Lee Enfields of all variants in Afghanistan

Combat Diver

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Starting a new thread of those Lee's I find over here. Have seen most all variants. Some produced in England, India and locally. Never seen any US produced however that may change who knows. So right now in the shop have a 1945 GRI (Indian) No 1 Mk III. This is a the same as the SMLE produced after 1907 used by the Brits during WWI but Britain went to the No4 Mk I during WWII. The No 3 rifles will have their own thread as the are a Mauser action and were known as the P14. The No 2 was a .22LR trainer IIRC. Yesterday received two beat to hades and back SMLEs marked made by "GRI" but guns are handbuilt Khyber pass guns that do SHOOT. Fired both of them with standard MkVII loads yesterday.

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CD
 
Took out one of the Khyber Pass made SMLEs today with some ammo dated from 1936-41. Need to work on the follower next as its sticking not allowing ammo to feed up.



Slow Motion


CD
 
Those look curiously like some rifles Roses once sold -- long ago.

Thanks for sharing CD.

I picked up an all serial # matching Long Branch No.4 for 50 bucks back around 1994. Great shooting rifle. Sold it for around $250. One of those rifles I should have kept.
 
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Last 24 hours received several more rifles but haven't done a through breakdown yet. Oldest is a SMLE made by Enfield in 1914. Still has the magazine cutoff that I don't see on the Khyber Pass SMLEs. This one is original as far as I can tell. Next is a No. 4 Mk 1 made by Long Branch (Canada) in 1944, again original. Next is a Khyber Pass No. 5 Mk I made supposedly in 1949. Markings are crooked and wrong font. Also the Jungle Carbine was only made from 1944-1947. Flash hinder cone cut off and all missing magazines.

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CD
 
Group photo of the best of the 8 .303 rifles on hand. Finally understanding British martial rifles.
Top-Down
SMLE Enfield made in 1914
No. 1 Mk III GRI (Pakistan) made in 1945. SMLE was renamed to No. 1 Mk III in 1926.
Pattern 14 made by Remington in 1916. Renamed the No. 3 rifle in 1926. (The missing No. 2 was a .22LR training rifle)
No. 4 Mk I made by Long Branch in Canada in 1944
No. 5 Mk I dated 1949 by production was only 44-47'. This is a Khyber Pass gun.

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CD
 
90 years from now, some yet to be born old school armorer will be posting pics of M4's, M4A1's, A2's, AKs, AKMs, etc...and everyone will be drooling over the antiques still in the fight...cause we aint ever completely leaving that raggedy ass shithole of a country...just saying
 
90 years from now, some yet to be born old school armorer will be posting pics of M4's, M4A1's, A2's, AKs, AKMs, etc...and everyone will be drooling over the antiques still in the fight...cause we aint ever completely leaving that raggedy ass shithole of a country...just saying
Got 10 yrs over here already. Plan on calling it quits end of next year.

CD
 
How do you shoot these handmade guns?
 
Went shooting the SMLE dated 1914 and No.4 MkI 1944 today. Took the No.5 Jungle Carbine but striker not staying cocked.
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Slow Motion using the magazine cut off feature


CD
 
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Way cool, thanks for posting. What happens to this stuff next after you lay hands on them ?
Well if the senate bill gets made into a law, the antique classification will raise to guns made before 1919. Then some may come home. If not either demilling or past to the next unit.

CD
 
Took some soldiers out to shot these old rifles today. SMLE III (Enfield 1914), P14* (Remington 1917) and No.4 MkI* (Longbranch 1944).
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Out of 12 rounds, 6 had sterile head stamps other 6 had this pattern around it.
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Out of those 6, 3 were misfires and struck 2 more times for no ignition. Pulled the bullets and powder was the old stick cordite.
IMG_7186_cordite_powder_jpg-908698.JPG



CD
 
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This weeks battlefield pickups. Had couple more AK-47s. Chinese Type 56-1 underfolder and a Romanian AKMS. Both in good condition. Then there are the bolt guns. Two were totally wrapped up but sights and action usable. Far left in white bed sheet is a No.4 Mk 1 Enfield with a 1943 date. Date is all crooked with a "B" above it (Birmingham Small Arms). Middle two are SMLEs both made by BSA 1915 and 1918. On the left wearing a black wrap is a M1891 Mosin-Nagant made by Ishevsk in 1921, Hex receiver in poor condition. I'll post more pictures as I break them down.

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CD
 
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First I'll cover is a No. 4 Mk I. This one is a Brimingham Small Arms (BSA) marked with a "B" and 1943 dated. Only find the SN on the bolt handle. Disassembled after getting a solvent tank bath.
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BSA Receiver
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BSA barrel
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Upper and Lower handguard acceptance marks
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Stock acceptance mark
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Rear sight is the two position 300/600 flip sight and SN on bolt handle
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Shown on bottom of 1944 Longbranch No.4 Mk1*. Muzzle cut back just behind bayonet lug for damage I'm assuming.
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CD
 
More great pics!

What's the theory on them wrapping the MkI and the M-N? Camo? Concealment? Protection?
 
More great pics!

What's the theory on them wrapping the MkI and the M-N? Camo? Concealment? Protection?

I think the No4 Mk 1 was for winter camo. Guns found in cache. Don't have a clue for black on the MN except maybe night ops. Did take the MN to the range this afternoon. Key holing at 15 yds and case sticking in the chamber for all 4 rounds. Dedicated wall hanger for that one.

CD
 
Top Down before going back to ODA, remember that photo above?
SMLE BSA 1915
SMLE BSA 1918
No.4 Mk1 BSA 1943
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Group collection photo Top Down
SMLE Enfield 1914 with mag cut off
SMLE BSA 1915
P14 Remington est 1917
SMLE BSA 1918
No.4 Mk1 BSA 1943
No.4 Mk1* Longbranch 1944 (muzzle cut back due damage)
SMLE GRI 1955
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CD
 
When you first posted this thread I just scrolled past thinking to myself "how interesting can a Lee Enfield possibly be?".

Turn out, quite interesting, indeed!
 
One of my counterparts is roaming and fixing guns. He just sent me these Enfield pictures. Oldest is a Lee Metford with volley sights, there is also a SMLE and a No.4 Mk1 with magazine in the group photo.
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Working to get the Lee Metford Correction Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk 1 (1894-1898) In 1899 the MLE Mk1* without the cleaning rod was issued.
Lee Metford-4d31e9e35e58.JPG Lee Metford-30ce0c7beb4b.JPG Lee Metford-a4675ff952a3.JPG Lee Metford-1e012e6307da.JPG Lee Metford-5950561add6e.JPG

CD
 
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