Help me Identify this 1943 Weapon

FrEaK

FrEaK

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Hey guys,

turns out in my intro post I actually do not have a m1 I have this unknown weapon that I quickly realized wasn't an m1

From what I can gather it is some sort of Lee-Enfield my issue is it does not look like any lee-enfield I've ever seen.

Here is a picture a long with the numbers & info on the gun itself.

MA Lithgow S.M.L.E III * 1943
PICS (Yes, the bolt is here, just not currently in the weapon)

http://img9.imageshack.us/i/19431.png/
http://img13.imageshack.us/i/19433.png/
http://img160.imageshack.us/i/19432.png/

Thanks for any help you guys can give!
 
I'm going to have to be a noob here an ask what you mean by "bubba'd" :S

I just put the bolt in, want a pic with the bolt? hahah
 
FrEaK said:
I'm going to have to be a noob here an ask what you mean by "bubba'd" :S

I just put the bolt in, want a pic with the bolt? hahah
Click to expand...

You have a Lee Enfield No.1 MkIII* also known as the SMLE (Short Magazine Lee Enfield), it was made in 1943 by Lithgow, the Australian manufacturer of the Lee Enfield.

It should look like this.
image002.jpg


Bubba'd is a term given to firearms, usually military, that have been modified for sporting use, such as cutting down the original stock, cutting the barrel, replacing sites, drilling for a scope mount, ect. Your appears to have a mild bubba job, only the stock seems to be cut down. If you wanted, you could get a stock set and a hardware set and restore it back to standard.
 
LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1 said:
You have a Lee Enfield No.1 MkIII* also known as the SMLE (Short Magazine Lee Enfield), it was made in 1943 by Lithgow, the Australian manufacturer of the Lee Enfield.

It should look like this.
image002.jpg


Bubba'd is a term given to firearms, usually military, that have been modified for sporting use, such as cutting down the original stock, cutting the barrel, replacing sites, drilling for a scope mount, ect. Your appears to have a mild bubba job, only the stock seems to be cut down. If you wanted, you could get a stock set and a hardware set and restore it back to standard.
Click to expand...

Sounds like an idea, thanks for all your help.

Next stop mosin-nagant :)
 
LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1 said:
You have a Lee Enfield No.1 MkIII* also known as the SMLE (Short Magazine Lee Enfield), it was made in 1943 by Lithgow, the Australian manufacturer of the Lee Enfield.

It should look like this.
image002.jpg


Bubba'd is a term given to firearms, usually military, that have been modified for sporting use, such as cutting down the original stock, cutting the barrel, replacing sites, drilling for a scope mount, ect. Your appears to have a mild bubba job, only the stock seems to be cut down. If you wanted, you could get a stock set and a hardware set and restore it back to standard.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better my self.

Scott
 
Just so it is covered off here and there are no bad mistakes made. A normal No1 MKIII originally was meant to fire the 303 Brittish round. I see this was not mentioned. BUT, alot of these got rechambered to various different calibers including 308 win, 243 win, 410 ga, 30-30, etc. Just make sure it's barrel has not been relined and chamber reamed before trying to fire it. Just don't know how familiar you are with the enfields, not trying to insult anyones intelligence.

Oh by the way the Enfields are very addictive, be careful before you end up with a whole gun locker full like some of us.....
 
sisiphunter said:
Just so it is covered off here and there are no bad mistakes made. A normal No1 MKIII originally was meant to fire the 303 Brittish round. I see this was not mentioned. BUT, alot of these got rechambered to various different calibers including 308 win, 243 win, 410 ga, 30-30, etc. Just make sure it's barrel has not been relined and chamber reamed before trying to fire it. Just don't know how familiar you are with the enfields, not trying to insult anyones intelligence.

Oh by the way the Enfields are very addictive, be careful before you end up with a whole gun locker full like some of us.....
Click to expand...

I will take all the advice I can get :) thats what I'm here for.

The caliber is still a .303 and I am 100% positive about this, but thank you for the heads up. I've always had an interest in WW2 rifles and I'd like to one day have one from each general area, we'll see, we'll see ;)
 
"...an Americam company that spoterized many enfields..." Century International Arms/Century Arms International, et al. Assembled 'em out of parts bins with zero QC. Not even checking the headspace to ensure the rifle was safe to shoot. Mind you, lots of 'em were bubba'd by lots of people using rifles with bad headspace to start with.
Always check the headspace on any model of Lee-Enfield before you shoot it.
 
Thanks for the warning guys, I was planning on taking it to someone like "LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1" before shooting it, because it needs to be taken apart, cleaned up, etc.

and yes, the bug is biting, and I have no money to feed it with ;)
 
FrEaK said:
Thanks for the warning guys, I was planning on taking it to someone like "LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1" before shooting it, because it needs to be taken apart, cleaned up, etc.

and yes, the bug is biting, and I have no money to feed it with ;)
Click to expand...

LOL, as much as I love to sound like I know everything, I have yet to gain even a fraction of the knowledge of some of the true Milsurp Experts.

As for taking it apart, its not that hard. Just remember, if yours is anything like my first Enfield, then you have to take the forearm apart before removing the Butt stock, as the butt stock screw is "keyed" into the fore stock. everything else is pretty basic.

My first Enfield was also a sportered Lithgow, but mine was done by Parker Hale, I now have three in my name, one on the way, and I will probably pick another one up from my uncle in a few weeks.
 
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