Arab Lee-Enfields

Robert22

Robert22

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Howdy folks,

I'm planning on putting an ad on the exchange. However I thought I'd ask the experts to help me clarify what I'll be looking for. I would like to find a SMLE Lee Enfield 1 MK 3, that would have some form of Arab markings on it, from the various conflicts in that region prior to WW2. Does such a thing exist? What price point realistically should I be looking for? Were any Lee-Enfields made by the Arabs? I've tried finding information on Google, all I can find is that they were given Lee-Enfields during the various conflicts T.E. Lawrence participated in, but that's it. If it does not exist, I suppose I'll look for a full stock model prior to the 30's. Thanks for you time.
 
mbogo3 said:
Turkey confiscated from the Brits....................Harold
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Captured and then converted.

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No. 4 with a stacking hook ? :D I've still got an Arabic document that was folded up and used as a stock spacer, that I found in the barrel channel of a .303 Martini

Grizz
 
Not surprised as mid east was ruled by the Queen until the 60's. These look pretty rough shape. I doubt they'd command very high value.
 
What about Jordan? The Jordanians had the Arab Legion that fought Israel in the Middle East wars. They were led by ex British officers until the King kicked them out.
 
The Brits were the post-WW1 Mandatory power in both Palestine and the Trans-Jordan, so both police and military forces were armed,equipped and trained along British lines.

I believe that the lot of Garands that P&S Militaria was selling a few years ago were ex-Jordanian that had been scarfed up by the Israelis after the 1967 war.

You never know what to expect in that part of the world. The Syrians, for example, had dug in German PZKW4s as part of their defences against the Israelis on the Golan Heights. I once picked up a 20pdr shell casing on the southern Golan that I surmised had been fired by a Jordanian manned Centurion during the 1973 war. The Israelis were using 105mm armed Centurions at this time and there were still a number of knocked out ones to be seen.
 
I did a restoration job on a 1916 BSA #1 Mk3 awhile ago, and I ordered a stock disk from Numrich that had Arabic characters scribed into it. I thought it was a little different, but it looked good...
 
This was discussed some time back over on milsurps dot com, so hustle on over there. Fellow called Brian #### has a handful for sale, completely documented, that came from out that way, Kuwait if I recall correctly.

Iraqi SMLEs were purchased in 2 lots, 1936 and 1938, from BSA, total nmber 22,000 rifles. These added to what they already had, which would have had British markings. These rifles were marked with an IRAQI seal: triangle containing an angular backwards "S" on the Knox-form. A few of these have shown up here as sporters. I have a 1938 with a GREAT bore, wood chopped, of course. Interesting, it is a true Mark III, not a Mark III*.

There is one in the IWM that was captured at Kut-al-Amara when Townsend surrendered. It was engraved as an official Turkish War Souvenir, then embellished with gold-work and sent to the Emir of Mecca, who gave it to his son, the Sherif, who gave it to his friend, Captain Lawrence, who gave it to his friend, King George V. During Lawrence`s funeral the King personally cleaned this rifle and sent it over to the IWM. The King wanted to attend the funeral but could not: protocol: the Monarch may not mourn a Commoner. So he did the next-best thing, the rifle being in the special cabinet which the servants were not allowed to touch. The rifle is still there in the IWM, in a glass case, all by itself....... and the evil sods wouldn`t let me take it to the range!!!! Not even ONE magazine! But it is Really Something Very Special. I have absolutely NO IDEA what something like that would be worth!!
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I think I may be out of luck in finding a pre war middle eastern SMLE, but there are some nice post war MK4's I've been looking at now on PSM. Thanks for the link. However, I'm always open to offers :D
 
Actually, many of the Arabs followers of Lawrence were armed with Arisaka Type 30 & 38 rifles by the British, by controlling their supply of ammo it gave them a thigher grip on their desert allies. In this part of the world only the British had a supply of japanese ammo.
 
I am quoting from memory now, but it is in SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM, so you can look it up.

"We received a shipment of Japanese rifles. The Arabs, knowing their worth, promptly threw them away."

Oh, to get into the Nefudh with a metal detector!

And a BIG Slurpie!
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