Enfield: "You Fool! This isn't even my final form!"

SMLE's make me SMiLE

@thegoldencaulk2742

7 жыл бұрын

SMLE's are SMELLY

@lamri13uk

7 жыл бұрын

TheGoldenCaulk You are SMELY

@DougieMClark

7 жыл бұрын

Certainly wiped the smile of the faces of the enemies of the crown!

@sticknodesmaniac6028

6 жыл бұрын

TheGoldenCaulk don't offend my most favorite rifle of all!

@sticknodesmaniac6028

6 жыл бұрын

Sam Iam HEY, it my most favorite rifle

I bet being able to say "Serial number 1" adds a zero or two to the final price.

I always smle when I see these videos.

@MRKapcer13

7 жыл бұрын

You always smelly? ;)

@ashermosley2809

3 жыл бұрын

Me too

@himemjam

3 жыл бұрын

I always smle when I see 🌽-y jokes.

@mistergrendel32

2 жыл бұрын

@@MRKapcer13 I think it should be called the “smiley.” 😜🤓

A major change introduced during the time the Mark IV was developed was the use of a modern standard thread system. SMLEs use unique threads, very difficult to reproduce today. The Mark VI uses the BA (British Association) thread system, which is now obsolescent but still in use and tooling is available. Also, in 1934{ish), 13000 sets of No4 components were produced and put into store. After Dunkirk, these component were sent to the factory at Fazakerly and assembled. This batch has an "A suffix" to the serial number. They are not interchangeable with later serial production No4s. The have Enfield made back sights which use a ball rather than a plunger, also a cut-off made of stamped steel plate and a "waisted" fore sight protector. I have one of these.

As a British Sea Cadet (Ready, Aye Ready!) in the early 90s, I used to handle de-activated No4 Mk1s regularly - mostly for guard drill practice. Beautifully made, well balanced, and with an action that ran like warm butter every time, without fail. Loved them then, still do now. Not hard to see why they were so well regarded during the War.

@ghanashyamkaale7389

Жыл бұрын

1MAHRASHTRA /SENIOR DIVISION-96 NATIONAL CADET CORPS MUMBAI, INDIA I had used this rifle and loved it Thrilling experience!!

Ian, I thank you for all the help you have given to the developers of Battlefield 1, and to all the youtubers that you give copious amounts of information to about these awesome forgotten weapons. You are the internet's busiest and nicest gun nerd.

@abeherbert6603

7 жыл бұрын

I'm feeling a strong 7 with these rifles

@Weasel_Face333

7 жыл бұрын

Imperial German Stormtrooper Indeed. Hopefully him and BF1 will lead tp reproductions of some experimental WWI guns being made. I'd love to see a Mondragon that doesn't cost 5,000 dollars.

Forgotten Weapons has become one of my favorites. There is more knowledge about interesting firearms that I could retain in 5 lifetimes. I love these British rifles. I only have Lee Enfields and they are my most cherished milsurp weapons

I had the very great privileged of putting 10 rounds through one of the pre production examples at Bisley a couple of years ago. Great experience, just kicking myself that I didn't wear period service dress to do it.

@Ben_not_10

3 жыл бұрын

I actually found at a local shop here in Florida a no4 mk1 trials rifle. It does have all the markings and provenance of a trials no 4 mk1. Would it be appropriate to shoot the rifle with service dress and 1908 webbing?

I am happy to see how much important is given to being able to grasp the cocking piece. A good cocking piece should always be graspable. In fact, grasping the cocking piece is something many a gunner has done countless times.

Wow, those 4 guns hanging on a wall displayed together would make one hell of a conversation piece.

@fixitshop3025

3 жыл бұрын

Until someone breaks into your house and that’s the first thing they take

I bought an Indian Army Ishapore 2A1 a little while back. It’s an identical Indian made version of the Lee Enfield No1 Mk3, only differences are the range ladder only goes out to 800m, it’s chambered in 7.62x51mm, and the magazine is square instead of triangular. I love it to death and I bought an original WW2 sling the would’ve been used on ishapores and I’m working on finding an original P08 bayonets that would’ve been used as well

SMLE videos really should be marked NSFW.

