Charger Loading Lee-Enfield Mk.1* (CLLE, An Upgraded Long Lee For The Yeomanry / Territorials)

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Күн бұрын

Once the regular army had upgraded to the charger loaded SMLE Mk.1 and Mk.3, how did the part-time Yeomanry (the Territorials, forerunner of the modern Territorial Army) get a cost-effective upgrade? The simple answer is that earlier patterns of Long Lee Metfords and Lee Enfields were given an upgrade to their sights, and the charger bridge off an SMLE Mk.III, basically giving full throat to the lessons learned in the Boer War without going to the much higher cost of converting the earlier rifles to SMLE Mk.2 (con'd) or Mk.4 (con'd).
This particular example is a CLLE Mk.1*, converted from a Magazine Lee Enfield Mk.1 and not upgraded for Mk.VII ammunition.
It's marked to the 7th Battalion Notts and Derbys, i.e. the Robin Hood battalion of the Sherwood Foresters.
0:00 Introduction to the episode and overview of an old Enfield
1:14 Features and improvements in SMLE Mark 3
3:14 Conversion of long rifles to different marks
6:43 Description of the magazine cutoff function and dial sights
8:03 Conversion markings and precautions while removing the butts of Enfield rifles
10:15 Details on the rear sight adjustments and comparison of rifles
13:08 Comparison of different types of magazine and their usage in wars
14:37 Mark 6 and Mark 7 ammunition and condition of the rifle
16:35 Safety of shooting modern ammunition in these rifles and addressing Fuddism
17:19 Promotion: Introduction to Weapons and War TV
17:48 Thanks to supporters and closing remarks
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Пікірлер: 47

@zoiders 9 ай бұрын

The Territorial battalions did not come into being until 1907. Prior to that they were referred to as the militia and were often employed as home service regiments used for cuddly public duties such as putting down strikes by impoverished workers. The Yeomanry were used far more overseas and especially during the Boer war where they were almost exclusively used as mounted infantry. The Yeomanry were indeed incorporated into reserve forces but they retain the title of Yeomanry to this day. During WW2 they provided many tank regiments, by the days of the cold war they had also taken on armoured recce as a special to arm role. The TA infantry battalions were never again referred to as a militia. Probably for the better as the term had gained dubious connotations. We may mock the territorials today but the bulk of battalions raised for service in WW1 and then WW2 were all "territorial" ones. Citizen soldiers. They were mostly disbanded post war. Hopefully to remain dormant in my life time.

@chaimafaghet7343 9 ай бұрын

One man's impoverished worker is another man's communist agitator.

@scousewillo62 9 ай бұрын

A lot of good memories. I was in the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) that was integrated into my high school. I was there between 1974 and 1979. ( The Collegiate, Liverpool UK) We had an indoor .22lr range and and armoury with a few dozen drill purpose Lee Enfield No.4 Mk1 and SMLE's. We shot regularly around the country but our local range was Altcar Rifle Range nr. Formby. I was probably 12 when I first fired the .303 Lee Enfield and was quite a shock :). We got to fire 7.62 SLR's, GPMG's 9mm Browning Hi-Power pistols and Sten SMG.

@johnfisk811 9 ай бұрын

Thank you that. Trivia but the Yeomanry remained Yeomanry but the Territorial Army root was in the Volunteer infantry movement who were brought into the army itself as TA battalions of Regular infantry regiments. Yeomanry remained cavalry (there were no TA cavalry) and were not part of a regular cavalry regiment but had specific links with a regular regiment and the whole was intended to serve as a Yeomanry Cavalry Division. Unlike regular cavalry the Yeomanry, following the Imperial Yeomanry experience in the South African War, were trained and exercised as mounted infantry. Hence the need, once they got to France in 1914, to retrain them as cavalry to allow them to work with the regular cavalry divisions. OT but my Yeomanry regiment went to war on it’s contracted ex-railway horses which was un peau d’un bugger when the railways were suddenly expected to transport troops, horses and stores around the country with the war.

