SMLE Magazine cut off issue

Nabs

Nabs

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Hello all,

I just picked up a magazine cut off and screw for a No 1 Mk 3 off a fellow CGNer, and I have fitted the cut off to a 1940 SMLE. The cut off fits fine and operates without problems, the only issue that comes up is when the magazine is put back in, the forward right lip of the follower retaining catch contacts with the inner edge of the magazine cut off. It does this whether the magazine cut off is in the cut off position or magazine position. I swapped magazines to see if it was a magazine issue but same problem.

This is my first time dealing with these so I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Do you require a special type of magazine for SMLEs that have the cut off ? Perhaps I have a different type of No 1 Mk 3 cut off ?

I can try to get a picture of the problem if need be.

Thank you for the help everyone.
 
I'm lookin at my mag and it has a cutout. Will take picture.

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Well I have a slightly different rifle, but I can tell you that mine takes a pretty good SQUEEZE with my strong hand to lock it in. Mags back then weren't really meant to pop in and out like nowadays but just like today I wouldn't recommend hitting it too hard. Sorry couldn't help more.
 
Alright, I hope these pictures help give an idea of what is going on. The magazine very nearly clips into position. No luck with tapping it in with the palm of my hand. Magazine works fine in the action without the cut off. It is also a type "4" magazine which I believe is an SMLE magazine. The cut off has a British military proof on the underside. Did I just luck out and get a cut off that was out of tolerance ? It does fit the action just fine though. Could this cut off be for a different Lee Enfield model ?

I'm stumped on this one at the moment, my only real thought is to take the rifle apart and reassemble the rifle with the magazine in the action when I insert the magazine cut off. The magazine cut off also seems to function a specific way with the magazine in the action and a different way when it is out. I hope I am making sense, I just wish I had another British magazine and magazine cut off to try to rule out the possibility of tolerance/milling issues. My other magazine is an Orange Arsenal marked one and it fits the action fine without the cut off but gets stuck half way when the cut off is paired with the action.

Thank you for any help provided.

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I agree but I figured I would make use of the cut off slot and have a working example on a SMLE. My other SMLE is a 1916 * and it lacks this interesting device.
 
Good luck getting the cutoff back into place. I think you might have the key to it. Remember, mags were never meant to be swapped on SMLE's according to theory. However, many soliders, especially Aussies (from what I've heard/read) liked to swap full mags they pulled off of other rifles. But this required the cutoff to be tossed.
 
Putting the SMLE back together in skeleton view shows the issue very clearly, the magazine, resting up against the screwed in trigger guard assembly is just short of clicking into place. To allow the magazine to click in requires the backing off of the main trigger guard screw quite a bit. I'm tempted to just mill off the troublesome portion of the magazine cut off but that is my last resort as I am sure there is some sort of procedure for taking out and reinserting magazines on actions that have cut offs.
 
That is a very generous offer, Fishdoc, I will certainly have to take you up on that. I remember driving through Alliston on my way up to an ORA meeting held at Base Borden. I am certainly not opposed to shooting with a fellow CGNer :).

Something also occurred to me what while I was re-assembling my SMLE. The trigger guard assembly appears to not be original to the rifle. It is covered in a thin layer of patina whereas the bluing for the SMLE is very much intact. I'm not familiar with the different types of trigger guards but I am told earlier models like the Lee Enfield Mk 1 will allow the interchangeability of parts. Anyone recognize this type of trigger guard assembly ? It certainly doesn't look like the one on my 1916 *.

Oh, Thought you would you be interested to know the magazine cut off is marked "EFD" with an inspector stamp.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

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You have fitted a Long lee cutoff to your SMLE.

MLE cutoff
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SMLE cutoff, note the clearance for the magazine lip.
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Magazine cutoffs were still fitted to MkIII SMLEs to 1941
 
Agree with 5th. you have a LLE cutoff. The mag lips were altered on the SMLE from the LLE for charger loading and the cutoff design modified to fit.
Tradeex a board sponsor has the correct cutoff. See Tx logo above.
 
cut offs

Oh, darn. A fellow member beat me to it.

Yes, there are two different cut-offs for the Lee Enfield, and as pointed out, you have the wrong one. The good news is that Trade-Ex has a bucket full of the right ones, at a cost of about $10 each.

And yes, your No.1 Mark III rifle was made with the cut-off slot. It is a BSA rifle, early 1940 production. BSA had these receivers already made from a previous production order, and their plant was set up to produce the SMLE rifle. However, the British Government didn't seem too interested in giving them an order, that is, until their own rifle factory was bombed by the Germans. Then, there was a Panic Order to BSA by the Government.

After WW1, the British Government neglected the arms industry in England, but BSA managed to stay alive with sporting rifles, conversions, and small production runs for various countries. I have a Commercial BSA, full wood military target rifle, with the cut off, with a 1938 date on it.
 
Wow, who would have guessed. Hats off to the British for their manufacturing techniques. That cut off lip is just what I need for this girl too.

Thank you for confirming this guys, any thoughts on the trigger guard assembly ?

Still want to go shooting, Fishdoc ? :D

Now for the tough part of trying to get this cut off out of it's slot. I think it likes it's new home hehe.
 
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