@Ensign_Cthulhu

4 жыл бұрын

They shouldn't have to be.

@Enthymene

3 жыл бұрын

Not-So-Forgotten Weapons?

First firearm I ever bought was a No.1MKIII. To this day it is still my favorite. Since you are “Forgotten Weapons “ I suppose there’s little chance you’ll devote a full episode to it, but man would that be a cool episode! Still, thanks for all your work. Great content!

@M1GarandMan3005

2 жыл бұрын

Well, he did dedicate episodes to the Thompson and M1 Carbine, and several M1 Garand variants, so, who knows? He might just make a video about that.

seems sad that they're not in a single lot ... from an historical perspective it's a shame to have such a developmental set brought together and then separated again.

@woodland5325

4 жыл бұрын

@Superdude70 they probs already have tons for the museums

@ckl9390

4 ай бұрын

@@woodland5325 During the wars they weren't keeping specimens for museums. The closest to preserving for posterity would have been home guard use, but that would have been last generation or two rifles that wouldn't have been seen as fit for frontline service.

Ian, as usual, this video was mighty well done! I learn a lot from your videos and appreciate all of the research you put in to make them.

Thank you Ian. Excellent detail.

The '03 Springfield kept its magazine cut-off until the end of production in the mid 40s, though probably only because it was also the the bolt catch. Also, probably because it was unobtrusive and didn't impact the strength of the receiver like the smelly's did.

Love the Lee Enfield rifles. Such brilliant weapons.

I really enjoy these videos where you show the evolution through multiple samples.

If there is any man in the world living his dream it is Ian. He always gets to see the rarest of guns.

Been loving your Lee Enfield vidoes!

I have a No.4 Mk 1/2 that I bought from a pawn shop for $130 a year or two ago..it had been sporterized but I put it back to mil spec as best I could. Its seen alot of use/abuse..still fires flawlessly though! Love that rifle

I just visited the website for first time in a while, and Ian it looks amazing.

Recently found a No1 MK6, thanks Ian for making this video, otherwise I wouldn't have a clue what I had :)

Awesome historical video.

Lovely. Thanks again.

Excellent as usual.

There is another variant, one with no magazine cut off, sitting in a safe in Australia. The rear sight is also slightly smaller square section than a No.4 so they will not interchange, you can't get the pivot pin in place with a No.4 sight. Uncheckered fore end, but that may be a result of re-stocking during its service life. Aluminium alloy (Duralium?) butt plate ditto.

Definitly a master piece.

@MrBioniclefan1

7 жыл бұрын

So true

My Grandfather was issued one of those retrofitted ones while serving in the British army.

NO. 4 is my favourite design, Canadian Rangers have a small number that are being phased out in the coming years. Like you said very hard to find intact and parts for. I don't like the sport modified ones.

@fixitshop3025

3 жыл бұрын

I hate when people try modify these guns

@TheWhoamaters

3 жыл бұрын

The sporterized ones are sad to see, but at least they're cheaper

@ckl9390

4 ай бұрын

@@TheWhoamaters The No4-Mk1 (Longbranch) I inherited appears to have been factory or armoury sporterized (with the barrel cut behind the bayonet lugs as well as wood removed) before being surplussed. It has an S between the "released for public sale" double arrows, something like this >S< stamped on it. My brother inherited a bucket of spare parts from another relative that added up to another one that wasn't sporterized, but is still in the process of being restored.

I have fond memories of firing the No.8 cadet rifle (.22 hand fed lee enfield) as an army cadet 5 or 6 years back, heard recently that they're being phased out, so I'm hoping they'll start popping up at auctions and the like on mass soon:) Despite their age, they're great little guns.

I have a #4 mk 1 made in 43 by Savage Arms. Matching numbers. Harvested several deer with it. Awesome rifle.

I'm just wondering have you ever thought to and if so could you do history on the guns life itself? I understand a lot of the owners might not want the exact history of certain items mentioned I just think it would be cool if we could find out how a prototype weapon ends up in civilian hands and then half way around the world from its country of origin.

