Enfield SMLE.

[farmer_john]

I know this is probably more appropriately directed to our other colonial commonwealth brothers. As the 303 British is not the most popular caliber in the US. But I was wondering if anyone had any great examples of SMLES made into beautiful hunting rifles between or after the wars. So, let's see some custom old war rifles.


(Also, I have an Australian Lithgow SMLE that someone butchered, and I want to make it respectably nice.)

 

[Sarg]

Are you only interested in Custom SMLE eg Short Magazine Lee Enfield or factory builds by BSA & LSA, most of which are on the early Lees, commonly known as Lee Speeds ?

 

[Odinsraven]

Will reply in detail later

 

[farmer_john]

Are you only interested in Custom SMLE eg Short Magazine Lee Enfield or factory builds by BSA & LSA, most of which are on the early Lees, commonly known as Lee Speeds ?

The one I have is a chopped up smle. But all are cool pieces of history. So post away.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Parker Hale did a whole series of rifles on modified no.1 and no.4 Enfields in 303.
And you can get new full wood sets for no.1 and no.4 Enfields, not cheap, but accurate reproduction
Gumpy

 

[Red Leg]

My "Ghost and the Darkness" rifle. The classic SMLE hunting rifle has to be the Lee Speed. This one was sold by WJ Jeffery, and likely to a young junior officer on his way to Africa or the Raj - or perhaps to a colonist in British East Africa. The second photo is of the underside of the stock where it meets the pistol grip and has always intrigued me. I have always wondered if it didn't find its way into the fighting in East Africa during the First World War.

 

[steve white]

My "Ghost and the Darkness" rifle. The classic SMLE hunting rifle has to be the Lee Speed. This one was sold by WJ Jeffery, and likely to a young junior officer on his way to Africa or the Raj - or perhaps to a colonist in British East Africa. The second photo is of the underside of the stock where it meets the pistol grip and has always intrigued me. I have always wondered if it didn't find its way into the fighting in East Africa during the First World War.

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Same as notches on a six gun? Men dead.
Beautiful rifle!

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Not what you’re looking for, but just thought that it would interest you.

The .303 Lee Enfield was my service rifle for the first few months of the 1971 Indo-Pak war (before I was issued an FN FAL in .308 Winchester).

I once came across a very beautiful sporterized .303 Lee Enfield at a forest station which had inscribed upon it the following words “Shot & Regulated By Holland & Holland”. No doubt a pre World War I rifle. I would end up using that rifle to take my life’s first Axis deer.

A few years later, I would end up using that same rifle to cull 46 water buffalo.

 

[farmer_john]

Not what you’re looking for, but just thought that it would interest you.

The .303 Lee Enfield was my service rifle for the first few months of the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
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I once came across a very beautiful sporterized .303 Lee Enfield at a forest station which had inscribed upon it the following words “Shot & Regulated By Holland & Holland”. No doubt a pre World War I rifle. I would end up using that rifle to take my life’s first Axis deer.
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A few years later, I would end up using that same rifle to cull 46 water buffalo.
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Im just enjoying the enfield lore particular models dont matter.
I Have seen a few of your posts but never spoken to you directly you seem to have had alot of fun adventures.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Im just enjoying the enfield lore particular models dont matter.
I Have seen a few of your posts but never spoken to you directly you seem to have had alot of fun adventures.

Life is the greatest adventure of them all. Thank you so much for your words of appreciation. Never hesitate to knock me up for a chat.

 

[yumastepside]

This is one built by Chris Dawes in Canada....

Roger

 

[BC.Pat]

 

[BC.Pat]

Completed by a gunsmith friend of mine long past.
Its a beauty to shoot

Pat

 

[farmer_john]

This is one built by Chris Dawes in Canada....

RogerView attachment 735293

That is wild
What all was done to it? Beyond the stock

 

[farmer_john]

My "Ghost and the Darkness" rifle. The classic SMLE hunting rifle has to be the Lee Speed. This one was sold by WJ Jeffery, and likely to a young junior officer on his way to Africa or the Raj - or perhaps to a colonist in British East Africa. The second photo is of the underside of the stock where it meets the pistol grip and has always intrigued me. I have always wondered if it didn't find its way into the fighting in East Africa during the First World War.

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What are the differences between a normal enfield and the enfield speeds.

 

[yumastepside]

Here is part of an Email Chris sent to me during construction of the rifle...

....and some in the white pics...

Roger

 

[Sarg]

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That is an absolutely fantastic bit of Custom work, you are very lucky !

Taking the Butt Socket off to do a full stock was a big add on to his job, I don’t mind the socket but that is still great, I did see one similar in SA that the builder had made into a full Mannlicher style & had taken the socket off also.

I have many many BSA Sporters (some Lee Speeds) & just only yesterday picked up another later BSA sporter.

I have factory BSA Sporters - also called Lee Speeds in 303Brit - 8x50R - 375Ex 2.5in & 6.5x53R (this could be a custom?) & just putting a rib on my .405Win barreled Speeder.

I have posted pictures before, not sure if it’s worth posting again here.

One of the many customs I have seen is this beauty by Lon Paul in 348Win

 

[Sarg]

Forgot the other side, I see he did extra work by moving the safety catch spring/retainer.

 

[BC.Pat]

putting a rib on my .405Win barreled Speeder.

Please post a picture when done would be very interested to see.
Cheers
Pat

 

[csmiffy]

hey @Sarg merry xmas.
very interested to see the project that ended up with that sight I traded with you.