{"product_id":"original-british-wwi-wwii-lee-enfield-mki-dated-1897-converted-to-s-m-l-e-in-1905-and-then-to-22-trainer-in-1913-serial-713","title":"Original British WWI \u0026 WWII Lee-Enfield MkI Dated 1897 Converted to S.M.L.E. in 1905 and then to .22 Trainer in 1913 - Serial 713","description":"\u003cp\u003e6Original Item: Only One Available. This is definitely an interesting rifle, with a long service history. It started life as a .303 caliber Long Lee Enfield, but was refitted in 1905 and designated a Short Lee Enfield Rifle. It was then converted again in 1913 to a .22 rimfire training rifle. It has many characteristics of the earliest configuration P-1903 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifles, but in .22 caliber for training purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was originally fitted with long range volley sights on the left hand side, and unlike many we see, \u003cstrong\u003eboth the rear and front volley sights are present and fully functional!\u003c\/strong\u003e It also has the EARLIEST version of the lower hand guard, incorporating steel wings screwed directly into the wood. Really a great piece of history here! We have had several of these in the past, but unfortunately those days are gone, and this is possibly the last one we will ever have!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs time passed it saw extensive service, and there are numerous proofs and markings on the stock and metal, some of which are no longer completely legible. There are still regimental markings on the buttstock marking disc: \u003cstrong\u003eF. \/ 4. 16\u003c\/strong\u003e, though this could also be a date. There are also several very faint rondels stamped into the wood, which are unfortunately no longer fully visible. The receiver has several struck through serials, and was re-marked with serial number \u003cstrong\u003e713\u003c\/strong\u003e, which matches the number on the end of the nose cap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is in fine condition and comes with the correct empty magazine, which could catch spent brass. The bolt is correctly marked \u003cstrong\u003e.22 №2. \u003c\/strong\u003eon the guide. The bore is in very good condition, showing clear rifling with a mostly bright finish. It does show wear to the lands, so this was probably used for years in training. The stock is solid, with the expected wear of age and long service, with some repairs and replaced chunks in areas, such as by the butt plate tang, the barrel band, and the plugged cleaning rod channel. The wood has been cleaned and polished, showing a lovely color and glow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe markings on this rifle help trace the history of the refits it has gone through. On the top right of the stock cup it is marked with the original production information:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(CROWN)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eV.R.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eENFIELD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1897\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eL.E.\u003cbr\u003eI.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe royal cypher \u003cstrong\u003eCrown over V.R. \u003c\/strong\u003estands for for \u003cstrong\u003eVictoria Regina\u003c\/strong\u003e. Well, this Queen, who reigned for almost 64 years, had an influence far beyond the British Isles and the British Empire during the Nineteenth Century. Victorian morals dominated the cultured classes of Great Britain and the new United States, and even now, in the Twenty-First Century, nostalgic organizations such as the Victorian Riflemen thrive in the former Colonies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eENFIELD\u003c\/strong\u003e indicates that the first incarnation of this piece was produced by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock and \u003cstrong\u003e1897\u003c\/strong\u003e was the year of original manufacture. \u003cstrong\u003eL.E.\u003c\/strong\u003e is the abbreviation for the .303 calibre, Rifle, Magazine, Lee–Enfield, with the \u003cstrong\u003eI\u003c\/strong\u003e indicating the first version. There are no stars indicating that it was produced as a modified first version, though the .22 conversion stamp was applied over the \"Mark of Arm\", so we cannot be sure. It saw service, and then was deemed worn or obsolete, so it was converted to the new Short MLE configuration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe conversion information is stamped onto the lower left of the buttstock cup:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eENFIELD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1905\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSHT L.E.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCON.D II.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis indicates that the rifle was converted to a .303 caliber Rifle, short, Magazine Lee-Enfield Converted Mark II at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock in 1904. It was then presumably in service in this configuration through WWI and was then stored at arsenal. Conversion to a .22 Trainer most likely happened in the years leading up to WWII, as indicated by the markings on the receiver above the chamber:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSHT 22\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIII\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eL.S.A. Co.\u003cbr\u003e1913\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rifle was converted to a .22 Mk III rifle by the London Small Arms Co. Ltd. in 1913 for use in training exercises. The original barrel was replaced with a new .22 barrel. It would have been used by soldiers learning marksmanship in the early days of WWI or WWII. Most of the .22 conversions we see are by B.S.A. and are undated, but this is a rare example converted by L.S.A., who added dates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a great chance to own an interesting .22 SMLE trainer, with loads of history! Ready to display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1897 - converted 1905 and again in 1913.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: .22 cal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Rimfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 25 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 44 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction type: Bolt-Action\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: Single Shot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45030228262981,"sku":"ONAC261084","price":2795.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONAC261084.jpg?v=1779135410","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-british-wwi-wwii-lee-enfield-mki-dated-1897-converted-to-s-m-l-e-in-1905-and-then-to-22-trainer-in-1913-serial-713","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}