BSA Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III .303 British Bolt-Action Rifle (1938) – SMLE, Pre-War BSA, 25.2 in Barrel, 10-Round
Produced in 1938 by Birmingham Small Arms Company, this Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III is a pre-war SMLE with correct socket markings and classic features. The receiver socket bears the crown over G.R. cypher, B.S.A. Co, 1938, and SHT.
L.E. III legend, aligning with production under King George VI. It retains the integral charger bridge and SMLE nose-cap configuration, and it carries a U.S. import mark on the right receiver wall.
Condition
Overall Condition: Poor condition.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: There is widespread blemishing and scratching across the metal and wood. The wood stock and forend are damaged in several areas. Cosmoline buildup remains present. Widespread rust and pitting are visible on metal surfaces. The bolt exhibits significant play, and the action appears severely worn.
The bolt head can slide off the action about halfway to the rear, which is not normal. A screw is missing from the trigger guard assembly, and the rifle is loose within the stock. The stock disk is missing.
What’s Included
- BSA Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III rifle chambered in .303 British
- 1x 10rd detachable steel box magazine (standard SMLE/Lee–Enfield No. 1 Mk III pattern)
Receiver socket markings read crown over G.R., B.S.A. Co, 1938, and SHT. L.E., III, confirming a 1938 BSA-built Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk III. The G.R. cypher denotes the reign of King George VI, consistent with the late-1930s production period.
A U.S. import mark is present on the right receiver wall.
This No. 1 Mk III pattern features a 25.2-inch barrel and a 10-round detachable magazine, with an integral charger bridge for stripper clip loading. It uses the Lee-Enfield cock-on-close bolt system with a ribbed cocking piece and a manual safety lever.
The SMLE nose-cap incorporates protective sight ears and a Pattern 1907-type bayonet boss, along with a piling/stacking swivel base. Sights are the standard iron set with a protected front blade and a tangent/ladder rear sight.
Furniture is the full-length hardwood stock with separate upper handguards and a brass buttplate with trapdoor, finished in oil. Metal components are steel with a blued finish, including the receiver. The serial number 38332 is observed on multiple parts; however, the nose-cap boss is stamped 38382 and does not match the rifle.