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WWII 303 Enfields - Model Differentiation

1988z011988z01 Member Posts: 602 ✭✭✭✭
edited June 2015 in Ask the Experts
Hey folks
I am not very familiar with WWII Enfields. I know there were numerous models that served in many places. I was wanting to know what to look for to find British, Canadian, and Australian examples for my collection. As I am a novice with Enfiekds, any info would be greatly appreciated.
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Comments

  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It would be to your advantage, to GOOGLE. "SMLE forums", or use a similar search term. The question you're asking, is essentially unanswerable, in a short format. There have been a number of books written on the subject. Much information is also available, on various web gun and collectors forums.

    You're going to have to start digging through them. Reading all you can and taking notes, etc.
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  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here's your start.....

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee–Enfield

    Then as rufe said , get busy!!![:D]
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If Robert Faris is still alive he might be your best source.
    He had at least one copy of every variation. The four walls of a 3 car garage size building in Perkasie, Pa. were covered with these Enfields.
    I heard from the late Wm. C. Davis jr.(NRA) that Bob Faris moved to Texas.
    I inherited the 7th Div Ord shop from Mr Faris in 1953.
    He could outshoot any Garand in rapid fire, with an Enfield 303.
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  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you end up loading for a 303 B it doesn't pay to try and hot rod it. The P-14 will stand way more than a SMLE.
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Well essentially the models that served in WW2 were the No1MkIII, NoIV Mk1, NoIVMK2, and No5. Though there were a great deal of variatns of all of them.
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    They were also used in Korea. I don't know how many or by whom.
    A Korean unit attached to the British Commonwealth Brigade may have used them or perhaps the Brits themselves used them and the Canadians the FNFALN.
    We had one in the shop that Faris liked to play with. It may have been a sniper version, I forget.
    They're very slick but too ugly for me.
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  • chemengchemeng Member Posts: 85 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    In addition to the British made Enfields there are also US made ones and shipped over under Lend/Lease. Am surprised all variants would fit in a garage. Be careful shooting the Jungle Carbine, there's a design flaw that affects accuracy.
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  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Canadian rifles were made at Long Branch arsenal. Serial number will start with letter L.
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  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by chemeng
    In addition to the British made Enfields there are also US made ones and shipped over under Lend/Lease. Am surprised all variants would fit in a garage. Be careful shooting the Jungle Carbine, there's a design flaw that affects accuracy.

    Savage made a bunch of No. 4 Mk1*'s during WWII. First Enfield I had that I could say was truly remarkable. Problem was though, so many of them that could be had here were not refurbed! My Savage was refurbed, and oh boy, did it shoot!. It loved the real British ammo too.

    Note: that there is a difference between the Mk1 and Mk1*. All the asterisk ones had the volley sights removed and just the flip sight.
    Note II: You can tell a Savage by the "C" in the middle of the serial number.
    Added:
    Sorry, not "removed", they were never installed at manufacture.
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