Feb 20, 2013 Quote Reply Topic: tracking serial numbers Posted: February 20 2013 at 6:35am is there a site or data base of Enfield serial numbers where a person could track their rifle back to place of manufacture, deployment etc.? For several years in the early 1970s, Ishapore resumed production of Mk 3. rifles in.303 British caliber. The Pattern 1914 (No. 3) Rifle Although not a Lee-Enfield, the Pattern 1914 is most often considered an Enfield rifle inasmuch as it was designed by engineers at the Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory. Jul 24, 2013 Hey guys, I just recently was given by my boss a Lee Enfield NO.4 MK1 303 British that I am trying to gather all the info about. The serial number is DA22567A, above the serial number it says NO.4 MK1 F (FTR) that is all the markings I can really see on.
Here is a simple shadow board depicting the 4 most common Enfields.
Serial Numbers, Model, Mark and Manufacture Identification
British Enfield 303 No4 Mk1
Over the years I have received many emails regarding serial numbers. The volume of serial number inquiries has prompted me to fashion this page together and try and explain how best to identify a particular rifles manufacturer. Truth be known about Enfield serial numbers is simply, the serial number was used more for production counting than any other reason. For official references, usually the finished and issued rifle was tracked by its rack number and of course these records have long since been destroyed or lost forever. This is not to say that Enfield serial numbers provide no information or that they are not an interesting subject. For those out there that want to get deeper into the serial number issues I would suggest purchasing either Skip Stratton’s or Ian Skennerton’s books. What this page will attempt to provide is a basic overview of the serial system and where to find them along with the manufacture markings and barrel date stamp that is common on most Enfields.
SMLE rifle manufacturers were given no serial ranges to begin or end production with, so it is possible that two rifles may exist with the same serial number produced at different factories. Some SMLE’s may be found with as little as a 3 digit number and high as a 5 digit number. Once the initial range of numbers was maxed out a letter prefix was added and the numbering began again.
Serial Number and Manufacturer Information Locations
Seen in the picture above are the places where the serial number and manufacturer can be found. Along with the manufacturers name both the date of manufacture and the type and mark of the rifle is also shown. SMLE’s will have serial numbers stamped on the bolt, receiver, barrel, nose cap and the underside of the rear sight. They may or may not have the serial stamped into the front part of the fore-end and in the case of the Australian Lithgow’s it may be stamped into the butt as well. When reference is made to an “all matching” SMLE the serial numbers must all be the same.
No4 rifles were given a starting number that may be used to identify manufacturers, but again there was no set serial blocks. British No4 rifles were set up with a 5 digit serial number system with 1XXXX being allotted to Maltby, 2XXXX Fazakerley, 3XXXX BSA Shirley. Yet again, once the sequence of numbers caped out letter prefixes were used to start the sequence over. In the case of Savage Stevens the serial numbers began with a 0C1 and for Long Branch 0L1, these serials progressed in sequence directly relating the serial number to the number of rifles produced. An example would be: rifle serial number 52C2689 would be the 522,689th rifle produced by Savage Stevens.
No5 rifles (Jungle Carbines) serial numbers consisted of a sequential 4 digit number starting with 0001 running through to 9999, the numbers were preceded by a letter prefix. When the number sequence reached 9999 the next letter assigned to the factory would be substituted in place of the former. These specific letter prefixes were assigned to ROF Fazakerley and BSA Shirley, the only two manufacturers of the No5 rifle, this ensured that there would be no duplicate serials during the production run of No5’s. The prefixes were assigned as follows:
ROF Fazakerley
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, L, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T ,U, V, W, Y ,Y, Z, AA, AB, AC
BSA Shirley
BB, BD, BE, BF, BG, BH, BJ, BK
Serial Number and Manufacturer Information Locations
Seen in the picture above are the normal spots to find the serial number and manufacturers’ information on the No4 and the No5 rifle. Places that will have the serial information is on the bolt, receiver and normally the barrel. They may have the numbers stamped into the front portion of the fore-end and on the bottom of the magazine. Manufacturers will be noted either on the left side of the receiver or on the left side buttsocket. The mark and type of rifle will be stamped onto the left side receiver wall. Like the SMLE an all matching No4 or No5 will have all the serial numbers matching wherever they are found on a particular rifle.
Certain serial number prefixes were reserved for trial rifles and specific rifle types. These prefixes can be used to authenticate these rifles if found in a gun shop or personal collection. The most common of these were: XP was used for the Shortened and Lightened Australian Lithgow (No6 Jungle Carbine) rifles, A was used for No1 MkVI trail rifles, BS was used on the British No7 small bore rifles, and T1 for the No5 small bore rifles. There are more but again I would suggest reading either Skip Stratton’s or Ian Skennerton’s books on the subject.
An Enfield pattern 1853 three band rifle-musket, lock with VR mark and dated 1863, rod absent. Provenance: Private Estate Collection. No license.
A SMLE No.4 Mk1*.303 rifle, marked Long Branch 1943 to the action, S/n 23L4466, with Parker MLE MkVII folding aperture sight. Provenance: Private Estate Collection. License required.
Enfield 303 rifle Mark III deactivated bolt action, circa 1916, SMLE III with bayonet and scabbard
SMLE No.1 Mk III rifle now in .22 long rifle calibre. Butt marked No. 2 Mk IV and dated 1948
Lithgow 1941 SMLE MK3 rifle, fitted with Central aperture sight
Lee Enfield MkI rifle in .303 calibre. BSA 1900 made
SMLE No. 1 Mk III rifle in .22 long rifle calibre
British / Australian Lee Enfield I rifle in .303 calibre. Sparkbrook (89) manufacture
Australian SMLE No. Mk III, Lithgow 1917. Nice example
British / Australian Lee Enfield I rifle in .303 calibre. Sparkbrook 1902 manufacture. A very nice example
Lithgow 1941 manufacture SMLE rifle officially converted to .22LR calibre. Good example. Serial No. 84569.