@RaDeus87 9 ай бұрын

Mmmm **takes deep sniff** Old-Bloke content, good shit 👍

@jacemillan9700 9 ай бұрын

I picked up an SMLE Mk.V a year or two ago and I love it so much. Can’t wait for you to get your hands on one and do a video. Cheers from California

@JohnTBlock 9 ай бұрын

But does it strip? (Ohh, la-la!)

@cheesenoodles8316 9 ай бұрын

That rifle is in excellent condition. The LE history is fascinating. I was of the "Mauser-Mauser-Mauser ilk, then I got a SMLE and a couple of No 4s and good Mk VII. Very much apreciate the history and details shared in this video.

@adamsmyth584 Ай бұрын

Very interesting review. Finally picked up my Irish Contract .22 Lee Enfield and it shoots well. Thats 3 for me. Ive seen a wonderful No5 Mk1 BSA with green paint recently, if you can believe it. Sadly its already sold and a refurbed Lithgow which doesnt seem to be for sale. I will continue the search

@peterbell9915 9 ай бұрын

Great video Mike

@sherwoodforester4666 9 ай бұрын

Beautiful rifle and the ultimate 303! I'd love that in my cabinet. Great video and I look forward to seeing it fixed and out on the Range.

@gingetaylor4489 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video, really informative, the information will allow me to add clarity to my masters thesis on a Territorial Force Division that served at Gallipoli. Three notes to add - One correction - The Cavalry of the Volunteers, later the Territorial Force where known as Yeomanry. The Infantry ans support arms where known as 'Volunteer Battalions'. For example, (just an example) the Volunteer battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers would be known as the 1st Volunteer Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, or 1st. V.B.L.F. When the Territorial Force came into being the name was changed to 1/5th Lancashire Fusilers, the 2nd became the 1/6th etc. The Volunteers were issued the Lee-Metfords/ Lee-Enfields without magazines, they were to carry out thier musketry training as a single shot. Your point regarding the larger bolt for loading at the hip is extremely valid point. Third, your commenter @zoiders regarding the Territorial Foorce being the Militia is incorrect. the Militia was a completely seperate entity. Men signed up to the militia and carried out 6 months intensive training, these men agreed to serve overseas and were posted to the Militia, thier role was to back fill the regular battalions. The Volunteers/TF were for home defence only. A man had to sign form E624 agreeing to serve overseas (known as Foreign Service). Thanks again for the content. Great stuff.

@BlokeontheRange 2 ай бұрын

Thanks. But what's your source for this here? "The Volunteers were issued the Lee-Metfords/ Lee-Enfields without magazines, they were to carry out thier musketry training as a single shot." I've never seen or heard this claim, and it wouldn't allow them to complete their musketry training cos it required use of the magazine.

@gingetaylor4489 2 ай бұрын

@@BlokeontheRange From my research on the Manchester Battalions from 1859 until 1919. In the newspaper, the Wigan Observer Sept.18th 1895, the rearmament of the Volunteers.

@BlokeontheRange 2 ай бұрын

I would look for an Army source other than one single reference in a newspaper since that's very, very odd and is indeed a real "pics or it didn't happen" one....

@gingetaylor4489 2 ай бұрын

@@BlokeontheRange the Wigan paper copied it from the Volunteer Gazette, the voice of the volunteer movement at the time, but I'll take your advice and find a military reference instead.

@BlokeontheRange 2 ай бұрын

Let me know what you find. The Volunteer Gazette is still journos, so still susceptible to misunderstood hearsay... BTW there's some real clangers in some official docs at times too, hence the need for multiple sources to verify odd claims.

@michaelwhite9199 9 ай бұрын

Awesome! I really missed the old Bloke content.

@indigohammer5732 9 ай бұрын

How interesting. I’ve never seen that Pattern of rear sight before. Thanks

@carlcarlton764 9 ай бұрын

Minute 7:19 ish: So dry firing was not just ok but doctrine? And here i am getting shit for half cocking and slowly releasing a BP revolver.

@keithplymale2374 9 ай бұрын

I have a Lithgow Rifle #1, Mk III* otherwise known as a SMLE Mk. III^. Mine is dated 1942/43 by the receiver/barrel.

