Original British WWI & WWII Lee-Metford MkII dated 1892 Converted to S.M.L.E. in 1905 and then to .22 Trainer - Serial P 29280

Original Item: One Only. This is one rare bird! This rifle started life as an 1892 dated Lee Metford MkII .303 caliber rifle, then was converted into an extremely early S.M.L.E. configuration, and later to a .22 Training rifle. It may well have passed through being modified to an 1895 Long Lee Enfield as well, though the markings do not indicate this. It has many of the characteristics the VERY EARLIEST P-1903 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifles, but in .22 caliber for training purposes.

It was originally fitted with long range volley sights on the left hand side, though like many we see these were later removed. It also has the EARLIEST version of the lower hand guard, incorporating steel wings screwed directly into the wood. Really a great piece of history here! We have had several of these in the past, but unfortunately those days are gone, and this is possibly the last one we will ever have!

As time passed it saw extensive service, and there are numerous proofs and markings on the stock and metal, some of which are no longer completely legible. There are still regimental markings on the buttstock marking disc: R. F. / 5. 15, though this could also be a date. There are also several faint rondels stamped into the wood, which are unfortunately no longer fully visible. The receiver is re-marked with serial number P / 29280, which matches the number on the end of the nose cap.

It is in fine condition and comes with the correct empty magazine marked .22 on the right side, which would catch spent brass. The bolt is correctly marked .22 No2.. The bore is in very good condition, showing a bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There definitely is wear to the lands, as expected for a training rifle that was probably in service for decades. The stock is solid, with the expected wear of age and long service, and some patch repairs near the top of the brass butt plate.  We can also still see the filled in cleaning rod slot under the fore stock. It has been fully cleaned and restored by our antique gunsmiths to put it in its best light.

The markings on this rifle help trace the history of the refits it has gone through. On the top right of the stock cup it is marked with the original production information:

V.R.
ENFIELD
1892.
II

First, the royal cypher Crown over V.R., for Victoria Regina. Well, this Queen, longest lived of all British monarchs, had an influence far beyond the British Isles and the British Empire during the Nineteenth Century. Victorian morals dominated the cultured classes of Great Britain and the new United States, and even now, in the Twenty-First Century, nostalgic organizations such as the Victorian Riflemen thrive in the former Colonies.

ENFIELD indicates that the first incarnation of this piece was produced by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock and 1892 was the year of manufacture. Lastly, for its first incarnation, II tells us that it was manufactured as a “Rifle, Magazine, Lee-Metford Mark II”. In other words, this piece originated as a Lee-Metford MkII rifle. How can one measure how much history this rifle has seen? Think Second Anglo-Boer War in South Africa.

Third, the lower left of the butt socket is very clearly stamped:

SPARKBROOK
1905
SHT L.E.
CON'D II

which indicates it was modified at Royal Small Arms Factory Sparkbrook in 19054 to the “Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield, Converted Mark II”. Think of the very first S.M.L.E. Mk I with its exotic rear sight, rear sight protectors, and lumpy nose cap. The British, ever thrifty, began to convert long Lee-Metfords and long Lee-Enfields to S.M.L.E.s soon after sealing the pattern. All the converted rifles were called the Mark II.

Fourth and lastly, the lower right side of the butt cup is marked:

SHT. 22
III
B.S.A. Co.

This indicates that the rifles last incarnation was a “.22 Short Rifle Mk III,” and this transformation was carried out at the Birmingham Small Arms Company, which had dropped the "Metal" from the name by this time, circa 1913. As there is no conversion date, we cannot be sure when it became a .22 rifle.

Think of British Tommies training to be the most accurate riflemen of any European army in the impending Great War, which began over 100 years ago now. Many of those remarkable riflemen were dead by the end of the year. This “little .22” is now 130 years old, and is in very, very nice condition for its age. Christian has said he hopes to be in comparable condition at that age.

This is a great chance to own an interesting .22 SMLE trainer, with loads of history! Ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1892. Converted 1904 and later c. 1913
Caliber:  .22 cal
Cartridge Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 25 Inches
Overall Length: 44 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: Single Shot

Among the rarest of the rare, this rifle is the first .22 caliber trainer based on the Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield, or S.M.L.E. for short. Before this there were a Mk I, Mk I*, and Mk II, but all were direct conversions of Lee-Metfords or long Lee-Enfields, and did not resemble the S.M.L.E. The “Mk III” designation for this rifle is not related to the .303 caliber S.M.L.E. Mk III; it refers only to this rifle’s place in the sequence of .22 short training rifles. The model was approved on 9 August 1912, and was built on Converted Mk II and II* SMLE rifles.

The .22 Mk III rifles have some unique features. The nose cap, for instance, in side view resembles the S.M.L.E. Mk I, but on viewing it from the front it is seen that the protective sight ears do not curve in as they do on a the S.M.L.E. Mk I. The lower hand guard is of the EARLIEST S.M.L.E. Mk I design, incorporating steel wings screwed directly into the wood, but the rear sight leaf is the S.M.L.E. Mk III leaf, with windage adjustment. The butt swivel is the S.M.L.E. Mk I pattern. The front and rear volley sights are present; obviously, even though the designated ranges did not relate to the .22 caliber cartridge, they were still very useful for training in manipulation.

The .22 Short Rifle Mk III had a short production life, from 1912 through 1914. A new .22 trainer was introduced in 1915, the “.22 RF Pattern 1914 Short Rifle No. 1”.