The Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield, (SMLE)
Background
The British forces were to learn a lot from the Boer war of 1899-1902. This conflict would see in the era of smokeless powder and British forces were to come up against a skilled, modern, proficient, and equally armed adversary. Also the methodology and mechanisms of war were changing, becoming more efficient. Months prior to hostilities, Boer General Joubert purchased 30,000 Mauser magazine rifles, a number of modern artillery field guns and automatic weapons from the German armaments manufacturer Krupp and the French firm Creusot.
The British forces would also have to adapt and quickly to the corresponding new tactics of the Boer forces. The Boers use alone of modern smokeless powders and magazine feed weapons would be telling, but when coupled with outdated British tactics and questionable leadership, the results were disastrous.
In fact one could very well argue that had it not been for the Boer War that future european conflicts would have seen the British empire in even graver peril of defeat. The Director-General of the Ordnance, Sir Henry Brackenbury said of that time that Britain was “attempting to maintain the largest Empire the world has ever seen with armament and reserves that would be insufficient for a third class military power”. An example of the of this was that in July 1899, 66 million rounds of MkIV ammunition were fouling barrels so badly that it could not be used, that was 40% of the reserves. Brackenbury was to prove correct on many levels.
The Boer war needs to be mentioned so that to understand the sudden and urgent requirement to upgrade to the current battle rifle of the day. The need to rethink many aspects of the rifle, be it the rifling, the ramifications of smokeless powder, to tactics and formations of troops. It shows the urgent need for a rapid departure from the Lee Metfords and Carbines to the something new and improved.
Introducing The SMLE.
The SMLE itself was approved in 1902, this also saw the conversion of the older out dated Lee Metfords and Lee Enfield’s to the new pattern. Further updates gave the ability to use more modern ammunition, better sighting systems and the introduction of charger loading.
Production
Work in progress……….
The rifles below are No1MkIII and MKIII* and are a combination of various years and makers. They also include two NZ marked SMLE’s
. Note the variations in the woods. Whilst it is common to get wood sets (furniture) of the same colour, such as the bottom two. It is equally common to get sets that have some variations. Remembering of course that these rifles went through two world wars and countless other Policing actions, damage to the woodwork did occur. When such damage occurred the local armourer had two options, repair or replace. Replaced items merely had to function, looking pretty was a bonus!
Yet to be restored – always a project……..
These include Peddled schemed rifles, an all matching Navy marked, a NZ marked CLLE and a particularly nice marked early Lithgow. All again in varying states of repair!
However these all represent an aspects of No 1 production that are worthy in their own right of being restored. A good example of this is the Peddled scheme rifles.
Specifications of the SMLE MKIII
Calibre .303
Rifling and Twist 5 Groove left hand
Barrel Lenght 25.2 inch or 640mm
Total Length 44.5 inch or 1130mm
Weight 8lb 10oz or 3.9kg
Magazine 10 round
SMLE Manufacturing and Production numbers
Enfield BSA LSA Sparkbrook Lithgow Ishapore
SMLE MkI 130450 130000 60000 14640
SMLE MkI Cond 9
SMLE MkII Cond 26530 16760
SMLE MkI* 60180 20000 7000 3200
SMLE MkII* Cond 22190
SMLE MkI*** 16200
SMLE MkIII &III* 2,235000* 2,000000 430000 1,400000
SMLE MkV 20000
*incl SSA and NRF peddled scheme