@rupertmcnaughtdavis3649

4 жыл бұрын

My no.4 was used in the Mau-mau uprising in Kenya in the 1950's by the previous owner.

As a Brit the top of my list of possible reasons to emigrate is "I want a SMLE".

@JammyGuns

6 жыл бұрын

You can have one in the UK.

The '03 Springfield kept its magazine cut-off until the end of production in the mid 40s, though probably only because it was also the the bolt catch.

I used to have 7 different lee enfield rifles and used them all for hunting and they were good but my 30 06 that I bought the next year was so much more accurate because I had a scope on it and I left my enfield's all stock because I was collecting all the different variations of the enfield .

I leaned to shoot on on of the No.1 mk 4 .22 rifles. My only memory of it was it was really heavy for a 13 year old. Unfortunately those rifles didn't have internal magazines so you couldn't make good use of the quick action.

@RamonInNZ

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah single shot as they plugged our magazine receivers in New Zealand. I used a lightweight .22 of 'Russian' design which we could do rapid fire with, the action was crap though compared to the Cadet rifle.

@sergarlantyrell7847

3 жыл бұрын

@@RamonInNZ I've never tried a Russian receiver, but I remember my first thoughts on using a mauser action that it felt so clunky they must just be badly made.

Hey Ian, another great video. Have you ever done any videos comparing the pros and cons with different sized mags? I've always wondered why the manufacturers kept the mag capacity down.

@fantabuloustexan6098

9 ай бұрын

Mag long

@ckl9390

4 ай бұрын

The Lee-Enfields had double the magazine capacity of their contemporaries. As for why magazines were never commonly expanded past 10 before SMG's became common was because of a confluence of factors. The magazine is a bottleneck in production because of how complex it is, and in the case of detachable magazines there's an additional level of precision required to make any given magazine fit any given rifle it's meant to. They also take a surprising amount of expensive material to make (reliable long action springs notably) that multiplies with length instead of linear addition, so why make a magazine greater than a dozen at most (but in most cases a half dozen) when the user is cranking it by hand anyway. Weight is also a consideration, it doesn't sound like much, but when designing a firearm for long-haul carrying small amounts of superfluous mass matter. In some cases form factor was an important consideration, for cavalry for example, and a large magazine would have made handling awkward. All the above being said, ammo usage was probably the largest concern. For a long time there was a hesitation for militaries to adopt manual repeating rifles and kept with single shots even when the sporting market had arguably more advanced options than their respective militaries. Simply put, the mindset was that if a soldier has ammo in the gun they will dump it downrange immediately, often without considering IF there is more ammo to be had for later. Having magazines limited to a handful of cartridges effectively enforced the shots to be slower and used more deliberately. As a real life example, when needle rifles (no magazine just breach loading instead of muzzle loading) were introduced, the first major battle involving them used up that nation's entire year's production capacity of ammo in a single day. That was a problem which wasn't remedied until mechanised ammo production became a thing, but even then resources are a consideration. It's not necessarily who can fire the most shots would win, but who has ammo left to fire the last.

I have a No 4 Mk 1/2 thats seen its fare share of action and at least one trip to the armory. Still shoots like a dream and I honestly love this rifle, its still got alot of the odd olive paint they put on it during the war. And contrary to popular beleif the .303 Brit round is still available through PPU although its a little pricey...$15 for a box of 20 rounds. through SG

Title basically says Short Magazine Lee Enfield Lee Enfield lol

Man I wish I could have all 4 of those to add to my enfield collection

@francissauve6685

4 жыл бұрын

Check video description for the prices the SMLE's were sold at lol

Excellent video and channel if I may say, but I have (at least) one question. I remember very well, in around 1963-65 when I was in the ATC (Air Training Corps) using Lee Enfield rifles. I seem to remember them as being known as Short Lee Enfield, but in any case the question is, was the cartridge cut off (as shown at 4:46 for example) fitted to ALL versions of the LE rifle, because I don't remember that at all. I'm not saying it wasn't there, just that I don't remotely remember it. You also don't mention the calibre, but presumably we are in agreement about it being .303" Regards Mark in the UK

Thanks for a great video. I am surprised at how the magazine cutoff stayed in place for so long. It seems to me that No1 rifles found today usually do not have this. Was there a program to remove that during routine maintenance/refurbishment? (You can never have too many Enfields.)

