Enfield-Rifles.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Enfields > .22 Caliber Enfields
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - BSA Lee-Enfield .22 Conversion
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

BSA Lee-Enfield .22 Conversion

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
SteveR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: August 22 2024
Location: Alberta, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: BSA Lee-Enfield .22 Conversion
    Posted: August 22 2024 at 3:56pm
Howdy, I'm new here. Pleased to meet you. 
I bought my second Lee-Enfield rifle last weekend at a gun show.  It appears to be a BSA SMLE converted to .22 rimfire as a trainer, and which has been subjected to "improvements" by later owners,  such as installing a Redfield rear aperture sight, modifying the frond end cap and front sight, removing the upper wood, and installing a butt stock with a pistol grip. It came with a spare, original-style butt stock and butt plate. I am not planning a restoration, but if it shoots well, I will probably try to replace the missing wood and metal parts. 

I can't seem to find a date on it. The wrist just says "B.S.A.Co." on one side, and "Short 22 II" on the other. It has what appears to be a 4-digit serial number stamped into the barrel and the action. The barrel does have" '39" stamped on it, but I understood that the presence of the volley dial sight means that it's a 1916 or earlier rifle.  The front barrel band has "EFD" stamped into it. 

I'd welcome any insights on the model and date of manufacture or conversion.



Back to Top
Canuck View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: January 17 2012
Location: Cochrane, AB
Status: Offline
Points: 4021
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Canuck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 22 2024 at 4:09pm
Welcome SteveR! Nice rifle! Where in Alberta are ya? I'm in Cochrane. In your photos, a couple screw heads looked bunged up. If you want, I should be able to provide new screws for your project.
Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually
Back to Top
SteveR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: August 22 2024
Location: Alberta, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 22 2024 at 4:11pm
 Thanks! I'm also in Cochrane!
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 20510
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 22 2024 at 7:09pm
Your rifle is an original .22 RF civilian rifle, not a military one.
So no date or Royal Cypher was stamped.
I'm guessing it was a (target) club rifle form the mods to the safety & the rear-sight & then removal (if it was fitted) of the safety mechanism.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
SteveR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: August 22 2024
Location: Alberta, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 23 2024 at 8:36am
Thanks, that makes sense. But would a civilian original .22 rifle have the volley dial sight? This rifle appears to have had it, originally. 
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 20510
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 23 2024 at 9:36am
Yes the civvy rifles were 100% identical to the military ones. They even had bayonet lugs! Clap
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
Zed View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: May 01 2012
Location: France
Status: Offline
Points: 6460
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 23 2024 at 10:00am
Love the .22 training rifles. It should be accurate; most of them are.
Especially with a rear dioptre sight.
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
Back to Top
SteveR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: August 22 2024
Location: Alberta, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 23 2024 at 5:10pm
Thanks for all the helpful information! Here are a few more photos. 
My other Lee Enfield is a No. 4 Mk 2, 1955 Irish Contract rifle, so far unfired (except perhaps for testing) so as you can imagine, it's in much better shape! 
Back to Top
SteveR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: August 22 2024
Location: Alberta, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 23 2024 at 5:49pm
More photos: 

Back to Top
SteveR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: August 22 2024
Location: Alberta, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 23 2024 at 5:57pm
Back to Top
SteveR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: August 22 2024
Location: Alberta, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 25 2024 at 1:26pm


Is the forend cap different on the .22 rifles than the others? It seems that the end cap on my new rifle is not like the earlier versions or the Mark 4 - it's shorter, and one piece. 
It also looks like it may once have had a bayonet lug, which was cut off. 
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 20510
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 25 2024 at 2:40pm
I've never noticed that before? I don't think I've ever seen it before!
The muzzles also seem to be bedded, instead of the usual spring-tensioned compensation of the .303 versions.
Some kind of de-militarizing?
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
SteveR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: August 22 2024
Location: Alberta, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 26 2024 at 11:24am
Yeah, Shamu, I can't find anything like it either. The forend cap looks to be smaller than either the #1, 2, 3, or the #4 style, and as I said, it's one piece.  

There are some similarities to a one-off Lee-Metford conversion I saw a photo of (last photo), such as the lack of both wooden hand-guards and the way the barrel extends past the end cap. 

There are also some similarities in the forend cap to this Sht 22 II I found on a "for sale" post. I see that it's a 1912 conversion. Mine also has a full .22 barrel, not a sleeve. Perhaps mine is an early conversion?





Also, both of these appear to have, not a bayonet lug, but a sling swivel, on the end cap. That seems likely to have been what was cut off of mine.  


Back to Top
TheLeftBoot View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: September 14 2023
Location: Michigan, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 14
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TheLeftBoot Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 01 2024 at 10:41pm
For comparison: 1901 Sparkbrook MLE I*/ Sht. .22 II N (Navy)

David P. Wanko, JD, BS
L-E Collector Since 1999
Michigan. USA
dwanko23@gmail.com
"Brick by Brick My Fellow Citizens, Brick by Brick" - Emperor Hadrian
Back to Top
SteveR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: August 22 2024
Location: Alberta, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 02 2024 at 6:53pm
Thanks! The forend cap on that 1901 .22 rifle looks the same as the one on mine - or at least, what it would have looked like before somebody cut off the sling swivel.  Hard to be sure from the photos, but the clearance between the barrel bands and the barrel one mine look like there could be room for forward handguards.

Back to Top
A square 10 View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: December 12 2006
Location: MN , USA
Status: Offline
Points: 16997
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 02 2024 at 7:39pm
this started life as a long lee enfield or metford rifle and was cut down to serve as a trainer for the SMLE rifles , the one i have was originaly an MLM built in 1892 and converted for the navy around 1912 , mone retains all of the original volley bits but the cutoff and magazine were deleted , bpolt was altered for rimfire , original markings remain on the right wrist and the WHT 22 Cond II is on the left 

according to skennerton about 1000 were converted but more may have been done without being documented as official , the removed bit a the muzzle was a sling swivel lug , its the bottom one here - note trhat an empy mag box was added to thins one to collect the empty brass 


Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.07
Copyright ©2001-2024 Web Wiz Ltd.