Looks like a transitional model between the smelly no. 3 and the no. 4. Has a magazine cut off which was deleted midway through WWI. Bayonet lug looks like its off a 1897 trench shotgun.
In 1907 the British Army reorganized all its equipment and standardized the SMLE as the Mk III. The volley sights that this one has were removed in 1907 and it looks like the charging bridge has been screwed into place. Probably it's a Mk II that has been modified with a charging bridge for testing. The magazine cutoff was removed in 1915 along with the brass disc to make production quicker and cheaper and the result was the Mk III*. Al_in_Ottawa
I'd run this one by Tiny, he might know.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a transitional model between the smelly no. 3 and the no. 4. Has a magazine cut off which was deleted midway through WWI. Bayonet lug looks like its off a 1897 trench shotgun.
ReplyDeleteIn 1907 the British Army reorganized all its equipment and standardized the SMLE as the Mk III. The volley sights that this one has were removed in 1907 and it looks like the charging bridge has been screwed into place. Probably it's a Mk II that has been modified with a charging bridge for testing. The magazine cutoff was removed in 1915 along with the brass disc to make production quicker and cheaper and the result was the Mk III*.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
the 1897 Trench Gun uses an Enfield P14 pattern bayonet
ReplyDelete