@ForgottenWeapons

7 жыл бұрын

The MkIII* pattern eliminated the cutoff, and so most of the rifles made during WWI did not have it.

we was still training with the 303 in 1984 in the cadets, as a small 13 year old being on the shooting team i dreaded firing this thing, the .22 was more for me at the time, .303 used to hurt a lot after a full day shooting only being tiny at the time :(

The magazine cut off had nothing to do with single loading in the field to keep a mag in reserve! this could not be done as rounds came out of the box in stripper clips. Soldiers were not issued loose ammo. The only time it was used was in basic training and each time the Army tried to get rid of it the people in charge of training stupidly brought it back. Basically their training manuals said to use the cut off so they insisted the rifles have them rather than change the manual. The cut off was originally installed as a safety measure to ensure the rifle would work as well as the Martini Henry that the Enfield replaced even if the mag was damaged or lost

@Ian looks like you found the hens teeth of SMLE Lee`s there great video

I apologize if I am about to repeat a previous comment or if this information turns out to be false. What I have heard about the Lee-Enfield series of rifles was that in 1931 the whole series was reorganized and the classification system was simplified. For example, The Number 1 series which was formally adopted as such in the twenties had run-ons from all the marks and stars. So, the number 1 mark 1 and number 1 mark 3 we’re left alone in the 1931 reclassification but the latter iterations were reclassified. The Number 1 mark 4, in .22lr, was re-designated the Number 2 and there were some variants of that rifle. The Number 1 mark 5 was re-designated the Number 3 and any variants that were based even partially on the Pattern 14 Enfield were designated the Number 3 series. Then, of course, the Number 1 mark 6 became the Number 4 mark 1.

I wish I had more money so I could buy some (or all) of the guns you show on this channel.

Hope you review the No8 Cadet rifle and the L39 target rifle. Loved shooting the L39 at Bisley. Great PH sights.

@RamonInNZ

3 жыл бұрын

Pretty sure I used the 22LR version of these in New Zealand when I first joined the Air Cadets in late 1970s for weapon training. We used deactivated 303s for drill practice.

@scroggins100

3 жыл бұрын

@@RamonInNZ Same here, in the ATC. We had .22 BSA, No 8 and DP 303 to play with. Great days..

works of art

Interesting to still see a magazine cutoff on a 1931 production rifle

Ian: Being Canadian I'm very familiar with Lee Enfield SMLE's and can usually name it whether it's a #1 MK3 or #5 MK4...etc but I'm complete at lost with all the versions other then I look down the barrel and determine whether its Black Power Cordite with a turn and 1/2 twist or Nitro 6 1/5 twist Barrel - There all Lee Enfields to me and shoot Great. Thanks Ian too further my confusion - LOL

Wierd that you have a lot of hunting modern rifles that still use a derivative of the Mauser action, but none (that I can think of) that use an Enfield action. Anybody knows why?

@ewanobrien50

4 жыл бұрын

Have a look at the AIA rifles manufactured in Australia in the mid 90's. They were basically a modernised version in 7.62x51 and 7.62x39

@allangibson8494

4 жыл бұрын

A lot more Mauser actions were surplused after WW1 & WW2 where the 303s were just returned to stores. Added to that is the 303 was originally a black powder round - rear locking is superior for black powder as it avoids fouling that jams front locking lugs within 10 rounds. Smokeless powder removed that problem and front locking is lighter (and therefore cheaper) for the same strength.

