Side plate on lee Enfield

B

Black Jack

CGN Regular
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Location
Ottawa
I have a Lee Enfield that i have to clean for my friend and i saw something i never saw on them before. There is a plate which could be used to stop feeding from the magazine. It has to be pulled out to be able to chamber another round. It swings out on the right side. Does anybody know what is this for? Thanks
 
Magazine cut off. When it is pressed in it blocks the cartridges in the magazine from feeding into the chamber. Allows the rifle to be used as a single shot while keeping a full magazine in reserve. Discontinued c1915.
 
A silly thing, the generals didn't think that the average soldier would be able to resist wasting ammo if they had that big 10 round mag so cutoff's were installed.

the Ideal was to load a full mag and then with the cutoff closed fire the rifle as a single shot. The 10 rounds were to be used only upon an order from an officer to repell calvary charges with rapid fire. :roll: Not a lot of calvary charges on the westren front

Don't throw it away
 
.... I've got a 1922 Lithgow No.3 with the magazine cut-off installed .... the Military removed them as they were prone to sticking/jamming/being bent and otherwise useless for trench warfare. However, for me , firing, single shots,out at the Range, it's great ! ....... David K.
 
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