303 enfield jungle carbine identification. Jungle carbine serial numbers, nu vot, serial number on 308 jungle carbine. Click on a term to search for related topics. The Lee–Enfield is a bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle that served as the main firearm used by the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century. It was the British Army's standard rifle from its official adoption in 1895 until 1957. 10 11 The WWI versions are often referred to as the 'SMLE', which is short for the common 'Short.
- Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine Value
- Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine Serial Numbers Online
- Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine Price
Military weapons
- Lithgow Machette Bayonet Mk I and Mk II
- Bayonet for 9mm Owen sub-machine gun
The Factory also manufactured barrels and components for weapons such as the .50 Browning machine gun, 7.62 MAG 58 and the 5.56mm SAC pistols, carbines and rifles. Conversions were carried out on 6.5mm Mannlicher rifles (to .303) and barrel assemblies and magazines were produced for conversion of the .303 Bren to 7.62mm (designated the L4A4).
Weapons repaired or modified at the Factory include the 9mm Owen sub-machine gun (modifications and barrel replacement), .45 Thompson sub-machine gun, .303 Lewis and 30 Browning machine guns, .38 Smith & Wesson revolver, 30mm Aden aircraft guns and the 20mm Hispano canon.
Military Ordnance and stores
- 2' mortars and bombs
- 81mm mortar bomb
- Leopard Tank 105mm Sabot practice rounds
- .50' Phalanx rounds (projectile only)
- Aden gun 30mm Defa canon ammunition links
- Armoured Personnel Carrier Track shoes
- Track shoes for Leopard Tank
- Pintal towing hooks
- Tent pegs
- Trip flares and wires
- Bomb lug suspension
- Stops packaging
- Bofor gun ammunition clips
- Ammunition fuses & components
- Navy sky hooks
Short Magazine Lee Enfield & Variants: 1912 - 1945
- Calibre: .303' rimmed
- Magazine: 10 round detachable box
- Muzzle velocity: 744 m/s
- Weight: 4.1 kg
The Lithgow Small Arms Factory was opened during June 1912 and geared up to produce this rifle at the rate of 15,000 per year. Manufacture was well under way by 1914 when the British Government placed urgent requirements on production in readiness for any shortages upon the outbreak of WWI. All but 10,000 surplus rifles were sent to Britain, this causing a shortage here in Australia until production was increased. Some 30,500 MkIII rifles were produced during the 1915-16 financial year, this the highest rate of production during the Great War. A token 1000 SMLE rifles were produced in 1956, presumably just to prove that it could be done. It is believed that most of these have a reciever date of 1953.
SMLE No.1 MkIII
The Lee Enfield MkIII, known as the 'three-O-three' was the first weapon produced at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory.
Approved in January 1907, this short rifle superseded the Long Lee Enfield and featured a number of improvements over previous Marks in respect to simplified manufacture and battle efficiency.
The barrel is 25.2 inches (640mm) long and the rifling has 5 grooves and left hand twist. Overall length is 44.5 inches (1130mm) and the rifle weight is 8lb 10oz (3.9kg). Magazine capacity is 10 rounds.
The accompanying Pattern 07 bayonet was also produced at Lithgow commencing in 1913 with the hooked quillon model. In 1915 the hook was discontinued and large numbers of the early bayonets had the hook removed to comply with the new specifications.
This rifle was also manufactured in United Kingdom by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms (BSA Co) and London Small Arms (LSA Co) and by the Ishapore Arsenal in India.
SMLE No.1 MkIII*
This weapon was approved as a wartime expediency in January 1916, and differs from the MkIII in the omission of the long range dial and aperture sight, windage adjustment on the rearsight, magazine cut-off, lug on the firing pin collar, and swivel lugs at the front of the trigger guard. These swivel lugs were replaced by a small wire loop to secure a fabric action cover.
Soon after the introduction of the MkIII* the brass butt marking disk was also omitted. some MkIII* receivers may be encountered with provision for a magazine cut-off as the slot was reinstated on some rifles between 1923 and 1941.
