~ British BSA Co. SMLE Bolt Action Rifle - Deactivated EU Spec. ~
The rifle is not dated so we don't know the exact manufacturing year.
It is serial numbered 57890.
British BSA Co. SMLE Bolt Action Rifle
Short Magazine Lee–Enfield Mk III / Mk III, .303 British, c. 1914–1918
Manufactured by the Birmingham Small Arms Company, this rifle is a classic example of Britain’s famed SMLE — the principal infantry arm of the British Empire during the First World War.
Chambered in .303 British and equipped with a 10-round magazine, the SMLE combined a smooth, fast bolt action with exceptional durability. Its “cock-on-closing” mechanism allowed trained riflemen to deliver the legendary “Mad Minute”, firing up to 30 aimed shots in sixty seconds.
BSA Co. was a key wartime supplier, producing vast numbers of rifles that armed soldiers from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. This example, with its full-length walnut stock, distinctive charger bridge, and crisp manufacturer’s markings, stands as a tangible link to the mud and thunder of the Great War.
Renowned for accuracy, speed, and reliability, the SMLE remained in front-line service well into the Second World War, a testament to its enduring design.