@truckerallikatuk 9 ай бұрын

Une comment du sel, as requested. :) Cheers Bloke.

@cedhome7945 9 ай бұрын

...and the music for this either something from yeoman of the guard or maybe Nimrod ?

@SamEEE12 9 ай бұрын

What New Zealand turned up at Gallipoli with, hand-me-downs from the mother country - ye olde' "Long Tom"

@MandoWookie 9 ай бұрын

Do you have a video(or recommended one) on a similar look at the the old LM or LE rifles with the single stack mags and maybe shooting black powder or Mk 6 reproduction loads? Also that Mk6 215gr at 2000 fps sounds a lot like the 30-40 Krag. Was probably a very pleasant hunting round, if not the best for service.

@BlokeontheRange 9 ай бұрын

British Muzzleloaders is your friend on that front. Only the MLM Mk.1 had the single-stack mag, btw. And yup, most of the .30+ round nose loads are very similar ballistically, aside from a few monsters like 8x50R Lebel, 8x50R Mannlicher and things like that.

@derekheuring2984 5 ай бұрын

I have a near perfect condition C.L.L.E. MkI* that was built by BSA & Co. for what I assume was a civilian target shooter. There is no royal cyphre or date of manufacture on the butt socket and the sights were manufactured by Vickers Son & Maxim. Interestingly, It has a serial no. 1 stamped on the bolt and receiver. The rifle is very accurate and I mounted a Twin Zero micrometer peep sight on it that I removed from a civilian M.L.E. MkI* that I own. I would love to contact someone who might be able to give me more information regarding it, especially with the No. 1 serial number.

@BlokeontheRange 5 ай бұрын

That's a private one indeed, and the serial number may have been a special request, or it may have been the first one in that year, or the first private one produced by BSA.

@viewer112358 9 ай бұрын

Hmmm... I'm not getting audio with this

@mediocrefunkybeat 9 ай бұрын

Great video. Does the heavier barrel improve the accuracy at all or is it just a weird quirk of the design?

@BlokeontheRange 9 ай бұрын

The Long Lees are really rather accurate indeed, there's a little easter-egg at 17:21 in this video if you read the bottom of the document ;) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iZ2VhLdqscu6lXk.html

@mediocrefunkybeat 9 ай бұрын

@@BlokeontheRange Cheers Bloke and thank you for pointing me that way too! That one is now queued up to watch all of.

@SafetyProMalta 9 ай бұрын

Would they have mobilised to France with these? Or issued new smellies?

@BlokeontheRange 9 ай бұрын

The Yeomanry did indeed mobilise and deploy with their CLLE's initially, but they were replaced during the course of the war.

@GeorgeMerl 9 ай бұрын

Why did the sight need to be offset? I've never heard of that for any other rifle

@BlokeontheRange 9 ай бұрын

Explained in the video. With the Enfield-profile rifling there's a bit of lateral "jump" that causes the rifle to shoot to one side, compensated for by offsetting the sight. You often see this on SMLE / No.4 rifles with the sight drifted left to shoot straight. Also infantry Mosin-Nagants have offset sights, though that's to compensate for the effect of the bayonet which pushes it to the left (they're sighted with the bayonet fixed).

@standeleopod6240 9 ай бұрын

Talking of wobbly butts, any updates on the frankenrifle?

@BlokeontheRange 9 ай бұрын

Not got around to dealing with it yet, sorry.

@antoninolatorre8355 9 ай бұрын

hi, to you ‼️ i would ask to you a simple question, is the bolt of smle enfield interchangeable with that "lee metford ..." ❓ bye bye 👍

@BlokeontheRange 9 ай бұрын

Possibly, though it won't work with the dust cover. Interchangeability is a relative term with rifles from that era, there was a lot of hand-fitting.

@Zero_Reaper13 9 ай бұрын

Have you ever tried the dial sights for long range shooting?

@BlokeontheRange 9 ай бұрын

No, and I wouldn't expect great things of them. I've not heard of a long-range engagement from the era that's outside the range of the normal sights either.

@Zorglub1966 9 ай бұрын

In principle it was not made for individual target shooting but to fire in formation and in salvo on enemy concentrations.