Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk I Rifle : 5 Light Horse Regiment

SMLE No I Mk I Rifle. Receiver stamped crown/ E.R./ ENFIELD/ 1904/ Sht.LE I and the breech EY/2/319/ 1313 crossed out above the serial number. On the butt stock is EY/ 2/ 319, 1313 crossed out, 3/ 5/ ALH. The fore-end has a bolt through the woodwork and is bound in two places with string.

This rifle has been modified to be used as a grenade launcher. The EY stands for Emergency Use Only and the butt markings indicate it was on issue to 5 Light Horse Regiment. The EY/2 is a standard Short Magazine Lee Enfield Mk I SMLE rifle which has been strenthened (string bound). The introduction of the emergency class rifle marked E.Y. was another wartime measure generally used on downgraded examples beyond local repair. Early in December 1918, approval was given for some of these rifles to be reinforced by wire binding and the insertion of a wood screw through the fore-end, 1.5 inches in front of the trigger guard, so that the cup discharger might be used for firing grenades. At first the binding consisted of whipcord or wire flex but copper wire was later utilised. This binding was usually done at two positions on the fore-end, around the fore wood and rear handguard behind the backsight, and about half-way between the nosecap and outer band. This binding served to minimise flying splinters in the event of a rupture caused by pressure in the barrel as well as to stiffen the rifle funiture.