Lee Enfield SMLE NO1 MK #3

[becxltoo984]

Lee Enfield SMLE NO1 MK #3

Is there a way of finding year of production by serial number ?
The year of production was not stamped very deep . It appears to be maybe 1911-or 1917 .

Serial Number 2832 T

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Post some pictures and I can tell you which. It is easier to tell based on the features it has.

-Mb

[smle-man]

Generally no. Certain features existed during certain eras so you can place a rifle that way. The serial number sequences were reused as frequently as every year.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Yes, but it should be fairly simple to tell if the number stamped in his gun is a 1 or a 7 based on features alone. By mid-1916 you were already seeing all kinds of time-saving changes to the design. The magazine cut-off, the rear sight, the cocking piece, etc. Even if it has been factory refurbished (they all have), some of the stuff should still be obvious. A gun made in 1917 just won't have certain things on it.

-Mb

[Anubis Laughed]

Pics would help. As others mention above, there's certain features on the early rifles that were dropped as production went on.

Also, if you remove the top wood on the barrel, there should be a production date stamped on the barrel knoxform. The rifle may have been rebarrelled at some point, but it may help.