Most other features are similar to the MkIII rifle, the rear sight is graduated from 200 to 2000 yards. The gunmetal butt plate is fitted with a trap for storage of the oil bottle and pullthrough.
In 1926 nomenclature changed and this rifle was designated Rifle No.1 MkIII*.[back to contents]
Rifle No.1 MkIII* H and HT
These rifles were fitted with a heavy barrel and special heavy furniture (woodwork). Lithgow was the only factory in the British Commonwealth to make the heavy barrel for the SMLE.
The rifles were designated Rifle No.1 MkIII* H for the open-sighted version and Rifle No.1 MkIII* HT for the true sniper version which was introduced towards the end of World War II. The designation 'HT' indicates heavy barrelled with telescope - a heavy barrel assisting with accuracy.
The HT was produced in three butt lengths, high or low mounted scope, and with or without a cheek pad. Between November 1944 and February 1946 approximately 1612 were produced. The Australian made detachable telescope fitted to this rifle was 'Sight Telescopic Pattern 1918 (Aust)' and is 3 power.[back to contents]
Rifle No.2 MkIV*
The .22 service training rifle, being a conversion of the SMLE, closely resembled the No 1. MkIII* in appearance and weight. They were single shot and had a solid barrel rather than a sleeved barrel wherein a sleeve was placed inside the .303 barrel for conversion to .22 calibre.
These rifles were still being used by cadets until 1975[back to contents]
Rifle No.1 Skeletonised (long and short configuraton)
Approved in Australia during 1948 and used by unit armourers for instructional purposes.
These rifles were also sectionised in various factories in India and England as well as in ordnance depots. It will be found that the machining will differ from rifle to rifle, but the Lithgow product was produced from a specific pattern.
The full length rifles are machined so as to be viewed from the right hand side, there are no cuts on the left side. The short models are designed to be viewed from both sides. Dummy cartridges are usually loaded in the magazine.- Calibre: .303' rimmed
- Magazine: 10 round detachable box
- Muzzle velocity: 744 m/s
- Weight: 4.1 kg
The Lithgow Small Arms Factory was opened during June 1912 and geared up to produce this rifle at the rate of 15,000 per year. Manufacture was well under way by 1914 when the British Government placed urgent requirements on production in readiness for any shortages upon the outbreak of WWI. All but 10,000 surplus rifles were sent to Britain, this causing a shortage here in Australia until production was increased. Some 30,500 MkIII rifles were produced during the 1915-16 financial year, this the highest rate of production during the Great War. A token 1000 SMLE rifles were produced in 1956, presumably just to prove that it could be done. It is believed that most of these have a reciever date of 1953.
SMLE No.1 MkIII
The Lee Enfield MkIII, known as the 'three-O-three' was the first weapon produced at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory.
Approved in January 1907, this short rifle superseded the Long Lee Enfield and featured a number of improvements over previous Marks in respect to simplified manufacture and battle efficiency.
The barrel is 25.2 inches (640mm) long and the rifling has 5 grooves and left hand twist. Overall length is 44.5 inches (1130mm) and the rifle weight is 8lb 10oz (3.9kg). Magazine capacity is 10 rounds.
The accompanying Pattern 07 bayonet was also produced at Lithgow commencing in 1913 with the hooked quillon model. In 1915 the hook was discontinued and large numbers of the early bayonets had the hook removed to comply with the new specifications.
This rifle was also manufactured in United Kingdom by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms (BSA Co) and London Small Arms (LSA Co) and by the Ishapore Arsenal in India.
SMLE No.1 MkIII*
This weapon was approved as a wartime expediency in January 1916, and differs from the MkIII in the omission of the long range dial and aperture sight, windage adjustment on the rearsight, magazine cut-off, lug on the firing pin collar, and swivel lugs at the front of the trigger guard. These swivel lugs were replaced by a small wire loop to secure a fabric action cover.
