Enfield No. 1 Mk III*
British No.1 Mk III Lee-Enfield Rifle, SMLE
Adopted by the British Military on January 26, 1907. Adapted from an original design by James
Paris Lee and the Royal Arms Factory at Enfield, England. Mk III refers to the third incarnation of
the No.1 rifle. This rifle was also manufactured in Australia and India. The Mk III was used in
both WWI and WW2. Probably one of the fastest cycling bolt action rifles made for military use.
The rifle pictured above was manufactured in 1941, in England, but also has Australian markings
on the receiver.
Specifications for the Enfield No. 1 Mk III Rifle
Weight 8.9 lbs.
Length 44.8 Inches
Length of Barrel 25.2 Inches
Operation Type Bolt Action
Magazine Capacity 10
Magazine Type Detachable Box
Caliber .303
Loading and Unloading
The rifle can be loaded either one at a time or 5 cartridges at a time
via a stripper clip. Both are done through the top.
1
The magazine release is inside of the trigger guard positioned to the front of the
trigger. It can be quickly and easily depressed to drop the magazine by pressing up
on the lever.
2
Safety
Instead of a cocking piece style safety, there is a lever on the left rear of the
receiver that can be actuated by pulling it to the rear and snapping/locking it down.
3
Sights
Adjusting the sights are easily accomplished by sliding the elevation up and down
the gradient.
There is also a small micro adjustment on the rear sight that I have not seen on any
other stock surplus military rifle, that I really like. You can adjust the rifle (as shown
in Sight 3) to a very granular level by turning the "backsight, fine adjustment worm
wheel" one click, each click represents a change of only 5 yards!
4
Disassembly
1) Point the rifle in a safe
direction and remove the
magazine from the rifle.
2) Open the bolt and pull it to
the rear of the action body
(receiver).
Note: Examine rifle to make sure
it is unloaded.
5
3) Rotate the breech bolt head
counter clockwise until it locks
in the 12 o'clock position.
4) Remove the bolt.
5) Unscrew the front nose cap
screw.
6
6) Remove the front nose cap
screw from the nose cap.
7) Unscrew the rear nose cap
screw.
8) Remove the rear nose cap
screw from the nose cap.
7
9) Remove the nose cap.
10) Unscrew the rear swivel
screw.
11) Remove the rear swivel
screw and the sling swivel.
8
12) Spread slightly the lower
band and remove from the
stock.
13) Remove the upper hand
guard.
14) Unscrew the inner band
screw.
9
15) Remove the inner band
screw.
16) Unscrew the front trigger
guard screw.
17) Unscrew the rear trigger
guard screw.
10
18) Remove the rear trigger
guard screw.
19) Remove the front trigger
guard screw.
20) Do not force the trigger
guard out. If the trigger guard is
stuck in place, lightly tap on the
sides of the arch until it can be
easily removed.
11
21) Use a piece of wood and tap
lightly at the top rear of the
fore-end stock, on both sides.
You want to walk the rear of the
fore-end stock off on the
barreled action. When following
steps 21, 22, and 23 only tap the
stock a small amount/distance.
This will prevent the stock from
being damaged.
22) Then tap lightly on the fore-
end stock at the front of the
receiver/action.
23) Then alternate back to
tapping lightly on the rear of the
fore-end stock until the fore-end
stock can be removed easily
12
24) Lift the fore-end off and set
aside.
25) Lift the rear sight and then
remove the lower hand guard.
26) Unscrew the upper butt
plate screw.
13
27) Remove the upper butt plate
screw.
28) Unscrew the lower butt
plate screw.
29) Remove the lower butt plate
screw.
14
30) Remove the butt plate.
31) Remove the felt wad with a
cut-off clothes hanger (as shown
in figure 31). The hanger easily
hooks felt wad.
32) Insert a large flat blade
screwdriver into the butt stock
and place in groove of the stock
bolt.
15
33) Using large pliers, unscrew
the stock bolt counter-clockwise.
