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The Lee-Enfield Shortened, Lightened Rifle

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See also: the Australian trials Rifle No.6 and the trials training Rifle No.6 in .22RF

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N.B. Images on this page are copyright to either www.rifleman.org.uk or the Royal Armouries, or both.

Below is a Rotate & Zoom image of the Australian Shortened & Lightened No.1 Rifle.

A small number of these experimental rifles, recorded as being one hundred, were built at the Small Arms Factory Lithgow in 1944, and were a precursor to the Australian trials Rifle No.6 also built on the S.M.L.E. action (Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield) and anticipated to be their own version of the British Rifle No.5 - the colloquially named "Jungle Carbine" - until war in the Pacific theatre came to an end. The British No.5 was proposed as the main new British service rifle, but when it proved to have a serious shortcoming in holding its zero, that privilege was awarded to the Lee-Enfield No.4 Rifle, itself introduced much earlier, after trialling of the Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.VI.

Slide cursor < > to rotate; click image to magnify or icon for full screen view

Excluding prototypes, the serial numbering of these trials rifles commenced at XP1 and was continued through to the No.6 carbines, which themselves ran from XP101 to XP296.

 

The butt socket is shown below, on a receiver identical to that used for the Rifle No.6 Mk.I,

apart from the replacement of the charger-guide bridge with a mount for a rear aperture sight.

The receiver is that of a Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III* made in 1944,

the same year that the experimental rifles were manufactured.

The all but unique battle sight, otherwise only used on a few prototypes of the aforementioned Australian No.6 "Jungle Carbine".

The rifle illustrated is serial no. XP 79 of the hundred trials rifles produced.

 

This special rear-sight, mounted in the position that originally held the charger-guide bridge is very similar,

if not identical, to that shown in the RSAF (Royal Small Arms Factory) Enfield drawing no. DD(E) 3710.

It has just two range settings - 200 and 500 yards.

This is replicated on the page for the Australian .303CF calibre Lee-Enfield Rifle No.6.

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The specifically made Lithgow "MA" bayonet of 1944,

with its Slazenger '44 wood grips.

 

The nosecap differs from that of the S.M.L.E. rifle by the absence of the piling swivel,

But S.M.L.E. and this rifle's bayonets are interchangeable.

 

 

The bayonets are 'OA' stamped, with the code of the Rifle Factory No.3 at Orange, New South Wales. They carry the usual "X" bending mark, proof of passing that test, and the 'Broad Arrow' acceptance stamp.

The wood grips are stamped "SLAZ 44", having been manufactured by the Slazenger company in 1944.

"OA" is also stamped lightly on the locket immediately above the staple.

 

The butt-stock is stamped with small characters

"MA"

"LITHGOW"

"SMLE"

above the large double-lined lettering

" HV "

all over the date

"1944"

"MA" is the mark for 'Munitions Australia',

but "HV" is unknown to us at the present time, although possibly a furniture manufacturer's code.

 

See also: the Australian trials Rifle No.6

and the trials training Rifle No.6 in .22RF

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The prime source for information on these rifles is the series of reference books on the Lee-Enfield rifles authored by Ian Skennerton.

The latest edition is ISBN9780949749826

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