Soon after the introduction of the MkIII* the brass butt marking disk was also omitted. some MkIII* receivers may be encountered with provision for a magazine cut-off as the slot was reinstated on some rifles between 1923 and 1941.
Most other features are similar to the MkIII rifle, the rear sight is graduated from 200 to 2000 yards. The gunmetal butt plate is fitted with a trap for storage of the oil bottle and pullthrough.
In 1926 nomenclature changed and this rifle was designated Rifle No.1 MkIII*.[back to contents]
Rifle No.1 MkIII* H and HT
These rifles were fitted with a heavy barrel and special heavy furniture (woodwork). Lithgow was the only factory in the British Commonwealth to make the heavy barrel for the SMLE.
The rifles were designated Rifle No.1 MkIII* H for the open-sighted version and Rifle No.1 MkIII* HT for the true sniper version which was introduced towards the end of World War II. The designation 'HT' indicates heavy barrelled with telescope - a heavy barrel assisting with accuracy.
The HT was produced in three butt lengths, high or low mounted scope, and with or without a cheek pad. Between November 1944 and February 1946 approximately 1612 were produced. The Australian made detachable telescope fitted to this rifle was 'Sight Telescopic Pattern 1918 (Aust)' and is 3 power.[back to contents]
Rifle No.2 MkIV*
The .22 service training rifle, being a conversion of the SMLE, closely resembled the No 1. MkIII* in appearance and weight. They were single shot and had a solid barrel rather than a sleeved barrel wherein a sleeve was placed inside the .303 barrel for conversion to .22 calibre.
These rifles were still being used by cadets until 1975[back to contents]
Rifle No.1 Skeletonised (long and short configuraton)
Approved in Australia during 1948 and used by unit armourers for instructional purposes.
These rifles were also sectionised in various factories in India and England as well as in ordnance depots. It will be found that the machining will differ from rifle to rifle, but the Lithgow product was produced from a specific pattern.
The full length rifles are machined so as to be viewed from the right hand side, there are no cuts on the left side. The short models are designed to be viewed from both sides. Dummy cartridges are usually loaded in the magazine.[back to contents]
Rifle No.1 EY Grenade Launcher and Cup Discharger
Made up from previously condemned rifles and fitted with a grenade discharger cup. To withstand the extra pressure generated when launching a grenade these rifles were strengthened with copper binding around the forewood.
To launch a grenade a blank cartridge was fired with the butt of the rifle on the ground, similar to firing a mortar. By removing the grenade discharger cup it could be used as a conventional rifle.[back to contents]
Experimental Rifle No.1 Shortened and Lightened
A small batch of around 100 rifles was produced at Lithgow SAF in 1944 for Army trials. Experimentation began with two barrel lengths, 18.2 inch and 20.2 inch, with the 18.2 inch dropped for the 20.2 inch for trials production. Sure cuts a lot 5 keygen. The serial numbers are preceded by 'XP' and range between 1 and about 100.
Apart from the one-piece top handguard and the two longitudinal grooves on both sides of the shortened fore-end, the furniture and fittings are similar to the service No.1 MkIII*. The rear sight is mounted onto the charger bridge and has two push-pull range settings for 200 and 500 yards.
Army trials did not eventuate which resulted in the rifles being stored at SAF Lithgow.
A new bayonet based on the Pattern 07 with a 10 inch blade was proposed for these rifles. This bayonet design was later introduced and used on the Owen machine carbine, although marked differently.[back to contents]
Experimental Rifle No.6 MkI and Mk I/1
These proposed variations were produced at Lithgow SAF during 1944-45.
The .303 Rifle No 6 is another experimental shortened and lightened SMLE intended as a jungle carbine. It weighs around 1.2 lb (.55 kg) less than the standard SMLE. Approximately 100 each of the Mk 1 and Mk 1/1 were produced for trials but never went into production, the war finishing before trials were completed.[back to contents]
Vickers Machine Gun: 1929 - 1943
- Calibre: .303' rimmed
- Magazine: 250 round belt
- Rate of fire: 450 rounds/minute
- Muzzle velocity: 745 m/s
- Weight: 18.1 kg
Hiram Maxim invented the first self actuating or machine gun in the early 1880's, but it was the advent of smokeless powder with its prolonged burning rate that unleashed the real potential of the machine gun.