As an Army Cadet in the 1970's we used and fired the mk4 SMLE, the first time of firing one at 13 and the smack in the shoulder from the recoil either made you love range days or dredded them, I couldn't wait for the yearly or if lucky regular firings of the SMLE and Bren Guns, but there Was always a question that fascinated me then as it does now ! Was there a issued 20 round magazine for the mk1 & mk2 .303 Short Magazine Lee Enfield( SMLE ) effectively making the rifle a .303 Long Magazine Lee Enfeild ( LMLE ), I have seen a few 7.62mm LMG magazine's that have been adapted as a Long Magazine as they would be in line with the straight 10 round .303 magazine, and they come with the increased capacity of 30 rounds ( 28 in reality because of spring wear and strength ), but I am sceptical about them because of the aforementioned spring strength ? Yours Mike Jeffery ex 16th/5th Lancers

Hello, Ian - have you ever done a vid on the Enfield No. 4, with the 7.62 NATO conversion during the FN FAL adoption? I would love to see a " Jungle Carbine" version of that, would almost be an "issue" Scout rifle....

Something I have read from period British manuals regarding the use of magazine cut offs was for training and administrative purposes only. The whole “single load” till “magazine ready” ended with the adoption of the SMLE

@johnfisk811

4 жыл бұрын

It also had a use in support of the civil powers in that it allowed an extra level of intimidation before it came to firing live rounds over or at a dangerous riot. With the cut off in place and the magazine loaded the command could be given to 'load' which meant that the crown could see and hear the bolts being closed. If live fire were needed the order changed to 'with magazine' at which point the cut off was opened and the bolt cycled.

What happened to the follow up videos with the price the firearms sold for? Those are interesting to know possible market value.

Great rifle. Too damned many numbers for me. Got mine from Army surplus here in Western Canada. Long Branch for short. No 1 Mk 4. That's enough for me to remember. Most of you would cry if you heard what I paid for it back in the day. Other than head spacing issues to deal with it's a damn good shooter.

6:55 so this from where Nerf got the idea for their tacticool barrel attachment joints.

The first center fire rifle I ever fired, was a sporterized 1917 SMLE. The rifle was my fathers, and he was surprised that it didn't put me on my ass, as I was 7 years old. Years later, I acquired another 1917 SMLE, with original bayonet, in it's original set up. This mag stop thing though, none of the SMLEs I've seen, or used, had them. I wonder if the Canadian ones ever did have them?

magazine cuttoffs, othais favorite thing

I believe that by this time the mag cut-off was not for single loading but part of the drill to carry a loaded mag with no round in the chamber.

Fresh

I have a no5 mk1 jungle carbine, great shape, i wonder what it is worth all matching numbers

19/11/19 very cool !

That magazine cut off is great for peeling boiled potatoes and,used correctly, can pop a cork. Remember to manipulate the bottle and not the rifle. So, now you know. 😊

#ForgottenWeapons Another well presented, informative video. Well done. Which was the better* rifle -Lee Enfield No.1 Mk6 or Kar 98k? *looking, performance and handling.

@brokkur7629

7 жыл бұрын

Not an easy question to answer. The SMLE is smoother, and potentially quicker, whereas the K98 is more robust. However, the British rifle is hampered by the .303 ammunition, as there will be a possibility of "rim-lock". The larger magazine should be an advantage, although the Mauser stripper clips are extremely quick to use, probably faster than the LE ones. You can be extremely fast with an K98; in my youth I had no problems competing with others equipped with G-3 semiautos in speedshooting at 200m.

The SMLE MK3 Lee Enfield is my most favorite rifle, lol

The only Lee Enfield rifle I've fired was the No.8 which If i remember was a .22 conversion of the No.3

That's cool

Hey Mate, I have a No.4 Mk 1 rifle which is marked with 1941 (which I assume was when it was made) and 'Long Branch' which I assume is where it was made. There's one particular feature on this rifle that I don't understand because I've never seen it on another No.4 that being that it doesn't have any lugs on the end of the barrel for the bayonet. I was wondering if you or anyone else could enlighten me on this phenomenon. I also have a spike bayonet for it which fits on very snugly but of course doesn't lock which is a little disappointing.

Just when you think you know all about Lee Enfields........!

