No2 MkIV*
SMLE
Enfield 1917
Calibre .22
Price: £700

SOLD

Air Ministry Contract

All Matching & in Extremely Good Order.

The Army MkIV* version:

The MkIV was approved for Land Service in 1921 and is a conversion from the SMLE Mk III & III*.
Due to nomenclature changes in 1926, it became the “Rifle No2 MkIV*”.
The original designation marking on the butt socket were removed & new ones stamped below the Royal Cypher & original year of manufacture.

The barrels are solid & not tubed and the magazine added in May 1925 with the spring & follower removed. The purpose of the magazine was to catch spent cases.

The bolt has an off centre floating firing pin & larger extractor claw.

Air Ministry Version:

This is one of the Air Ministry Contract .22 SMLEs for 5000 rifles placed with Parker Hale, the original serial numbers were removed and the AM Air Ministry serial numbers applied, this is so avoid and duplication of .303 rifles with similar numbers. This batch of rifles are different from the Army contacts in that they do not have the MkIV marking and they have a parker Rifled Barrel.

The butt is one of the WW1 extended butts, these were short butts that were dovetailed & extended to bring them up to standard length
due to war time shortages

.22 Lee Enfield’s are become scarce & hard to obtain due to the re-assurgance of small bore classic rifle events such as the
Mini Methuen & Field Firing Match