Vickers association with Maxim began in 1888 and by 1912 the Vickers Mk I water-cooled machine gun had evolved, a design that remained virtually unchanged for around 55 years.
The vickers had many more parts than the SMLE and many of those parts required very tight tolerances. Around 4000 drawings were required to describe it. The Factory facilities were inadequate for production of the Vickers in 1922 so manufacture began gradually with replacement parts being made for the Army and Navy. The erection of a three storey building to house Vickers production at Lithgow SAF commenced in 1922. The building and fitout was complete in 1929 and full production began.
When production ceased in 1943 about 12,500 Vickers Mk I, Mk V Aircraft and Mk XXI tank Vickers had been manufactured. Pre-production work was done on the Mk III air-cooled version for aircraft (the G.O. gun), but this was superseded by the Mk V before production could begin.[back to contents]
Bren Light Machine Gun: 1940 - 1945
- Calibre: .303' rimmed
- Magazine: 30 round detachable box
- Rate of fire: 500 rounds/minute
- Muzzle velocity: 731 m/s
- Weight: 10.15 kg
The Bren was based on the 7.92mm rimless ZB-26 light machine gun made by Ceska Zbrojovka at Brno, Czechoslovakia, but was configured for the standard British .303 rimmed cartridge necessitating the need for the curved magazine. The name 'Bren' is derived from the first two letters of Brno and Enfield, the original manufacturers of the Bren.
The Bren was officially approved in 1938 and production at Lithgow began in 1940. It was a much more complex weapon to produce than the SMLE - although similar in number, it's parts were much more difficult to manufacture and required tighter tolerances. 4074 different types of tools were needed and 3,341 operations were required as opposed to 2,250 on the SMLE. 16,947 drawings were required to manufacture a Bren gun.
With the introduction of the NATO 7.62mm cartridge in the 1950's the Bren was given a new lease of life and many were converted at Lithgow to the new cartridge that, ironically, was rimless like that used in the original Brno design.
A total of around 17,500 Mk I and MkI(M) Brens were made in Australia. A lightened pattern was also produced for trials but production didn't go any further.[back to contents]
L1A1 Self Loading Rifle: 1959 - 1986
- Calibre: 7.62mm NATO
- Magazine: 20 round detachable box
- Rate of fire of L2A1: 700 rounds/minute
- Muzzle velocity: 853 m/s
- Weight: 4.31 kg
The Factory undertook a complete overhaul in preparation for production of the L1A1. New machinery was acquired and new technology and methods were introduced. The L1A1 required 20,000 drawings, 25,000 pieces of tooling, 1,300 machining operations, 900 other operations, and was a complex weapon of very fine tolerances.
The rifle took 60 hours to produce when production started in 1959. Due to improvements in machinery, refinement of processes and the introduction of scientific management philosophies this was reduced to 23 hours per rifle by 1963. 222,773 rifles in total were produced. Not included in this figure were 588 sectioned L1A1's for demonstration and instruction purposes, a special run of 34 commemorative rifles to celebrate Australia's Bicentennial, approximately 200 drill purpose rifles per year, a production run of approximately 200 rifles made specially for the American market and 460 L1A1 F1's made for Papua New Guinea.
L2A1 automatic rifle
Although Britain decided that an automatic version of the L1A1 was not required, both Australia and Canada developed these versions. Total production was 9,557 rifles
Production of the L2A1 commenced in 1962 and just under 10,000 were manufactured. It featured a heavy barrel, a folding bipod complete with wooden inserts which served as a fore-wood when the bipod was in the folded position, selector lever for single-shot or automatic fire and a 30 round magazine. The carrying handle was relocated to allow for a different point of balance.
L1A1 F1 PNG Model
Papua New Guinea requested a shorter and lighter rifle than the standard L1A1. This was accomplished by redesigning and shortening the flash eliminator and fitting a shorter stock.