C'mon Ian, give me the No. 4!

Ian, what do you do for work that you're able to make these trips to Maine all the time?

@ForgottenWeapons

7 жыл бұрын

This channel and web site. :)

@FowCowMow

7 жыл бұрын

Forgotten Weapons Holy moly, you make that much money doing this? Doesn't Karl have a day job? I assume InRange makes you less since you have to split it.

Why would they enforce the bayonet orientation with that lug shape? I imagine that would just make the bayonet harder to fix in a hurry, and really, if you're in such a hurry you don't have time to make sure to fix the bayonet properly, wouldn't you rather put it on upside down than fumble with it?

Those magazine cutoffs were broken off by Australian troops. And were never continued with. Lithgow made the olde No 3 ,but with a heavy barrel. They didn't think it was needed to develop the rifle any more except remove metal were it could be to lighten it. After Dunkirk Australia sent 300,000 odd No3 heavy barrelled rifles to England.

Were these rifles part of a collection? Seems quite fortuitous that some how all these rifles ended up in the same auction. Hope they are sold to the same person/museum, great bit of history displayed in just four rifles.

@wierdalien1

7 жыл бұрын

Sean Heihn yes they were

were there any SMLE No4 made with a cutoff??

This is the VW Golf of rifles

Serial number 1? How do you end up getting Serial number 1 always with those rifles?!

Did they go to the No 4 name so soliders in the field would not feel like using a decades old weapon or was there another reason to not adopt it as the no1 mk6 or 7?

No 4 wasn't quite the standard British WW2 rifle. It wasn't adopted till 1941. If you look pre Dunkirk in Western Europe and all of the Middle and Far East you'll see No1 Mk111. A lot of commonwealth troops also had the No1 for most of the war as that was what their arsenals were geared up to produce. Best thing about No 4 is the sights. The rear apature gives a longer sight base and is much easier to aquire than the mid mounted v sight,

Thats odd, I always thought that they discontinued the use and production of the magazine-cutoff during WW1.

@ForgottenWeapons

7 жыл бұрын

They did.

I didn't hear you mention was this ever converted to 308, 7.62 caliber to match standard NATO rounds, or just retained in 303 britsh.

the no 1 mk 4 1943 lee Enfield that I shot was 303 cal not to say they didn't do a 22 version

Can you get any more guns on the table :)

I saw an image for the No.6 and it had a larger magazine is it real?

So it’s a hybrid of the SMLE MKIII and No.4 MKI.

Curious as to why the extended development of the smelly, why not switch to the P14/17 rifle that already had all these improvements & got rid of the rimmed cartridge?

@wierdalien1

7 жыл бұрын

Bruce Mason no cash

@kevinoliver3083

2 ай бұрын

The P14 was a inferior rifle. Unwieldy and with a smaller magazine. And it used .303.

Wait I know these are rare guns but for that price man I have seen SMLE mark V's go for about 1,500 usd

@ForgottenWeapons

7 жыл бұрын

They made a lot more Mk V rifles than Mk VI ones.

really hate the pinned on fore end cap on the No4 rifles.

is there a no2 and no3 ? or did for some reason after no1 mk6 directly come no4 mk1 ?

@ForgottenWeapons

7 жыл бұрын

The No2 was a .22 training rifle and the No3 was the Pattern 1913 Enfield.

@51WCDodge

6 жыл бұрын

I've got No2 . It was No1 built in .22 but used a Long Lee Metford type bolt.

@HJDore

5 жыл бұрын

51WCDodge wait so does it have the dust cover on it?

Gee I want one

What is the difference between the no.4 mk1, and the no.4 mk1/2? That's what I have.

Hi Ian, would it be possible to put time stamps in the description for when you start discussing one of the specific rifle models. All the different model numbers etc you mention when discussing the details of each rifle make it somewhat difficult to follow clearly from a firearms novice perspective.

Did these come from the Warminster collection...?

@ForgottenWeapons

7 жыл бұрын

No.

we've gone from Forgotten Bergmanns to Forgotten Enfields

Lol the magazine cut-off though