Lee Enfield SMLE MkIII* 1917 disassembly

[@ericbrainard4072]

I just recently purchased a 1917 BSA manufactured SMLE. It’s a beautiful piece of equipment and it shoots quite well. Thoroughly impressed with it.

[@luutzenvanderwey1627]

Thank you for this. Very professional and informative. Best video I have found for disassembling the SMLE. Looking forward to using your technique to take my rifle apart!

[@free_at_last8141]

This was very helpful, thank you.

[@ShootAUT]

Thanks for showing.
Love the Lee Enfields for their place as one of _the_ legendary rifles in small arms history.
But, owning and having taken apart Mauser 98s and Mosin Nagants (with my eye currently on an Ishapore 2A1), I can't help but to think how utterly British the SMLE is, in a most charming way:
An intricate amalgamation of supposedly thrown-together parts - a lot of which seem like an afterthought - giving the rifle a highly developed industrial appearance, but styled by the clinging to old traditions. It manages to make it look strong and elegant, while also nedlessy overcomplicating things.
And the fact that this is the already simplified Mk. III* is nothing short of outrageous.
In comparison to some other designs, it's so boderline ridiculous that there's no way around liking it. 😁

[@chrismair8161]

I have a 1912 version. Which is my go to Guy for putting food in the Freezer.

[@chrismair8161]

I work in a Fabrication Shop as a CNC Programmer/Operator. There is not much I can not make.

[@twentyfifthdui4717]

Regarding the 21 inside the wooden parts, my guess is these parts were hand fitted and those were just assembly numbers used during the manufacture process.

[@sevysnape]

What a great descriptive video and very valuable information, thank you very much 👍

[@AndriesBouwer]

Hi, I have from my late father, what seems to be a souvenir of his time in the South African army while stationed in German West Africa (now Namibia) during World War 1. I believe it is from a Lee Enfield rifle. I have 2 photographs which I am unable to attach.

[@AgoristAlex]

Thank You

[@chrismair8161]

Absolutely Gorgeous!

[@dwightk3992]

Bottom stock does not remove, enter panic mode

[@frieguy1014]

Can’t figure out how to tighten the rear sight because it moves

[@gregwilliams386]

The rear sight protector is on backwards, the middle interior barrel band is missing a spring, its missing a tubular washer forward of the magazine in the lower.

[@jabbott376]

There's always something you miss when trying to prep for a video. Daft thing is, i read up on rear sight orientation 😂.

[@Bruhaker]

Did you take this rifle apart to this level to clean the cosmoline? I just bought one and was thinking of moving all metal pieces over to a tub of cosmoline but I didnt want the wood there with it.

[@agbcrartsora6918]

I'm in the market for a SMLE n1 mk3. Where did you find yours? looks beautiful.

[@jabbott376]

Kirk at byswordandmusket. His stock is always good quality!

[@agbcrartsora6918]

@@jabbott376 I appreciate it, thank you

[@matei82]

Hi. Maybe you can help me. I have your same rifle but it has a problem. After every shoot, the magazine comes off. If i don't shoot, it's perfectly attached. What can cause this situation? Thanks

[@jabbott376]

Hi Mathew, it would be a total guess on my part I'm afraid. Looking at my rifle I'd recommend inspecting the lip on your magazine and also the tooth on your mag release lever to see if either has worn away. If you can't wrest the magazine free by hand, I'd be surprised if recoil was actuating the mag release enough for it to fall out. Have you tried other magazines?

[@matei82]

​@@jabbott376 Hi. I tried with an another magazine used on an another Enfield and the results is the same. So the problem is unfortunately the rifle :(. Thank you for your suggestions

[@jabbott376]

@@matei82 if you're based in the UK there's a few places who sell spare parts for Lee Enfields. I reckon you could get a replacement magazine release without too much trouble.

[@brissance]

Background problematic