ROF Maltby SMLE No.1 Mk III* .303 British Bolt-Action Rifle, 1942 WWII Production, 25.2 in Barrel, 10-Round Magazine
This 1942 ROF Maltby No.1 Mk III* is a WWII-era British SMLE in .303 British with clear wartime markings and a 10-round magazine. It shows the correct GR-crowned wrist legend and SHT L.E. III* designation, plus a CAI St Alb VT import mark. Built with a 25.2 in barrel and charger bridge for 5-round chargers, it retains hallmark SMLE features including the large nosecap with squared protective wings and bayonet boss.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: For its 1942 production and service background, the rifle remains in sound shape. There are visible scratches and blemishes on exterior surfaces. The stock shows many handling marks. The bore shows minimal blemishing.
What’s Included
- ROF Maltby No.1 Mk III* rifle (.303 British)
- 1x 10-round SMLE-pattern detachable steel magazine
Produced at ROF Maltby in 1942, this SMLE No.1 Mk III* represents wartime British manufacture and carries the correct wrist legend with crown over GR and SHT L.E. III* markings. The receiver is import stamped CAI ST ALB VT MK3 303 UK, and the rifle remains in a service configuration with typical SMLE features.
It features the SMLE charger bridge for 5-round chargers feeding a 10-round detachable magazine. The rear sight is the barrel-mounted tangent type with ladder leaf. Up front is the protected blade front sight.
Dimensions and handling are true to the pattern: a 25.2 in barrel and an overall length of approximately 44.5 in, with a 13.5 in length of pull. The receiver is steel, and the rifle uses the classic two-piece hardwood stock; note the short rear upper handguard (between the receiver ring and rear sight) is absent, leaving a short section of barrel exposed and the two retainer holes visible. The rifle retains sling swivels and a brass buttplate with storage trap.
The large SMLE nosecap includes squared protective wings and a bayonet boss compatible with the Pattern 1907 bayonet. A manual safety lever and the SMLE’s cock-on-closing bolt action round out the period-correct features.