These PNG contract rifles were designated 'Rifle 7.62mm L1A1/F1'. Records indicate less than 500 were produced. Another 500 standard L1A1's were returned from Papua New Guinea to Lithgow for FTR (factory thorough repair) and these were also fitted with the shorter flash eliminator at this time. It appears these rifles kept their original markings and did not get the F1 designation.
[back to contents]F1 Sub-machine Carbine
- Calibre: 9 x 19mm Parabellum
- Magazine: 34 round detachable box
- Rate of fire: 600 rounds/minute
- Muzzle velocity: 380 m/s
- Weight: 3.26 kg
After the Korean War the Australian Army began looking for a replacement for the Owen Gun. The first prototype developed, the 'Kokoda', contained many of the Owen's features. The Kokoda became excessively hot under trials and was modified to become the MCEM (Machine Carbine Experimental Model) which proved in trials to be inferior to the Owen and was scrapped.
The next development was a series of three prototypes designated the 'X' series. The final result of this experimentation was the F1, essentially the last of the experimental models, the X3.
Full scale production began at Lithgow in 1962 and by 1973 approximately 25,000 had been manufactured. To facilitate production a number of its parts, including the trigger assembly and part of the stock, were common with the L1A1. The F1 was capable of single shot or full automatic fire, with selection by trigger pressure rather than a built-in selector lever. Its magazine was interchangeable with the British Sterling.
The F1 never gained popularity with those using it and was phased out by the advent of the Assault Rifle.[back to contents]
Austeyr F88 Assault Rifle
- Calibre: 5.56 x 45mm NATO
- Magazine: 30 round detachable box
- Rate of fire: 650 rounds/minute
- Muzzle velocity: 970 m/s
- Weight: 3.6 kg
The F88 was originally based directly on the Austrian Aug Steyr (translated to 'Army Universal Gun') and has gone through a number of modifications. It is a 'bullpup' style rifle with the magazine and breech behind the trigger assembly, and has a combined carry handle and sight.
The furniture is made from a composite carbon fibre material. The translucent magazine allows for visual verification of the remaining rounds. Selective fire capability is controlled by trigger pressure.
Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine Value
It is the current Australian Service weapon and is still manufactured at Lithgow, although it has been developed into a much more high-tech weapon than when production began in 1988.[back to contents]
Minimi F89 light support weapon
- Calibre: 5.56 x 45 mm NATO
- Magazine: 30 round box or 200 round belt
- Rate of fire: 750-1000 rounds/minute
- Muzzle velocity: 915 m/s
- Weight: 6.83 kg
The tomb raider title. The Minimi light automatic weapon was designed by the Belgian company Fabrique Nationale, and has been produced in Lithgow under license since 1989.
The feed system can use either belt or M16 type detachable box magazine that holds 30 rounds. It is interesting to note that a higher rate of fire is achieved with the box magazine.[back to contents]
SERIAL NUMBERS..
Earlier SMLE and previous MLM & MLE rifles & carbines initially had the action body batches allocated a letter, before the serial numbers were stamped (to 9999 in each series). These commenced with no letter, then progressed A thru' Z, often nominated for different contractors, RSAF Enfield, RSAF Sparkbrook, BSA Co., LSA Co., and the peddled scheme during WW1. It is interesting that different rifle and carbine Marks recommenced with the no letter and A-Z series with each new model, so it is possible to find carbines/rifles of different Mark designations with the same serial number. This is a reason that upon unit issue, serial nos. were not recorded, rather that rack numbers were assigned and stamped on the butt or butt-plate tang. On some rifles, particularly the SMLE, these unit or rack issue numbers were stamped on the top of the action body as well, e.g. in Aussie service '3.M.D.' (3rd Military District) '10381' (the Military District or unit rack no.)