34) Separate the butt stock from
the butt stock socket.
35) Figure 35 shows the stock
bolt.
16
36) Unscrew the rear, rear
swivel screw.
37) Remove the rear, rear swivel
screw.
38) Unscrew the front, rear
swivel screw.
17
39) Remove the front, rear
swivel screw.
40) Remove the rear swivel.
41) Unscrew the safety spring
screw.
18
42) Remove the safety spring
screw.
43) Remove the safety spring.
44) Remove the safety catch
washer.
19
45) Remove the safety catch and
locking bolt from the action
body (receiver).
Note: I recommend you leave the
safety catch and locking bolt
assembled.
46) Figure 46 shows the safety
catch and locking bolt
unassembled.
47) Unscrew the retaining spring
screw.
20
48) Remove the retaining spring
screw. The sear spring and sear
(pictured in figure 48) will fall
out of the action body.
49) Remove the retaining spring.
50) Drive out the magazine catch
pin.
21
51) Remove the magazine catch.
Reassembly
52) Replace the magazine catch.
22
53) Replace the retaining spring.
54) Replace the sear as shown in
figure 54.
55) Replace the retaining spring
screw.
23
56) Tighten the retaining spring
screw.
57) Figure 57 shows the correct
orientation of the sear spring.
58) Compress the sear spring
and install so its ends fit into the
grooves in the front of the sear
and the rear of the magazine
catch.
24
59) Figure 59 shows the
correctly assembled sear,
magazine catch, sear spring,
retaining spring, and retaining
spring screw.
60) Figure 60 shows the locking
bolt and safety catch correctly
assembled prior to installation.
61) Replace the safety catch and
locking bolt.
25
62) Replace the safety catch
washer.
63) Figure 63 shows the correct
orientation of aligning the safety
spring and the safety catch
washer.
64) Flip over the safety spring
and align the guide in the
channel of the safety catch
washer.
26
65) Replace the safety spring
screw.
66) Tighten the safety spring
screw.
67) Work the safety to make
sure it functions properly and
does not bind.
27
68) Replace the rear swivel.
69) Replace the rear, rear swivel
screw.
70) Tighten the rear, rear swivel
screw.
28
71) Replace the rear, rear swivel
screw.
72) Tighten the rear, rear swivel
screw.
73) If removed insert the stock
bolt into the rear of the butt
stock.
29
74) Reinsert butt stock into butt
socket.
75) Insert a large flat blade
screw driver into the butt stock
trap.
76) Using a pair of pliers, turn
large flat blade screw driver
clockwise until stock bolt is
tight.
30
77) Reinsert the stock bolt wad
into the butt stock trap of the
butt stock.
78) Using clothes hanger, push
the stock bolt wad all of the way
down until it rest flat on the
stock bolt.
79) Install the butt plate.
31
80) Replace the upper butt plate
screw.
81) Tighten the upper butt plate
screw.
82) Replace the lower butt plate
screw.
32
83) Tighten the lower butt plate
screw.
84) Lift the rear sight.
85) Reinstall lower hand guard.
33
86) Lower the rear sight.
87) Insert the barreled action
into the fore-end stock. Align the
inner band so the threaded lug
points downward and the band
fits into the channel in the fore-
end stock.
88) Slide the fore-end stock till it
snuggly rests up against the butt
socket (as shown in figure 88). If
necessary use a small wooden
dowel and tap lightly into place.
34
89) Replace the inner band
screw.
90) Tighten the inner band
screw.
91) Replace trigger guard.
35
92) Reinstall the front trigger
guard screw.
93) Replace rear guard screw.
94) Tighten the front and rear
guard screws.
36
95) Install the forward
handguard.
96) Spread slightly the lower
band and replace on the stock.
97) Replace the rear swivel
screw and the sling swivel.
37
98) Tighten the rear swivel
screw.
99) Replace the front nose cap.
100) Replace the rear nose cap
screw.
38
101) Tighten the rear nose cap
screw.
