On British-manufactured rifles, the cypher is the British Royal Cypher, which consists of a crown and the initials of the reigning monarch. Often, a smaller version of the cypher also appears as part of the proof mark (see below). Each is discussed below.Ī graphic logo indicating the country of origin and period of manufacture of the rifle. Other common markings are: Serial Number, Conversion Data, Proof Marks, Inspection Marks, Unit/Issue/Ownership Markings, and Condition/Configuration Markings. Beneath the crown, the first line is the initials of the reigning monarch, the second line is the name of the factory, the third line is the year of manufacture, the fourth line is the rifle model, and the bottom line is the mark designation. Figure 1-1 shows a typical set of markings on the right side of the buttstock socket. Here, you will find the Cypher, Factory Name, Year of Manufacture, and Model and Mark. The place to start looking at markings on SMLE rifles is the right side of the buttstock socket more or less under the bolt handle. Major markings are found in various places: on the right side of the buttstock socket, on the right side of the receiver ring, on the left side of the buttstock socket, on the top and left side of the receiver ring, on the left side of the barrel, on the buttstock and buttstock marking disk, and on individual parts. A study of the various markings on an SMLE rifle will go a long way toward revealing the origin and history of the rifle, as well as its current condition. These markings are a boon to those collectors who understand them, but they are a source of major vexation to others who find them virtually incomprehensible. as the receiver.īritish service rifles especially the Lee-Enfields are profusely marked with various stampings and engravings, numbers and dates, cyphers and logos, and abbreviations of all sorts. We have excerpted parts of two chapters from his book that describe many of the markings found on the SMLE as well as the characteristics that distinguish the "action body" which is better known in the U.S. He includes all variations manufactured in Great Britain, Australia and India, including the post-World War II, 7.62 mm 2A/2A1 rifles made in that country. Stratton, in this first book in a series covering the entire line of British Enfield Rifles, provides a part-by-part analysis of the SMLE Mk I and Mk III series, also known as the Lee-Enfield No. In fact, the British Enfield Rifle series include so many variations that they are an entire collector's field in themselves!īut because there are so many variations, identification of models and types is very difficult, and determining whether or not the rifle is "correct as manufactured" often seems impossible. They were manufactured in a dozen factories on four continents in dozens of variations. 303 rifles spans more than 80 years from 1888 to the early 1970s. The production of various British Enfield series of.
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