On MLM, MLE and earlier SMLE rifles, the batch letter will be noted sometimes above or below the serial no. because the serial number was stamped later in production and stamped on the body and breech bolt too. Serial nos. stamped on the nosecap boss, fore-end, underside of the rearsight leaf, &c. was done at Base Ordnance Depots and by armourers to keep together components original to particular rifles during maintenenace and repair. This also applied, to a certain degree, to No.4 and No.5 rifles, particularly to the fore-end and later extended to the magazine case as well. For the SMLE, we usually find serial nos. stamped on magazine cases only on Indian issue rifles.
Recording of serial numbers for Enfield muskets, .577 Sniders and .450 & .303 Martini rifles & carbines is essential for your own records (insurance, registers, &c.) however the numbers stamped on the butt or even on action bodies are rarely the firearm's serial number. Rack or issue numbers were stamped on the right side of the butt, or marking disk (.303 arms only), on the butt-plate tang (Sniders & Enfields only) and occasionally on the action body itself, usually atop the receiver ring. While rack or issue numbers help identification, they are not the firearm's serial number.
Until 1st January 1925, the master number of a firearm was that on the barrel rather than the action body. On Sniders and Martinis, the serial number is not visible and removing a fore-end to see the number on the barrel or front inside of the body can damage wood furniture, especially if the securing pin (a la M.H. Mk I & II, M.M. & M.E. too) has rust on it. M.H. serial numbers are found on the inside right, front of the body while .303 conversion numbers used the left side. So as to match critical parts, serial number was also stamped under the rear sight leaf (and fore-ends, nosecaps, bolts, of Lee-Enfields too). You may find serial numbers easily by lifting up the backsight leaf, more convenient than removing the fore-end, IF that leaf is original to the firearm. serial nos. for .577 Sniders and .450 & .303 Martini rifles & carbines is required for your own records (insurance, registers, &c.) but numbers stamped on the butt or even action bodies are rarely a firearm's serial number. Rack or issue numbers were marked on the right side of the butt, or marking disk (.303 arms only), on the buttplate tang (Sniders & Enfields only) and occasionally on the action body itself, usually atop the receiver ring. While rack or issue numbers help identification, they are not the firearm's serial number.
Until 1st January 1925, the master number of a firearm was that on the barrel rather than the action body. On Sniders and Martinis, the serial number is not visible; removing a fore-end to see the number on the barrel or front inside of the body may damage furniture, especially if the securing pin (a la M.H. Mk I & II, M.M. & M.E. too) has rust on it. M.H. serial numbers are found on the inside right, front of the body while .303 conversion numbers used the left side. So as to match critical parts, serial number was also stamped under the rear sight leaf (and fore-ends, nosecaps, bolts, of Lee-Enfields too). You may find serial numbers easily by lifting up the backsight leaf, more convenient than removing the fore-end, IF that leaf is original to the firearm.
No.4 and No.5 rifle serial numbers can readily identify manufacturers. British No.4 rifles have five numbers, usually after one or two letter prefixes. The same letter prefix(es) were used by Maltby, Fazakerley & BSA Shirley, A to Z then AA, AB to AZ, then BA to BZ, CA to CZ &c. Maltby rifle serial numbers commence with a number '1', Fazakerley with a '2' and Shirley with a '3', e.g. 1xxxx for Maltby, 2xxxx for Fazakerley and for Shirley, 3xxxx, after the letter prefix. Late Shirley numbers then supposedly ran A4000 to A7999 and with PS prefixes at the very end of production. Post-war Fazakerley No.4 rifles had PF letter prefixes. The only exception to the 5-number sequence for No.4 rifles was the initial BSA Shirley production which ran from 0001 to 9999 then went with A to Z prefixes (A0001 to A9999 to the Z prefix) and some early dual letter prefixes (e.g. AT 0303), but then went over to A30001, &c. So early M47C No.4 rifle numbers could be confused with the Jungle carbine in having four rather than five numbers.
Long Branch (Canada) serial numbers incorporate an 'L' in the serial number while US Savage numbers include an 'C' in a similar relative position amongst the numbers. Both of these No.4 rifle series commenced with 0L1 and 0C1 respectively.
