ShtLE no1Mk3*

Dryzen

Dryzen

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
14   0   0
Location
Gatineau, QC
Good morning everyone,
Recently traded for a Enfield no I mk III* . Date was 1917. Upon reception I am a little confused as to the ShtLE marking and the Osterr Gendarmerie with the Austrian blazon on it. Its all matching 7114S virgin bronze buttstock marking disk. Barrel is HV marked at the sights.

I was wondering if anyone could give me information on this model. From a quick websearch the Austrians gained some Enfields for policing after WWII. Would this enfield have served WWI then been sold or has it lost its heritage and was renumbered for foreign service?

This thread will get some pics toon.
 
After WWII, these rifles were issued to Austrian police forces, by occupying British forces. I have only seen one and it was well worn. I don't know why they issued these, there were hundreds of thousands of brand new mausers in the warehouses to issue them and they wouldn't need to be trained. Maybe the Russians had already cleaned all of the warehouses out and there was nothing else to issue them or maybe it was just a slap in the face from the allies.
 
Austrian Police equipped from British Store policing the British Sector during the Post WW2 occupation of Austria by the Allies.
 
"...h=heavy barrel...t=telescopic sight..." Nope. Nothing to do with the barrel or sights. The 'Sht' is short for, um, 'Short'. As in Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield.
 
sunray said:
"...h=heavy barrel...t=telescopic sight..." Nope. Nothing to do with the barrel or sights. The 'Sht' is short for, um, 'Short'. As in Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield.
Click to expand...

now dont jump down my throat. you are probably right.

here is the info i was going on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee-Enfield#Sniper_rifles

During both World Wars and the Korean War, a number of Lee-Enfield rifles were modified for use as sniper rifles. The Australian Army modified 1,612[41] Lithgow SMLE No1 Mk III* rifles by adding a heavy target barrel, cheek-piece, and a World War One era Pattern 1918 telescope, creating the SMLE No1 Mk III* (HT). (HT standing for "Heavy Barrel, Telescopic Sight),[7] which saw service in the Second World War, Korea, and Malaya and was used for Sniper Training through to the late 1970s.[42]
 
i realize that the 'ht' follows the 'smle' on the gun in the wiki article rather than 'ShtMLE', that why im saying you are probably right.
 
:runaway::runaway: woooooooooohhhhhh

ok lets get this sorted SMLE is the same as ShtLE just a change in nomenclature, I think around 1924.

ShtLE Short LeeEnfield

SMLE Short Magizine LeeEnfield

HV on the barrel is for High Velocity stamped near the rear sight to signify that the sight has been regulated for the MKVII ammo

It is not a Heavy Barrel Lithgow
 
Drachenblut said:
HT means it was proofed by the Aussies or Brits as I understand to take high velocity/pressure ammunition aka a heavier barrel.
Click to expand...

NO. All Enfields used the SAME ammunition. In any case ALL service rifles were proof fired when manufactured., but for some stupid reason when sold off in the U.K. to civillians they were required to be re-proofed even if they left the government stores the day before.

While Mk8 cartridges were primarily for machine guns because the boat tailed bullet gave greater range, they were also authorized for rifles in certain cases when flash suppression was wanted.
.
 
Woodchopper my piece has ShtLE mk III* 1917 stamped on the receiver by the handle.
I noticed most bronze disks are not found on MKIII* s. The article I foudn on Osterr gendarmerie piece indicate that the disk had markings while mine is virgin, this was either changed or this rifle was in storage?

In order to find its origins I will have to take the wood off?

I'll take images tonight hopefully artificial lighting will let the markings show, I dont get much sun light on my workdays. Pardon the poor quality of images, seems my digital camera has a lot of problems when I try to take images up close. The ambiant lighting it not great either. Tips on pics taking are welcomed.

What would such a piece be worth on an educated guess?

butt.jpg

S6001820.JPG

S6001822.JPG

S6001832.JPG

S6001824.JPG

S6001837.JPG

S6001835.JPG
 
Last edited:
Markings on butt disks were discontinued early on, for security reasons. That left a hole that served no purpose. The hole was filled with a blank disc, or a wooden patch.
Look at the flat on the top right rear of the receiver, ordinarily covered by the bolt handle. Anything stamped there? SSA, etc?
 
looks good, a little rough but I suspect its original, needs some BLO rubbed in to the wood.

price $350-$450 enfield prices hit a high about 6 months back and have dipped back down recently.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom