Lee Enfield SMLE MkIII*
Despite initially looking to replace the entire system after the Boer War, the British Short, Magazine, Lee Enfield really came into its own during the Great War, cementing itself as one of the most iconic weapons of the conflict.
The History
The Lee rifle had been designed by the American Scottish immigrant James Paris Lee in the latter part of the 19th century, and had found adoption by Britain in 1889 as the Lee Metford (the second referring to the rifling pattern used). This was produced as both a full length infantry rifle as well as in a carbine variation, and was superseded by the first Lee Enfield in 1895, using new rifling designed at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield that was better suited to the new smokeless powder that was entering service.
The rear sight of the SMLE is graduated from 200 to 2,000 yards, and includes a drum for windage adjustment
It was with these early Lee Enfields that the British Empire marched to war in South Africa, where it encountered the 7x57mm Mauser favored by the Boers. These flat shooting rifles, combined with their fast charger clips, demonstrated a significant advantage over the Lee rifles, which led to programs both to improve the Lee and to outright replace it with a Mauser based rifle firing a new, hgh velocity cartridge. Improvements to the Lee would in turn result in a universal short rifle pattern being adopted shortly after the turn of the century.
The distinctive nosecap of the SMLE includes protectors for the front sight as well as a stud for the Pattern 1907 Bayonet’s muzzle ring below the barrel. The blade rear sight is mounted to the barrel within the protectors
By 1907 this short rifle, designated the Short, Magazine, Lee Enfield har reached its third major variation, designated the MkIII. This was a relatively compact and handy rifle when compared its contemporaries in use among the continental powers, and intended to simplify logistics by meeting in the middle between the long infantry rifle and the carbines used by various specialists. The replacement rifle, designated the Pattern 1913, had entered limited production for trials in that year, but the advent of the Great War in the summer of 1914 stalled that development.
The action of the SMLE was a progression from the earlier rifles, including an integrated charger bridge. The original MkIII also featured a magazine cutoff on the right side above the magazine, which was deleted on the MkIII* as seen here
As King George V’s soldiers marched off to Flanders they were still equipped with the SMLE MkIII, and quickly the plan to replace it with the Pattern 1913 was shelved as the conflict escalated. Despite this, production could not immediately come up with demand, and as a result a number of foreign rifles were pressed into service, while the SMLE was simplified by removing its superfluous volley sights and rear sight windage adjustment, along with removal of its magazine cutoff (although the latter was not universal).
The right side of the butt socket bears the British crown and the cipher “GR” for “Georgius Rex”, referring to King George V. Beneath that is the maker, Birmingham Small Arms Company, the year of production, and the model designation
The result was the SMLE MkIII*, which would become the primary service rifle of the British Empire during the Great War, seeing service on all fronts and conditions and proving that perhaps the War Department had been too hasty in attempting to replace it. Consequently, the newer Pattern 1913 program was canceled, and instead the SMLE remained in service even as the Second World War loomed. Attempts to update the design began shortly after the Armistice of 1918, but in the end the new Lee Enfield No.4 rifle would not enter widespread service until 1941/42. In addition, older rifle, redesignated the No.1 Mk.3, would remain in widespread service, and indeed would never be replaced in India, Australia and New Zealand until the adoption of self loading rifles in the 1950s.
The Design
The SMLE MkIII* is a universal short rifle, intended to be a compromise between the long infantry rifle and the short carbines preferred by cavalry and specialists. As a result, it is a fairly handy weapon that showed its worth in the cramped trenches of the Western Front. This combined with Lee’s detachable magazine to make for a potent and modern platform.
The safety is located on the left rear corner of the receiver, and is easily operated with the thumb of the right hand. Note also the half cock notch on the cocking piece
The mechanism is a cock on close rotating bolt action, with the bolt handle positioned close to the trigger to use that mechanism to its best potential for rapid fire. The SMLE won fame for this during the early phases of the Great War, as well trained British Army regulars engaged the Germans at Mons with accurate rapid fire. The ten round magazine, double the capacity of the rifles used by its enemies during the conflict, also served to increase its firepower, while being loaded via dual five round charger clips.
James Lee’s detachable double stack magazine
In addition, the stock on the rifle extended to the muzzle, with a distinctive muzzle cap serving as a bayonet mounting point as well as a barrel band and sight protector. This allowed for a distinctive appearance as well as serving to minimize the effect on accuracy with the bayonet fixed to the rifle. Steel protectors also existed around the rear sight. The butt of the rifle was separated by a steel collar that was integral to the receiver, which allowed it to be swapped for different lengths as well as the provide a great deal of wrist strength, a handy feature for close quarters combat.
The bolt of the SMLE MkIII*, which is identical to the MkIII and similar to the earlier models, although the dust cover is notably absent
This Example
The example of the SMLE MkIII* in the collection was produced by the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSC Co.) in 1917, and went through a Factory Thorough Repair (FTR, a refurbishment) in 1945 at Orange in Australia. The rifle has had its stock refinished after it found itself in civilian hands, hence the sheen, but as one of the first firearms purchased by the author has some sentimental value attached to it. It is otherwise in fairly good condition aside from some repaired cracks in its Australian coachwood stock.
*It was brought to the attention of the author after photography was complete that the rear sight protector was attached backwards. This has been corrected and new images will be taken when time and conditions permit.
A number of accessories were deceloped for the SMLE during th Great War, including optics and grenade launchers, such as the discharger shown here, which allowed the launching of a standard Mills Bomb hand grenade
Opinions
The SMLE is a fine weapon, and stacks up very well against its contemporaries. As a universal short rifle it is of a more manageable size than its enemies from the Great War (notably the Mauser Gewehr 98 and M1903), with a larger magazine capacity. Not all is perfect, as the feeding of the rimmed .303 cartridge from two chargers can leave something to be desired when compared to the same operation with rimless types, and the thin construction of the magazine walls lent itself to damage in the field. Despite these flaws, it remains an excellent and iconic weapon that served the Tommy well through two major wars and numerous others, not to mention the multitude of Imperial and Commonwealth states.
SMLE in hand, a British soldier peers over the parapet of a trench in 1916
Observed Values and Frequency
Updated: April, 2024
AVERAGE VALUE (USD): $600 - $800
FREQUENCY: Uncommon
COLLECTOR’S NOTES: Examples with the magazine cutoff are very rare.