No.5 Jungle Carbines only have 4 numbers, the Shirley carbines have BB to C? prefixes, last production was post World War 2. The Fazakerley jungle carbines ran from FE1 to FE1000 initial production, then with no letter prefix, followed by A1 to A9999 through Z9999.
Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine Serial Numbers Online
Serial numbers of certain Lee-Enfields can serve as indicators of the model and help with initial authentication. The 'BS' prefix was used for the .22 British No.7 rifles, 'T1' for the .22 No.5 trials small-bore target rifles in 1945 and 'DA' for the .22 No.8 N.Z. contract rifles by BSA Shirley. 'SKN' was applied to factory sectionized models, an 'XP' prefix was used for Lithgow Shortened & Lightened SMLE and No. 6 jungle carbines, 'X' was used for a small number of Lithgow No.1 rifles with stainless steel barrels and 'FE' was used for early production Fazakerley No. 5 jungle carbines. Trials No. 1 Mk VI and No. 4 Mk 1 rifles made in the early 1930s have an 'A' prefix to their original serial numbers although many were later upgraded to No. 4 specs and the 'A' became a suffix to indicate the fitting of some non-interchangeable components. On No. 4 rifles, an 'A' suffix was stamped by a repair depot or armourer after the serial number when some parts were found to be non-interchangeable.
And of course, with the Canadian No.4 rifles, the letter 'L' precedes the last four numbers as does a 'C' for the Chicopee Falls production Stevens Savage Lend-Lease No.4 rifles and 'J5550' (the drawing number) prefixes the Canadian Lightened No. 4 serial number. After the initial 99,999 rifles, the Lithgow No. 1 (S.M.L.E.) proceeded through 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E' and 'F' prefixes before the last rifle F40580 was manufactured in 1953. WW2 production ceased with F39580 and the 1,000 rifle run during the Korean War ran from F39581 to F40580. More details on serial numbers will also be found in the new book, 'The Broad Arrow'.
The 7.62mm L1A1 series serial number prefixes similarly denote makers. UE is Enfield, UB is BSA, UF is Fazakerley and AD is Lithgow, Australia. 'SAF' was applied by the Lithgow factory to certain export sales and 'SR' for Lithgow sectionized rifles. South African 7.62mm FAL's were Belgian production metric models, engraved with the South African crest. Indian 7.62mm 1A rifles ran conventional serial number series with a letter prefix.
Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine Price
7.62mm L2A1 prototypes (heavy barrel auto model) from SAF Lithgow had 'X' prefix serial numbers. Some were onforwarded to Malaya and New Zealand, good customers who purchased quantities of the 7.62mm L1A1 model—
X1 to Malaya (7 June 1961)
X2 to X4 to Malaya
X5 to New Zealand
X6 to X7 to Malaya
X8 to Malaya, returned to SAF and rebuilt, forwarded to Australian War Memorial
X9 to Malaya
X10 AIS (Army Inspectorate) Lithgow
X11 AIS Lithgow
X12 AIS Lithgow
X13 to Malaya
X14 to Malaya
X15 to Malaya (likely only 15 rifles w/ X serials built, following were converted receivers)
X18 rebuilt from X8 at AIS Lithgow
X19 rebuilt from X9 at AIS Lithgow
X20 TT 176 for Army trial, control weapon (normal barrel & gas block, concession trigger mechanism & body bullet lead)
X21 TT 176 (test/trials) used with X20 by the Army
X22 possibly a number allocation and not assembled
Australian L2A1 production commenced in 1962 with 3,000 rifles and continued until 1982 with a total production of 9,557 (excluding the X-prefix pre-production batch referred to above).
