Deactivated WWI Navy / Royal Marines Issued SMLE MKIII Rifle

This is a very rare find indeed! First World War London Small Arms manufactured SMLE's are fairly scarce rifles owing to having relativately small premisses which limited their production capabilities . From 1907 to 1918 they only produced 430,000 MKIII & MKIII* SMLE's. That's on average around 35,833 rifles per year. This example is dated 1918, however it is an unusual variant, designated as a MKIII but without the magazine cut-off. The magazine cut-off SMLE is a MKIII*. We know that this rifle was procured by the Royal Navy as is correctly marked on the left side of the stock band below the safety catch with a capital N. To further support its lineage the brass regimental disc is marked "R M 288" = Royal Marines weapon / rack number 288. These marking are rarely seen. Of considerable interest in 1937 this rifle was still in service and received and replacement barrel. It is quite plausible that this SMLE was involved in the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 when the Royal Navy were sent to France to rescue the B.E.F. from the beaches on Dunkirk.

 

The overall condition of this SMLE would indicate that it has definitely seen service in the harsh condition experienced by Navy issued weapons. A rare survivor!

 

Deactivated with a working action it can be cocked, stripped and dry fired. It comes with an EU/UK deactivation certificate.