History and evolution of the Lithgow Short Magazine Lee Enfield SMLE - The Kings Armoury

[@johnballantyne3231]

Great to hear history of the Lithgow rifles and delighted that the re established museum is finished. My father worked at the factory as a leading hand toolmaker throughout the war and it shaped his working life thereafter. His skills developed at Lithgow were passed down to me and sustained me through a long career. The story of Lithgow small arms is quite unique and an important part of Australian history. Well done Michael King!

[@KingsArmoury]

I appreciate the kind words John, glad you enjoyed it.

[@paulbroadway987]

I have a 1953 Lithgow No.1 Mk3 in .303 British. It is one of the last 1,000 rifles made. It shoots great!

[@TheRatzNest]

Hi Michael, this was a very informative video. I was wondering if you might consider doing another version with a newer camera so we can read the stampings and see the detail that newer phones these days capture. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and collection of SMLE rifles. One of my Lee Enfields is marked as a Lithgow 1942 MK11* when it is clearly in MK111* configuration. Have you heard of this before? Thanks mate.

[@jamescameron2490]

Interestingly, the only rifles actually marked SMLE on the action body were Lithgows produced after the designation was changed from Sht LE to Rifle No 1 Mk III. The rifles, then, bare a designation which wasn't the official "name" of rifle.

[@KevinHallSurfing]

Mine was stamped E.R. ENFIELD 1907 Sht.L.E III with Mk III * parts and H MOTTY -> S

[@concernedaussie1330]

Absolutely amazing. Can’t believe I haven’t come across your video before. Thanks so much .

[@concernedaussie1330]

Btw I’m driving down to Lithgow this coming week from Brisbane, just to see the museum.

[@MichaelClarke-v8f]

Missing the the actual first Lee auction which was the 1876 Remington Lee was chambered for the 45-70 which was basically the same as Lee metford

[@KingsArmoury]

Thanks for the kind words Paul and Ryan, glad you liked the video

[@fitzpreacherfarm6826]

Just picked up one of these, a 1917 or 18 as best as I can tell. Shots well. Thanks for the information.

[@raykocab5762]

VERY good video, sir! If you haven't read Ian Skennerton's book, you might as well have. I don't think you missed anything. Nice collection of SMLEs. I have a Mauser 98k, a Springfield 03A3 , and two Lithgows. The latter are my favorites.

[@shanehaertner5980]

Hi i have a Lithgow from 1942 my dad got it brand new in 1965 i think got it cheap still in cosmaline. I am looking to find the mount bracket so i can put a picatinny rail on it for scope. The original sights were taken off my dads foster father sodered on bbgun sights ruined it . cant hit nothing with these sights but a scope would work can u help me find the scope mount ?

[@dungspreader]

Great , great video , very informative and some super rifles .Thanks for sharing with us , I have a couple of Lee Enfields and a P14 but not a No 1 , you have just reminded me that I need to start looking again ! I look forward to seeing more of your videos . Grand Job !

[@KingsArmoury]

+dungspreader Thanks mate, I appreciate the kind words

[@crekow]

Great vid. I just thought I'd add a few points. Many commentators forget to mention the 60º bolt rotation (rather than 90º with Mausers) and the close proximity of the bolt handle to the trigger as major reasons why this rifle could be cycled so fast. James Paris Lee was way ahead of his time in designing for volume of fire rather than pin-point accuracy.

[@KingsArmoury]

+crekow Indeed, good points my friend

[@ryanmchugh7921]

Great video, didn't take my eyes off the screen once. I live here in Lithgow and a lot of my family has worked there also, my dad Barry worked there as a 1st Class Machinist Labourer from '69 to '85 working on the SLR, track shoes etc, he was leading hand tool setter in the latter years (which was a bastard of a job apoarently!) and my grandad wirked at the feeder factory in Portland at some points during WW2! Once again great video hope you make more like this!

[@KingsArmoury]

+Ryan McHugh Thanks Ryan

[@jeremyjames83]

great video.. the most knowledgeable one i have seen on the lee enfield rifle.. I have a 1918 mk III but i have no idea what any of the marking on the rifle mean.. it is in a sport configuration that i am sure was done in later years.. thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge..

