I'd like to acquire a Lee Enfield from the period of 1920's to 1930's

Goldenlakepete

Goldenlakepete

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My father, who passed away in his 99th year in 2004, served in the RAF from the early 1920's to the mid-1930's.

He served in Iraq and what is now Pakistan.

I would like to research and eventually buy a Lee Enfield of the period my Dad served. Any tips on where to look?

Dad was in the 1st graduating class of the RAF Academy at Halton. I seem to remember him telling me that the cadets were issued WW I era Ross rifles. Does that seem to be likely?
 
Rifle Number 1 Mark III or Mark III*.

Rifles actually built between the Wars are pretty thin on the ground, but they do show p from time to time. Rifles in RAF field service likely would be leftovers from the Great War, maintained well and kept in good serviceable condition. They were used right through to the end of the .303 period.

As to Rosses at Halton, I can understand it. Apart from being long and heavy, there really wasn't anything drastically wrong with the Ross. The assembly problems were cured with a 2-cent rivet and a 30-cent part contributed by the Company, but the Canadians fought most of the Great War with the Lee-Enfield. Their Rosses continued in service with the Navy, Royal Marines and other formations until the end of the SECOND War..... so why not with the RAF as well? The RAF and the earlier RFC got to use a lot of obsolete equipment from time to time. For one thing, during the Great War, some air gunners were trained on Maxim MGs: the RFC burned up the last remaining stocks of .450 Gardner & Gatling ammunition in existence!

Good luck in your quest, friend.

My Dad was RCAF in the Second War. When Japan came in, he was posted to Boundary Bay, BC. Things were tight enough that even Instrument guys were on coast watch. They had P-'17s with very limited ammo and the order was, "If the Japs land, fire 5 rounds and run like hell!"
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BadgerDog said:
They did make 20,000 of these during the period 1922-1924 ...

1924 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) No.1 MkV Rifle (Mfg by RSAF Enfield)http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=181-1924-ShtLE-No.1-MkV-Rifle

Regards,
Doug
Click to expand...

they also still made the MkIII at the same time. :) I have an RSAF Enfield No1MkIII dated 1924

en1efd24mm.jpg
 
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