A few variations of Lee Enfield Mags

[Evanguy]

i was looking at a few of my riles and started comparing mags from different years and a few of them are pretty interesting so i though to take pics to show people some of the different LE mags and the changers as they went long

i personally think the third variation mag for the SMLE is the most interesting both front feed lips are riveted onto the mag and there is a hole in the opposite side of mag to get to the back of the rivet for assembly. And its the first mag to have a riveted spine on it

in the list there is a LEC mag, MLE/CLLE/SMLE - variation 1 2 3 4 and a No4 mag aswell

 

[B_noser]

Thanks for posting for comparison. The early Lee Metford carbine magazines had a milled follower. I suspect MLM magazines of the period also had a milled follower.

 

[englishman_ca]

Nice library of magazines, Evan. There are specific loading platforms and auxiliary springs for each type too.

One more to add to the set, the commercial five round 'fish belly' being one of the hardest to find.

 

[B_noser]

For those who sent me a PM to say I was wrong about Lee Metfords/Enfields ever having a milled follower:
"I read your comment concerning MLM and MLE followers. i.e. that the first ones were milled. Sorry to tell you that you are wrong there. All followers were
stamped."

Canadian issued 1895 Lee Metford Carbine with saddle ring. The magazine was still linked to the rifle. There is the possibility the sender was referring to the MLM to the exclusion of the Lee Metford Carbine. That being the case, They might well be correct.

 

[5THBATT]

Nice collection of the different types of mags but you are missing the first variant of the SMLE magazine.

 

[jtaylor]

That is a P-14 follower illustrated.

 

[B_noser]

Just pulled a P14 follower and took a close look. I have to say jtaylor appears to be absolutely correct. They do appear to be the same on the top side. I recall the one in the pic having the same return spring as other carbine mags. It must be the old timer's disease since that spring would not fit a P14 follower.
I concede and stand corrected.
Thanks jtaylor for being persistent and bringing it to my attention.

 

[jamesharrison]

Evan:

The magazines with the riveted feed lips were, I believe, a result of arsenal updating of the early MLM & MLE magazines to the later pattern when the rifles were also updated / modified. The reason for the hole opposite of the sheet metal feed lip is so that the rivet can be staked.

I have a number of the engraved fish belly commercial magazines of all three types. The early MLM/MLE pattern (w/o the feed lip as the edge of the magazine cut-off served as the right feed lip), the riveted type & the Mk. III type with the feed lip made integral to the magazine.

As there were a goodly number of Yorkshiremen working in the trade, NOUGHT was Thrown OUT!

;-)

 

[5THBATT]

Evan:

The magazines with the riveted feed lips were, I believe, a result of arsenal updating of the early MLM & MLE magazines to the later pattern when the rifles were also updated / modified. The reason for the hole opposite of the sheet metal feed lip is so that the rivet can be staked.

I have a number of the engraved fish belly commercial magazines of all three types. The early MLM/MLE pattern (w/o the feed lip as the edge of the magazine cut-off served as the right feed lip), the riveted type & the Mk. III type with the feed lip made integral to the magazine.

As there were a goodly number of Yorkshiremen working in the trade, NOUGHT was Thrown OUT!

;-)

The first mag to have the rotating feed lip appeared with the Mk1 SMLE in 1903, the second type appeared with the Mk1* SMLE in 1906, both these mags were for use with the MkVI ammo, when the MkVII ammo was introduced in 1910 a lot of the early SMLE (not MLE) mags were converted by having a new spring steel feed lip added to the left side of the mag, these mags & the new type 4 mag were for use with both MkVI & MkVII ammo.

Type 1 mag, similar shape case to the earlier Long Lee case including the link loop at the front but with a rotating rh feed lip, no number on any parts of the mag.

Type 2 mag, deeper in the front, no link loop & new type of auxiliary spring, the case & aux spring stamped with the number 2.

Type 3 mag, conversion of earlier mags to suit MkVII ammo, new lh feed lip, modified follower, small spring steel tab added at the base of rear spine & new type of auxiliary spring, the case & aux spring stamped with a 3 & the follower with a 2

Type 4 mag, new case without the rotating rh feed lip, new auxiliary spring & follower, the case & aux spring stamped with a 4 & the follower with a 3.

 

[Evanguy]

Thanks for all the info in the reply's guys. it would be neat to have a thread with pics of all the different variations of Lee Enfield and Lee Metford military spec mag form the beginning to the end (8 sound single stack to the 12 round 308 2a1)

i didn't realize i did not have the first variation of the SMLE mag, i had assumed in my limited experience that the long lee mag was the first, then the 2nd was stamped with a 2 on the spine, it had the same spine but different mag body shape and follower.

my reason for the assumption was the few original long lees i handled all had the proper long lee mag,
then the nest step was the CLLE and the few original ones I've had all had a 2 stamped mag in them.
and the 3 stamped mag came with a No1mk1
and no 4 with the No1mkIII

that's just off personal experiences, i should should look more into it and maybe even get a book or two on these changes that happened between 1903 and 1915

i defiantly believe I'm am incorrect in my statements about having the first variation. i was just explaining where i got that idea from, and not that i was ever collection mags but now having this many of the different mags really makes me want to fine one of EVERY variation of the mags for a collection in its self

and 5THBATT, thanks for the rundown on the 4 types of SMLE mags, that's helpful