Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Experimental Rifle Butt

Place Oceania: Australia, Victoria
Accession Number REL23592
Collection type Technology
Object type Firearm component
Physical description Wood; Brass
Place made United Kingdom
Date made c 1912; 1916
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Experimental Rifle Butt. The butt is stamped on the right side with a Commonwealth of Australia (Victoria) roundel, 10721 (crossed out) and 2/12. It is fitted with a spring loaded, brass butt plate which is engraved on left side CONNELL PROV PAT No983 9/8/16 AUST. To fit the plate the butt has been shaved down and has a pin through the wood with a brass washer on each side to hold the spring. The butt disc and sling swivel are missing and there is a burn thumb groove on the left side of the wrist.

History / Summary

This spring loaded butt was never put into production. The patent lapsed and the original lodgement documents were destroyed so the identity of the inventor is not known. The butt is British and was originally issued as part of a rifle to Victoria in February 1912.