SMLE no I Mk III in .303 calibre. Lithgow 1928 manufacture. Serial No B18444.
SMLE No1 MK III * rifle in .303 calibre BSA 1939 manufacture. New Zealand issue stamps. A very nice example. Serial no L61288
SMLE No.1 III rifle in .303 calibre. 1952 dated
Lee Enfield Mk I rifle in .303 calibre. BSA 1901 dated. Nice example
Lee Enfield Mk I rifle in .303 calibre. 1903 dated
British Lee Enfield carbine in .303 calibre. Royal Irish constabulary issue stamps for 1904
SMLE No1 MK III* rifle in .303 calibre. BSA 1916 manufacture. Serial no J22778
Sht. LE mark V rifle in .303 calibre. Enfield 1924 manufacture. A very rare rifle. Serial No. A3971
SMLE No. 4 Mk I. Rifle in.303 calibre. Longbranch 1950. A choice example
A rather good example of an antique British Snider MK III rifle in.577 calibre, dated Enfield 1870
Lithgow 1943 SMLE MK3 rifle, fitted with aperture sight
SMLE No.1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1928. A choice example
SMLE No.1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1940. A choice example, L/R NSW
SMLE No. 1 Mk III rifle in.22 long rifle calibre. A choice example
SMLE No. 1 Mk III rifle in.22 long rifle calibre Lithgow 1942. A choice example
Bbedit 13 0 download free. SMLE No.1 Mk III rifle, no in.22 long rifle calibre, L/R NSW
British / Australian Short Lee Enfield I rifle in.303 calibre, LSA 1907 manufacture
SMLE No 1. Mk III rifle in.303 calibre Lithgow 1942. A choice example
SMLE No. 1 Mk III rifle. Now in.22 long rifle calibre. Butt stamped No. 2 mk IV. A choice example
SMLE No.1 Mk III in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1941. Fitted with Parker Hale Mk II aperture sight
SMLE No. 1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. L/R NSW
SMLE No. 1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre Lithgow 1953. A choice example
SMLE No.1 Mk III in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1953 made
SMLE No. 1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1942. A choice example, appears unfired L/R NSW
SMLE No 1. Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. BSA 1912. A choice example
SMLE No. 1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Fitted with Nikko Stirling telescopic sight. Lithgow 1942
Australian SMLE Ni. Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1944. Fitted with a Parker Hale 5A aperture rear sight
British / Australia Short Lee Enfield I rifle in.303 calibre, officially converted to an EY rifle. The butt stomped 'Rifle E.Y. for grenade firing'
Australian SMLE No. I Mk III in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1940. nice example
Australian SMLE No.1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1942. A very nice example
Australian SMLE No. Mk III, Lithgow 1942. Nice example
Australian SMLE No. 1 Mk III, Lithgow 1941. Nice example
Australian SMLE No. 1 Mk III, Lithgow 1944. Nice example.
Australian SMLE No. Mk III, Lithgow 1921. An especially good example
Australian SMLE No. I Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1944. A very nice example
SMLE No.1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. 1941 dated. Lithgow made. A nice example. Serial no. 71419. L/R NSW
SMLE No. 1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Fully skeletonised and a choice example. Serial no. F16237 L/R NSW
Near perfect SMLE No.1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1922 dated. Serial no. A97980 L/R NSW
SMLE No.1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Serial no. 44330. L/R NSW
Near perfect SMLE No.1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre, dated 1943. Lithgow made. Serial no. E31941 L/R NSW
Rare SMLE No. 1 Mk V rifle in.303 calibre. Enfield 1922. A very rare Trials rifle. An opportunity for the specialist SMLE collector to acquire an important item. Serial no. 3853
Enfield Mk I carbine in.303 calibre. Enfield 1900 marked. A choice example of a scarce item. Serial no. B595
A near perfect Lee Enfield Mk I carbine in.303 calibre. Serial no. 1564 L/R NSW
SMLE No. 1 Mk III. EY rifle in.303 calibre. Serial no. 33187
SMLE No. 1 Mk II rifle in.303 calibre. Fully skeletonised. Serial no. 1672 L/R NSW
SMLE No. 1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Fully skeletonised. Serial no. 71709 rego 712792907
Bolt action single shot SG in.410 calibre converted from SMLE. Serial Number 30317 L/R NSW
Rifle No.1 in.22 long rifle calibre built on 1898 dated Enfield. Serial no. P3815
SMLE No.1 Mk III rifle in.303 calibre. Lithgow 1941 made. Serial no. 40470 L/R NSW
SMLE in.22 long rifle calibre. Serial no. 58299 L/R NSW rego 718261517
British Enfield 303 Serial Number History
Lithgow bolt action,.303 rifle, Model Smle III 1942, Serial number 35176. Rego 711649990.(Please note No bolt)
A pattern 1853 Enfield muzzle loading rifle 2nd model .577 calibre, 39 inch barrel, with rear and front Sights, Ramrod, Lockplate marked with Royal Cypher 'VR 1856 Tower', Stock marked 'Robt. Hughes Universal Firearm works Birmm.' and 'WD' Ordnance
A de-activated Australian .303 Lee Enfield mark 1, no. 3 rifle, with bayonet manufactured by Lithgow small arms factory dated Comes with original web sling and de-activation certificate in magazine, with bayonet, scabbard & frog. Rifle length 110 cm
British Enfield 303 Rifle Serial Numbers
Martini Enfield Mk.III .577-450 caliber rifl e with original Enfield markings, receiver dated 1883. VG condition