What are those markings on the wood of Lee Enfield No1 Mk3?
- Thread starter Nestor
- Start date
BlackPowderBurner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- the chesterfield
"N" - normal length butt (they came in several lengths for different proportioned shooters)
"Crown over 2A and E" - Enfield factory view mark (inspector)
"half bisected D" - Enfield factory mark (this is who made it)
"broad arrow" - accepted for government service after inspection.
Nice piece, looks correct for any SMLE made by Enfield between 1903 and the late 30's.
"Crown over 2A and E" - Enfield factory view mark (inspector)
"half bisected D" - Enfield factory mark (this is who made it)
"broad arrow" - accepted for government service after inspection.
Nice piece, looks correct for any SMLE made by Enfield between 1903 and the late 30's.
Excellent info.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
butt lengths
L - Long
N - Normal
S - Short
B - Bantam
and I would need to consult the manuals but I seem to remember an XL for extra long. Or that may have been on the FN
L - Long
N - Normal
S - Short
B - Bantam
and I would need to consult the manuals but I seem to remember an XL for extra long. Or that may have been on the FN
BlackPowderBurner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- the chesterfield
Most likely not. Royal Navy marked rifles were done almost exclusively on the wrist of the rifle, unit disc or by the serial number of the forestock. RCN I have seen on the unit disc and also the knoxform of the barrel(CN). I don't believe that armourers spare parts like yours would be service marked until assembled onto a rifle where they'd be matched with the rest. The RN used a multitude of different British Lee pattern rifles that were dragged out of warehouses, the barracks of less well equipped regiments and even musketry schools so there really was no standard RN rifle during the Great War. SMLES were issued as a priority to the regular army in France to keep logistics simple. The RN even made things more complex by purchasing Arisakas, Remington Rolling Blocks, Winchester 1892 and 1894s not to mention some Remington 14 1/2s due to lack of SMLEs for their sailors. Always happy to be corrected if someone has evidence of RN or RCN marked butt stocks.
Hi Gents. First of all the Enfield manufactory mark of an "E" superimposed on a "D" is a post WW1 1920's style that persisted thru the 1930s
trials rifles and up to 1941. The butt in the pics is a Normal size butt - its just unusual its marked on the side as opposed to its usual place in
the butt strap area. Usually the RN stamp is a simple N on the left side of the body socket. The RCN as stated were often on top of the body or knox or at the top of the grip or possibly on the brass marking disc. I haven't seen an old stock walnut spare as this one for decades. The Arisaka rifles that were RN Issued were ordered by Winston Churchill, Lord of the Admiralty, replaced by incoming 1915 Ross Mk IIIB rifles. In both wars Britain would use understandably anything they could get their hands on. Butts marked B for Bantam size are very rare - I have only seen one in 50 years for the SMLE but common for the C No. 7 rifle. As was typical of British and Canadian service the Navy got the tail end of the supply chain in small arms since the onset of any conflict. JOHN
trials rifles and up to 1941. The butt in the pics is a Normal size butt - its just unusual its marked on the side as opposed to its usual place in
the butt strap area. Usually the RN stamp is a simple N on the left side of the body socket. The RCN as stated were often on top of the body or knox or at the top of the grip or possibly on the brass marking disc. I haven't seen an old stock walnut spare as this one for decades. The Arisaka rifles that were RN Issued were ordered by Winston Churchill, Lord of the Admiralty, replaced by incoming 1915 Ross Mk IIIB rifles. In both wars Britain would use understandably anything they could get their hands on. Butts marked B for Bantam size are very rare - I have only seen one in 50 years for the SMLE but common for the C No. 7 rifle. As was typical of British and Canadian service the Navy got the tail end of the supply chain in small arms since the onset of any conflict. JOHN
