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I found this little gem in a gunshop about six months ago whilst getting some ammunition (only just got the PTA a fortnight ago!)... the Magazine Cut-Off sticking out the side of the rack was an obvious giveaway that this wasn't a garden-variety SMLE Mk III*. 
The BSA Markings on the rifle intrigued me, as did the 1940 date- I didn't have any wartime dated Lee-Enfields, which was something I'd been meaning to fix for some time.
The rifle has an "L" prefix (S/N L8XXXX) and FTR markings, which, according to Skennerton, is correct for 1940 BSA production and subsequent post-war refurbishment. All the numbers except the bolt match (yes, even underneath the sight!)
Note the markings on the wristguard: "GR BSA Co 1940 Sht LE III". Given that the official nomenclature was changed in 1926, the presence of the "Sht LE" markings on a 1940 dated rifle are interesting, to say the least. I'm guessing it's an older action or (more likely) commercial contract that was diverted to British military use (for obvious reasons). It does have two interesting markings, though: On the top of the wristguard, either side of the bolt channel, are stamped the letter "R" (on the left hand side, next to the safety catch) and the letter "L" (on the right hand side). I'm guessing the "R" is "Refit", but I'm not sure what the "L" might be.
Given the presence of the Royal Cypher, Manufacturer's Name, etc, I don't believe this is a Dispersal Rifle, but I'd say it was almost certainly made during the Battle of Britain, which gives it rather a lot of history just from that point of view alone. It's also interesting that it still retains the pre-WWII Mk III configuration (ie, no volley sights but having a magazine cut-off), and was FTRd as such after the war, keeping the magazine cut-off
Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but it's by far and away the best looking SMLE I've seen in a long time, and the first affordable Mk III (no star) I've come across... My 1918 LSA SMLE Mk III* is in good company now.
The BSA Markings on the rifle intrigued me, as did the 1940 date- I didn't have any wartime dated Lee-Enfields, which was something I'd been meaning to fix for some time.
The rifle has an "L" prefix (S/N L8XXXX) and FTR markings, which, according to Skennerton, is correct for 1940 BSA production and subsequent post-war refurbishment. All the numbers except the bolt match (yes, even underneath the sight!)
Note the markings on the wristguard: "GR BSA Co 1940 Sht LE III". Given that the official nomenclature was changed in 1926, the presence of the "Sht LE" markings on a 1940 dated rifle are interesting, to say the least. I'm guessing it's an older action or (more likely) commercial contract that was diverted to British military use (for obvious reasons). It does have two interesting markings, though: On the top of the wristguard, either side of the bolt channel, are stamped the letter "R" (on the left hand side, next to the safety catch) and the letter "L" (on the right hand side). I'm guessing the "R" is "Refit", but I'm not sure what the "L" might be.
Given the presence of the Royal Cypher, Manufacturer's Name, etc, I don't believe this is a Dispersal Rifle, but I'd say it was almost certainly made during the Battle of Britain, which gives it rather a lot of history just from that point of view alone. It's also interesting that it still retains the pre-WWII Mk III configuration (ie, no volley sights but having a magazine cut-off), and was FTRd as such after the war, keeping the magazine cut-off
Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but it's by far and away the best looking SMLE I've seen in a long time, and the first affordable Mk III (no star) I've come across... My 1918 LSA SMLE Mk III* is in good company now.