102) Replace the front nose cap
screw.
103) Tighten the front nose cap
screw.
39
104) Make certain the safety is
in the forward position.
Insert the bolt with the flat side
of the bolt head pointing to
twelve o'clock.
105) Snap the bolt head down.
106) Push the bolt forward.
40
107) Insert the magazine and
lock into place.
108) Figure 108 shows the
reassembled rifle.
41
Bolt Disassembly and Reassembly
Part Number Part Description
1 Bolt Body
2 Striker Keeper Screw
3 Cocking Piece
4 Main Spring
5 Striker
6 Bolt Head
7 Extractor
8 Extractor Screw
9 Extractor Spring
42
Note:
For normal cleaning it is not necessary to remove the striker from the bolt body. Removing
the bolt head gives adequate access to clean the interior of the bolt. The striker removal
instructions are intended for first time inspection of the bolt and/or repairs of the bolt.
1) Make sure rifle is unloaded.
Make certain the safety is in the
forward position.
2) Pull the bolt to the rear.
43
3) Rotate the bolt head counter
clockwise until its flat side points
to twelve o'clock as shown in
figure 3.
4) Remove the bolt.
5) Rotate the bolt head
counter clockwise.
44
6) Remove the bolt head.
7) Unscrew the striker keeper
screw.
8) Remove the striker keeper
screw.
45
9) Figure 9 shows how the bolt
assembly tool mates with the
slots cut into the front of the
striker.
10) To remove the striker from
the bolt you need a specialized
tool (as shown in figure 10). You
can purchase the tool shown
from www.e-gunparts.com. The
part number is - 281780 and the
description is - Firing Pin / Bolt
Disassembly Tool for around
$11.00 plus shipping. We
recommend you order two of
them as the teeth are prone to
break periodically.
11) Insert the bolt assembly tool
and align the two teeth into the
slots cut into the front of the
striker.
46
12) Turn the tool counter
clockwise until the striker/firing
pin is loose. Allow the striker
and main spring to expand
slowly.
13) Remove the striker from the
bolt body.
14) Remove the main spring
from the bolt body.
47
15) Separate the cocking piece
from the bolt body.
16) Figure 16 shows the position
of the extractor screw.
17) Unscrew the extractor screw.
48
18) Remove the extractor screw.
19) Pull the extractor forward.
20) Remove the extractor.
49
21) On the flat side of the bolt
use the point of the striker to
push in the pin of the extractor
spring.
22) Remove the extractor
spring.
50
Bolt Reassembly
23) Replace the extractor in the
bolt head.
24) Insert the extractor screw.
51
25) Tighten the extractor screw.
26) Insert the extractor spring.
27) Use a small tool to push the
extractor spring into place until
it locks.
52
28) Make certain the rear of the
extractor spring is aligned
properly. Figure 28 shows the
rear of the extractor spring.
29) Slide the main spring over
the striker.
30) Insert the striker and main
spring into the bolt body.
53
31) Using a block of wood, push
the tip of the striker into the
wood and push down on the bolt
body compressing the main
spring. This will expose the
threaded rear of the striker.
32) Place the cocking piece over
the rear of the striker.
33) While holding the cocking
piece in place insert the bolt
disassembly tool, align the align
the two teeth into the slots cut
into the front of the striker.
54
34) Turn the tool clockwise until
the rear of the striker is as
shown in figure 34.
35) Insert the striker keeper
screw.
36) Tighten the striker keeper
screw.
55
37) First I place a very light coat
of gun oil on the threads of the
bolt head and then insert the
bolt head into the bolt body.
38) Rotate the bolt head
clockwise.
39) Figure 39 shows the correct
position of the bottom of the
cocking piece prior to inserting
into the receiver.
56
40) Insert the bolt with the flat
side of the bolt head pointing to
twelve o'clock.
41) Rotate the bolt head
clockwise.
42) Snap the bolt head down.
57
43) Push the bolt forward.
44) Figure 44 shows the compl
58
