Enfield Smle 22 Training Rifle

This is a rare 1897 Long Lee convertion to.22 and is in great condition for a 121 year old rifle. The rifle started out as a.303 and was converted to.22LR for troop training. The Long Lee Enfield was declared obsolete in 1905 once the problems with the Number 1 Mk1 SMLE were sorted out and went into full production (1904).

• Enfield Smle 22 Training Rifle Toz 8

Description:This rifle is an Enfield SMLE No1 manufactured in 1905. To one side of the action is stamped Enfield 1905 and on the opposite side Westley Richards 14. I am told this indicates original manufacture in 1905 with conversion to a.22 calibre training rifle in 1914.This rifle is fitted with volley sights and a fully adjustable rear leaf sight. Serial no's to the bolt, action and nose cap all match.As you might expect with a rifle of this age, the stock is not perfect with many small marks and indentations. All of the woodwork matches and is consistent with the date of manufacture.

The barrel is also not perfect with some light marking to the bore. This rifle shoots well although the last time I fired it the extractor was occasionally not functioning properly and some adjustment may be required to fix this.Overall condition of this rifle having regard to it's age and usage as a training rifle I would rate as fair to good.

Hello all,I'm getting ready to post this rifle for sale on the trader but would like to learn a little more about it's history before I do. Since there is no chit chat rule on the trader section, I thought I'd better post some details over here first.This is the first.22LR trainer that I've ever seen in person.Some questions:1) Did this rifle begin life as a.303 Lee-Metford rifle in 1915?2) what does the blue paint signify? I assume it's to easily identify it as a trainer, but I also used to think volley sights were for launch grenades so I've been very wrong before!3) Was the hollow magazine specifically created for the.22LR trainer or is it just a hollowed out.303 magazine?4) How common are these in the US?Feel free to comment and share any additional facts.Thanks!Now to the photos.Right sideLeft sideStock discMarkingsRear sightMagazine. Hello all,I'm getting ready to post this rifle for sale on the trader but would like to learn a little more about it's history before I do. Since there is no chit chat rule on the trader section, I thought I'd better post some details over here first.This is the first.22LR trainer that I've ever seen in person.Some questions:1) Did this rifle begin life as a.303 Lee-Metford rifle in 1915?2) what does the blue paint signify? I assume it's to easily identify it as a trainer, but I also used to think volley sights were for launch grenades so I've been very wrong before!3) Was the hollow magazine specifically created for the.22LR trainer or is it just a hollowed out.303 magazine?4) How common are these in the US?1) No - it began life as an SMLE MkIII made at Enfield lock in 1915. This conversion was approved in 1921 and the rifles were renamed the Rifle No2 MkIV.

in 19262) I have not seen blue paint before - not have I seen it mentioned on any descriptions of colour coding - but my assumption would be the same as yours. It may be a local distinguishing mark used by the OTC that owned the rifle3) The magazine is just the standard one with the follower and spring removed.4) They are not rare. Obviously less common than.303 rifles but I would guess at any given time there would be 4 or 5 on Gunbroker or a similar auction sites.Yours looks to have been owned by an OFFICER TRAINING CORPS at a school although I am struggling to come up with what M.H.

Enfield Smle 22 Training Rifle Toz 8

School might be off the top of my head.Hope this helps.