Is the SMLE a good rifle?

Actually, the SMLE was good indeed: the Lee bolt action, featuring rear-locking lugs and a detachable bolt-head, was the fastest and smoothest of all issue battle rifles of its time – a trained soldier could shoot 15-20 aimed rounds in a minute with no difficulty.

How many rounds does an SMLE hold?

Its official name is ‘Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield, Mark III*’, often abbreviated as ‘SMLE’. It is a bolt-action rifle with a ‘magazine’ which holds ten rounds of . 303 inch calibre ammunition.

When was the SMLE invented?

Lee-Enfield rifle, rifle adopted by the British army as its basic infantry weapon in 1902. The short, magazine-loaded Lee-Enfield (Mark I, or SMLE) superseded the longer Lee-Enfield that was first produced in 1895.

What is a Lee-Enfield rifle worth?

What is an ENFIELD LEE ENFIELD MARK I rifle Worth? AN ENFIELD LEE ENFIELD MARK I rifle is currently worth an average price of $652.11 used . The 12 month average price is $640.36 used.

Is there a serial number for a SMLE rifle?

SMLE rifle manufacturers were given no serial ranges to begin or end production with, so it is possible that two rifles may exist with the same serial number produced at different factories. Some SMLE’s may be found with as little as a 3 digit number and high as a 5 digit number.

What are the different types of SMLE rifles?

Our range of SMLE Rifle’s spans a huge range of years as well as manufacturers; Lithgows, BSA’s and Ishapore are all in stock. All Enfield Rifles below are proofed and shoot ready.

When was the SMLE introduced in the British Army?

It was the British Army ‘s standard rifle from its official adoption in 1895 until 1957. The WWI versions are often referred to as the “SMLE”, which is short for the common “Short, Magazine, Lee–Enfield” variant.

What kind of rifle is the Lee Enfield SMLE?

The SMLE (sometimes pronounced “smelly”) evolved from various designs used in the late 19th Century by the British Army. Its most common variants in modern civilian ownership are the Mark III and Mark III* (pronounced “mark three star”). In the 1920s the SMLE became known in British and Commonwealth service as the Rifle, .303” No.1, but