1
Horrible photo, but shows the only difference between the top rifle and a standard No I Mk III are the rear sight and receiver modifications.
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2
Better photos showing the only difference between the top rifle and a standard No I Mk III are the rear sight and receiver modifications.
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3
Better photos showing the only difference between the top rifle and a standard No I Mk III are the rear sight and receiver modifications.
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4
With the removal of the standard rear sight a new rear handguard was fabricated, but the slot for the sight protector in the fore-end was left unplugged. Still entertaining retention of the volley sight, a new rear aperture arm had to be fabricated to clear the new, wider, safety catch locking bolt.
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5
Early method of machining the trials receiver flat reveals the charger bridge lost a large slice of the left side. Bottom rear of both receivers shows heat discoloration from the brazing of the new rear sight assemblies, (not as evident to the naked eye). The trials rifle has commercial proofs on the barrel flat...wonder if it slipped in with a group of standard Mk V's?
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6
Trials rifle sight marked to a greater range of 1500 yards, but different construction of aperture allows it to be indexed lower down, thus the entire yardage scale is engraved lower on the ladder. Trials rifle bears evidence of an inherent fault of the Mk V design...a weak rear sight prone to bending.
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7
This, and previous photo, show the convex shape of the trials safety lever and the fabrication of a volley arm with curve in it to accommodate this extra width. At the top of the inside of the trials sight ladder is stamped the numeral, "5".
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8
The more simple machining of the rear sight assembly of the trials rifle is evident.
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9
This 1915 Enfield SMLE Mk III is the same year rifle as the one on page 168 of LES, and page 188 of "The Lee Enfield" and although Ian refers to several batches of these trials rifles being produced, there is no actual production figure mentioned. It is rare enough that the Pattern Room collection doesn't have one, so where did they all go?
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