Unusual Lee Enfield Magazine

[cie]

Anyone have any ideas what this magazine is for? It fits No 1 Mk III and No4 rifles but seems needlessly complicated.

 

[smellie]

It's a Mark 2 magazine. Built for Lee-Metford Mark II rifles and used also on long LEs.

Hard to find little item.
.

 

[Claven2]

they were also used on early SMLE Mk1 rifles. Nice mag. I've seen them occasionally in pre-WW1 SMLE MkIII's also, but not sure if they left the facotry that way.

 

[Lee Enfield]

It's a Mark 2 magazine. Built for Lee-Metford Mark II rifles and used also on long LEs.

Hard to find little item.
.

Lithgow used that type of magazine into WWI so they are quite common.

 

[green]

Looks like a No3 mag for the SMLE. It should be stamped with the number near the bottom of the spline on the rear of the mag. These mags were modified from the No1 &2 mag to use the MkVII ctg and had a spring added to the rear.

 

[steve6943]

green is correct. no. 3 lee enfield mag.

 

[recce]

OK, so for the rest of us ignorant folk, What is the piece on the front of the mag for? Early type of mag cut off?

 

[green]

It is the mag lip.

 

[recce]

Huh, odd looking. I have never seen that before.

Thanks.

 

[John Sukey]

You move that bit when you want to remove the follower and spring for cleaning.