[@keithplymale2374]

I have a Lithgow Rifle No. 1 Mk. III* made in 1941/42 that has always been a fun rifle to shoot. It came from a lot that was supposedly found in a warehouse in the late 1980's and imported into the USA in the early 1990's. I know mine had a lot of cosmoline still in it and I had to pay a gunsmith to clean it.

[@pmjn0943]

thank,you, for a brilliant video, I own a no4 mk2 from 12/54 (F) the history of this Rifle is very interesting.

[@KingsArmoury]

+Paul Newmarch Glad you liked it mate

[@angiefav1847]

Fantastic video hubby and l collect 303 rifles in a small way, hope to see more

[@mandywilliams5378]

Looking at buying my first smle lithgow now have a bit of an idea what to look for when I see one thanks for the video best I've seen jamie

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

gotta love those vowels.

[@ssettlemire]

Michael, I enjoyed your video. Congratulations on being part of the great Lithgow legacy.I've owned a Lee Enfield (1942 Maltby No1 Mk4) for over twenty years and it is a great rifle. Even with my 50 year old eyes I can hit a 10" target at 200 yards nine shots out of ten. I know many can do better, but for me that is pretty good! I recently bought a 1919 Lithgow MkIII*. It has markings that indicate it was issued to the 2nd Military District, East Command, New South Wales. It is also stamped CMF (Citizen Military Force). Other interesting marks included HV on the stock. The Lithgow web page states this means the rifle was sighted for high velocity ammunition. There is "T" stamped on the receiver. I'm not certain what that indicates. The wood shows the years but it is sturdy, no cracks or signs of repairs. This rifle is 97 years old and it still shoots very well. That bolt action is very smooth, a real engineering accomplishment.

[@KingsArmoury]

+Scott Settlemire Hi Scott, thanks for the kind words. Sounds like you've got a couple of nice rifles there my friend. I'm nearly 54 so I can relate to the eyes not being as good as they used to be.

[@bennettguns3809]

My 1917 III*(not a Lithgow but Enfield) nose cap is not bored through for a stacking swivel?

[@bennettguns3809]

An awful lot of ums and ahh in this audio maybe edit the noninformational stuff out?

[@2009Berghof]

I suspect that the 1943 examples rear sight wings are the wrong way around. I would like to know more about the opening up of the front sight protector.

[@hubbyofmad5122]

Thanks Michael, best video ever on the Lithgow Lee Enfield proud to be an Aussie. Thanks also for sharing your knowledge and your families legacy. I have my grandfathers 1918 mark 3 and many idiots have told me that it's not original etc etc because it doesn't have the volley sights but you sir have silenced them all. I really didn't care because when he handed it to me along with his medals just before he passed away I knew I was holding a piece of Australian history. Cheers

[@KingsArmoury]

+Stephen Muller Thanks Stephen. Glad that you have a piece of Aussie and family history my friend.

[@TheOzflyer]

G'day Michael, fascinating video and a great collection. I have a 1942 mk3 and it has the F.T.R marking on it, I understand what that means and what the rifle goes through to get that marking, however there is a "D" underneath it then the date of the F.T.R underneath that. I have been looking everywhere and I can't find out what the D marking means, would that make any sense to you? Thanks, Troy

[@redwineripple]

excellent

[@WasatchGarandMan]

Really enjoyed this video! Full of great info and some great looking rifles. Here in the states Lithgows command a premium but I guess down under they are very common. Is Australian Surplus .303 still pretty common or has that all been shot up?

[@mikegerow5490]

Thanks for the nice video on the SMLE. I have a 1916 Lithgow Mk III SMLE that I love shooting. Have accumulated a couple hundred rounds of factory brass and am reloading 150 grain Spitzers over 37 grains of IMR3031. Very very accurate. 2 questions: what is the round brass plate on the right side of the stock for, and what is the purpose of the small metal loop on the underside just in front of the magazine? Thanks!

