| Place | Oceania: Australia |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/19494 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Firearm |
| Place made | Australia: New South Wales, Lithgow |
| Date made | 1955 |
| Conflict |
Period 1950-1959 Period 1940-1949 |
Experimental Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No 6 Rifle : Royal Australian Air Force
Description
Experimental Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No 6 rifle. Receiver marked MA LITHGOW S.M.L.E. 1942. Butt, fore-end, knox form, bolt and trigger guard stamped 4. This rifle is similar in appearance to the British 'jungle carbine' but has a longer barrel and has the rear sight mounted on the barrel. The trigger guard has been modified to accept the experimental British X2 E1 20 round 7.62 mm magazine, which has a 2 scratched into the base. The fore-end has four thin finger grooves on each side of about 150 mm in length and the top hand guard three on each side of about 50 mm in length. The rifle is complete and has a green webbing sling with a plastic buckle marked AROS 1988.
History / Summary
Approximately 12 of these rifles were produced at the Lithgow factory using 1942 receivers for trials by the Royal Australian Air Force. It was found that the SMLE No I Mk III* receiver was not safe if continually used with the 7.62 mm cartridge. This was the final experimental design of the Lee Enfield series of rifles in Australia and all further work ceased with the introduction of the L1A1 SLR.