battalion was in service on the Western Front. Overall 90%, bore VG (sharp and bright). Wood VG with typical small dings and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks. Exotic and rare.

Rifle 189
SMLE, Rifle No. 1 Mk III, London Small Arms, 1915. Marking disk is marked to the 18th (Queen Mary's Own) Hussars and dated February 1915. The 18th Hussars arrived in France on 7th August 1914 and fought in virtually every engagement of the war in France until its departure for India in December 1919. The regiment was combined with the 22nd Hussars in 1922. The weapon itself is overall 90% finish. Bore is sharp and bright. Wood is VG with the usual nicks and dings from service. Matching - bolt, receiver, barrel, rear sight, nosecap, and forestock. With windage adjustable rear sight, front dial pointer and plate, and rear aperture. No import marks. A fine a specimen of a Mk III Type 1 with excellent WWI bona fides.

Rifle 215
SMLE, Rifle No. 1 Mk III*, BSA, 1918. Matched serial numbers except for bolt. Buttstock marking disc dated 10-19 and marked 1 NN (1st Btn Northamptonshire Regiment). Founded in 1741 as James Cholmondeley's Regiment of Foot; renamed the 1st Btn, Northamptonshire Regiment in 1881. Nicknamed 'The Steelbacks.' The Northampts arrived in France/Flanders on 13th August, 1914. The only officer left to lead the battalion out of the trenches after the First Battle of Ypres was a Special Reserve subaltern. In August 1919 the 1st Btn was sent to Ireland where they remained until December 1922.

Rifle 227
SMLE, Rifle No. 1 Mk III, LSA, 1913. Stock marking disk is dated "7 13" and is marked "L" over "17" indicating the 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers. The 17th Lancers were formed in 1759 as the 18th Light Dragoons. They are most famous for their service in the Crimean War where they were part of the "Light Brigade" whose fatal charge "into the valley of death" has been immortalized in both poetry and film (with Erol Flynn no less!). There motto was "Death or Glory" and their insignia a skull and crossed bones. They served in the Zulu War of 1879 and in 1899 they were sent to South Africa and served there throughout the Boer War, returning to England in 1902. In 1913 they were in barracks at Sialkot, India on the Northwest Frontier. The piece itself is correct in all respects as it came from the factory in 1913 - i.e., long range sights, windage adjustable rear sight, and lightened rear sight protector. In addition, the piece was never modified for small cone ammunition in the 1920's and does not bear the "SC" stamp behind the rear sight base. Both receiver and knox form are stamped "EY" indicating that this piece was downgraded to second line status and placed in war reserve storage. Since "EY" guns did not undergo the periodic "upgrades" of first line weapons, it remained in original unaltered status. Overall 90%+ finish. Bore is sharp and bright. Wood is VG with the usual scuffs and scratches of long service. Matching - barrel, receiver, bolt, rear sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks. A very fine early Mk III with impeccable regimental credentials.

Rifle 234
SMLE, Rifle No. 1 Mk III, Enfield 1915.
Stock disk is marked "RAF", "UXB (RAF Uxbridge)" and "6 25". Forestock is a post-1916 replacement without long range sights, although the gun does retain its original windage rear sight. If memory serves, this is the RAF station and about the time frame when T.E Lawrence took is last and still mysterious motorcycle ride. 90% finish. Bore is very sharp and bright. Wood is VG with usual dings. Matched. No import. New category here: "haunted militaria". Wingman to Rifle 156 (above).

Rifle 237
SMLE, Rifle No. 1 Mk III, SSA 1918.
An SSA Mk III* upgraded to Mk III at the Royal Naval Ordnance Depot Portsmouth in July 1937. Receiver has been cut for cutoff. New forestock. Barrel is marked "P/N/1", " '29", and "7 37" on the left side of the chamber. Left buttsocket marked "N" as is the tang of the buttplate. Stock marking disk is steel and is marked "N". Overall about 90% finish. Bore is indifferent - sharp but dark (obviously put away wet). Wood is VG, with rather fewer dings than the average bear. Nice looking gun with a so so bore. Matched. No import. All we need is some fish and chips wrapped in newspaper and this sailor is as authentic as it gets.