[@KingsArmoury]

Hi Mike. The brass disc is basically for documenting the history of the rifle by both the SAF and unit armourers. Front gadget is a piling swivel, used for stacking a bunch of rifles together in the field. Hooking up to six or so together standing upright on the ground. Kind regards, Michael

[@mikegerow9396]

Thanks, Michael. The brass disc on my SMLE has no markings other than what looks like part of the seven-point star with a capital A in the middle. This also appears just above the Lithgow shield on the receiver band. The rear stock has several markings stamped into the wood, including GMF and 3MD underneath, separated by a line. There is also a marking of 2/17 and what looks like a capital HV or perhaps IIV, a Roman numeral III, and SLAZ 42 on the underside of the forestock. I gather this rifle has been around the block a few times.

[@dennycrane8654]

cheers from phx az usa

[@LuciferAmoyai]

Nice

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Thanks mate

[@TheStef71]

great video im into Australian ww1 re-enactment i use a reproduction Lee Enfield made by Dennix they are a spanish company, it appears from your clip that they have modeled there rifle from your last rifle 1918, the reproduction does take an original 10 round magazine you can cock and dry fire also with some modification you can fit an original bayonet!

[@redramage]

Excellent video, I quite enjoyed it and learned quite a lot from you. I am interested in learning about the production equipment used to manufacture these rifles. I'm a machinist by trade, today we can whip out a rifle action on a CNC mill in very little time, but the manufacturing methods of yesteryear interest me. You mentioned that Pratt and Whitney made the equipment, could you please point me in a direction to learn more about these machines? Especially in the far-flung colonies of Australia and India, I imagine the manufacturing would be more difficult than in the industrial heart of England. I would presume a belt-driven selection of machine tools powered by a stationary steam engine, but would love to learn more specifics. Thanks!

[@KingsArmoury]

The machines were mostly arranged in bullrings with each machine performing one operation. Lots of broaching machines. Lots of horizontal gang millers. A lot of Nichols milling machines and Ward lathes. I have one of each, I bought them for scrap prices in the 80's. I actually have the lathe that chambered 303 barrels for 30 years.

[@redramage]

+The Kings Armoury - Licensed Firearms Dealer thanks for the info. If the mood ever takes you, I'd love to see a video on those. I bought a 1940 Ishapore Mk III* sporter awhile back and am having quite a good time learning about these rifles.

[@MrBioniclefan1]

Wow are those machines still around?

[@eladio2005]

I love the lee enfield SMLE the best bolt action rifle in the world I loved

[@pm270100]

need a but stock and bolt 54 RIF

[@davidwagner4671]

Good video

[@davidoliver3255]

Does anyone know what the little loop in front of the magazine is for??

[@edwardfinn4141]

Yes , the magazine clip was semi permanently attached to the rifle to this little loop with a small chain !

[@abrb1223]

I have a lithgow smle ii* and I can't find anything about it. Do you know anything about it?

[@MrBioniclefan1]

I hate how the rear sight on the Lee Enfield No.4 Rifles can't have the windage adjusted only the darn front sight blade has that.

[@amandamccourt1942]

Do all Lithgow Enfields had the thick barell?

[@TheLoveFindersBand]

No. Only snipers and marksmans rifles.

[@amandamccourt1942]

@@TheLoveFindersBand I found one here in Canada with heavy barrel marked Central Command, 1917 I believe. It's tapped for scope but the scope was missing when I found it...

[@rickyrunner7619]

I have a 1916 Lithgow no1 mk111SMLE with a H stamped on the barrel is it a 303 British or not I can't find no where it is marked as a 303 does anyone know it is sportified and past down to me but can't ask my uncle about it he is dead if anyone knows let me know.

[@madaboutmilitaria3630]

Some beautiful rifles, just need to put them slings on the correct way.

[@brianblackwell5713]

Why do people call all enfields from the mk3 on, “smiles”?

[@brianblackwell5713]

Sorry, autocorrection, suppose to be smles

[@johnnyasus86]

They did call them smiles

[@jamescameron2490]

Not smiles, Smellies.

[@brianblackwell5713]

Damn autocorrect!!!! I don’t believe i typed an “i”.

[@ritchardclark5150]

that lip smack is annoying