Lithgow SAF in-house L1A1 test and some special rifles have some different serial number prefixes. SAF was used for target rifles and commercial batches which included the L1A1A rifles for the United States, e.g. SAF830103. TT and TR were applied to in-house test models. TR0001 to TR024 are recorded as having been assembled,
TR0007 Fully chromed barrel & auto to ADE Melbourne
TR0008 Fully chromed barrel & auto to ADE Melbourne
TR0015 Adverse condition trial with selected components; TT56, TT57, TT58, TT59
TR0016 Production rifle for comparison with above
TR0017 Adverse condition trial TT60 / C110
TR0018 Deterioration of Rifle body using proof rounds; TT61
TR0019 For case proof Footscray, special hardened body BRH
TR0020 BRH body
TR0021 H2 body for cartridge case ammo trial
TR0022 H2 body for cartridge case ammo trial
TR0023 H2 body, test on body hardened at finished stage; TT72 & 74
TR0024 HT body, test on body hardened at finished stage. Also ejector trial.
TT64A, TT64B, TT64C, TT64D, TT64E to observe stretching of body
SR1 Sectionized rifle, to Senior Inspector, AIS
SR2 Sectionized rifle, to Senior Inspector, AIS SAF
SR3 Sectionized rifle, to Bandiana
SR4 Sectionized rifle, to Bandiana, for Melbourne Museum
SR5 Sectionized rifle, Factory inspection prototype
SR6 Sectionized rifle, Australian Trade Commissioner, New Zealand
SR7to SR18 Sectionized rifles, to Malaya
SR19 to SR27 Sectionized rifles, to New Zealand
SR28 Sectionized rifle, to Zambia
SR29 to SR36 Sectionized rifles, for factory personnel
SR37 to SR588 Sectionized rifles, service issue, some sold to collectors and museums
SR8800001 to SR8800010 were a special bi-centennial batch of L1A1 A sectionized rifles in 1988, also engraved 'AUSTRALIA'S BI-CENTENNIAL 1788-1988' over 'S.A.F. LITHGOW L1.A1. PRODUCTION 1958-1988' on the right side of the upper receiver. A special copper - bronze medallion was also inletted into the right side of the butt of these 10 rifles.
Serial numbers for British made L1A1 rifles and Small Arms ran in blocks with factory code and year prefix followed by the serial number commencing with an alphabet letter e.g. UB60 A85830 (last rifle by BSA for the 2nd quarter 1960). Third quarter numbers commenced with A85831. The initial BSA batch of L1A1 rifles for the quarter ending December 31 in 1957 was UB57 A1 - A870. For the quarter ending April 30th 1960, numbers were UB60 A63625 - A75299. The last serial number for the quarter ending 31st July 1960 was UB60 A85830. An anomaly.. factory logged quarters ended with 30th April and 31st July???
'U' indicates UK. The next letter is the factory, 'E' for Enfield, 'F' for Fazakerley, 'B' for BSA Guns, 'S' for Sterling Engineering.
This was followed by the year indicator, e.g. '55' for 1955, then the serial number commencing with A1 which continued to A999,999 after which it advanced to a B prefix, starting with B1. The year indicator was irrespective of the serial number advance, e.g. the last rifle at Enfield in 1956 may have been UE 56 A2136, the first rifle in 1957 would thus be UE 57 A2137, until A999999 was reached after which the 'B' series was to be used commencing with B1, e.g. UF 68 B1.
Repaired weapons are marked with factory code, year and 'F.T.R.' adjacent to the original serial number. Where two or more types of weapons are manufactured or repaired at the same factor, a separate series of numbers will be maintained for each type of weapon, each commencing at A1.
For replacement numbers, i.e. unnumbered or illegible originals, SA prefixes were allocated for Army, SN for the Navy and SR for RAF. An example is an L1A1 returned by police in 1978 with an obliterated number was then engraved SA78 A1.
RSAF Enfield reported production of 103,400 L1A1 rifles, 108,300 L1A3 bayonets and 15,520 L1A2 grenade launchers by the end of the financial year 1961 for the War Office, Admiralty, Air Ministry, Ghana, Rhodesia, Nigeria and Singapore. Enfield FTR'd 10,000 No.4 Mk 2 rifles for Burma in that period, new No.4 rifles were made at ROF Fazakerley.