SMLE, stamped US goverment property

Cocked&Locked

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I was looking through a friends junk rack and came accros a sportiered #4 Mk1, only damage done was forend wood hacked up and hand gaurds gone. Original black finish very good. But the reciever was stamped US goverment Property. Never heard of an american SMLE before, anyone know what thats about?

Thanks
 
The lend-lease guns had to be marked US Property to be valid for the program. After all, they were just lending them, not giving them. Even when they obviously didn't want them back, as in the case of Enfields. I have a Canadian-issue S&W from the same era with the US ordnance flaming bomb.
 
US No4 Mk1

I have a new unfired No4 US manufactured in 1943. When I found it at a garage sale it had a No7 bayonet with it. I later researched the bayonet and it turned out to be an EM2 experimental bayonet. Probably the best $80 I ever forked over for a gun.

I also have a 00C28### No4 Savage Manufactured Enfield that I have restored. Interesting to find a two groove barrel on such an early rifle. I thought the Savages had 5 or 6 groove barrels on the early guns.

Enfields are a sickness, so watch out.
I have finally found the Enfield of my dreams, a Mint inside and out 1896 Long Lee-Enfield with bayonet. I have been looking for one of them in that condition for 25 years.
 
Cocked&Locked said:
I was looking through a friends junk rack and came accros a sportiered #4 Mk1, only damage done was forend wood hacked up and hand gaurds gone. Original black finish very good. But the reciever was stamped US goverment Property. Never heard of an american SMLE before, anyone know what thats about?

Thanks

A No.4 Lee Enfield rifle is never refered to as a SMLE...only the Rifle No.1 mk.111 or Rifle No.1 mk.111* are called SMLE rifles.

I have noticed our U.S. friends usually refer to all Lee Enfield rifles as SMLE rifles or sometimes as a Enfield....a Enfield rifle to us Brtish Commonwealth CGN is what we would refer to a P14 Rifle or correctly a No.3 Mk.1 and the US Model 1917....confusing...!!!! or what..
 
A No.4 Lee Enfield rifle is never refered to as a SMLE...only the Rifle No.1 mk.111 or Rifle No.1 mk.111* are called SMLE rifles.


Close, but no cigar. SMLE refers to all rifles in the No1 series, not just the MKIII or MkIII*.
 
albayo said:
snip...
I also have a 00C28### No4 Savage Manufactured Enfield that I have restored. Interesting to find a two groove barrel on such an early rifle. I thought the Savages had 5 or 6 groove barrels on the early guns.

snip...

Actually your Savage is VERY late. The 5 digits behind the letter designator indicate that your rifle is serial # 1,028,###.

Regards
D
 
albayo said:
I have a new unfired No4 US manufactured in 1943. When I found it at a garage sale it had a No7 bayonet with it. I later researched the bayonet and it turned out to be an EM2 experimental bayonet. Probably the best $80 I ever forked over for a gun.

I also have a 00C28### No4 Savage Manufactured Enfield that I have restored. Interesting to find a two groove barrel on such an early rifle. I thought the Savages had 5 or 6 groove barrels on the early guns.

Enfields are a sickness, so watch out.
I have finally found the Enfield of my dreams, a Mint inside and out 1896 Long Lee-Enfield with bayonet. I have been looking for one of them in that condition for 25 years.

I envy your long Lee Enfield, if you ever feel the urge to share pics in the photo section, I'd love to see them. :)
 
Lee Enfield said:
Actually your Savage is VERY late. The 5 digits behind the letter designator indicate that your rifle is serial # 1,028,###.

Regards
D

:D

beat me too it


they used the xxC###x numbers till they ran out 99C9999 then started at 00C00001 and kept going
 
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