Porter Baldridge Page 1.
A TREATISE ON
THE SHORT MAGAZINE LEE ENFIELD RIFLES (SMLE)
The NO. 1 MKIII and MKIII* was made by:
BSA, Birmingham Small Arms
ENF, Enfield
VSM, Vickers & Sons & Maxim. 1911-12 only, very rare.
SSA, Standard Small Arms Company, 1916-18
NRF, National Rifle Factory, 1918-19. SSA and NRF same company.
LSA, London Small Arms Co. LTD
LITHGOW, New South Wales, Australia
ISHAPORE, ISHAPORE, India. Rifles marked RFI (Rifles Factory
Ishapore), I.P., ERI, GRI, or four lions on a column. Proofed thus, 
.
Dec. 1943 the last NO.1 MKIII was made at Enfield in England.
Dec. 1955 the last NO.2 MKIII was made at Lithgow, NSW Australia.
Dec. 1961 the last NO.1 MKIII was made at RFI Ishapore, India.
Dec. 1970 the last NO.17.62 was made at RFI Ishapore, India.
The 7.62 NATO NO.1 MKIII was made at Ishapore 1963 to late 1970.
This arm was also called the Enfield 2A, India. It was made of better
steel, and was surprisingly strong. Nearly 250,000 were made. These
differed from the NO.1 MKIII in the rear sight, the comb of the stock,
the magazine, fore-end tie plate, and trigger guard. This rifle is still
in service thus outlasting the NO.4, and assuring the NO.1 a place in
history for lasting over a hundred years.
Leading particulars on the NO.1 MKIII/III*:
Overall length ______ 44.5 Inches
Barrel length _______ 25.19 Inches
Weight ___________ 8.62 Pounds, 9.75 with bayonet
Rear sight _________ V notch rear to 2,000 yds protected by wings
Front sight ________ Barley corn protected by wings/nosecap
Capacity _________ 10 shots stripper loaded
The NO.4 and NO.5 series of rifles were made by:
BSA Small Heath M47A.
BSA Shirley M85B, M47C. Both BSA's 1,3000,000 units.
FAZAKERLY ROF (F) FY F UF (R.O.F. = Royal Ordinance Factory).
MALTBY ROF (M) RM 7000,000 units both ROF's.
© Porter Baldridge 1996 All rights reserved.