Lee Enfield MkIII 2A1 - 7.62 NATO

[Masonk]

Hi All,
Another item obtained from my grandfather. Here is a Lee Enfield MkIII converted to accept the 7.62 NATO round in the 1960's (1965 for this particular rifle), therefore re-designated as the 2A1. More info on the conversion here:

Lee-Enfield - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Overall condition is good, and I assume my grandfather fired it, which I intend on doing after having it checked out by a GS.

Hope you enjoy!

[G43]

That is a really nice rifle! How exactly did you Grandfather aquire it?

[Masonk]

Thanks, G43! He was an avid collector of firearms and most likely picked it up at a gun show. I'm in possession of all of his firearms now, total count being 20. This was the only military firearm.

[m3bobby]

I've got one of these Indian 2A1s also, they're not conversions but are new made for the 7.62mm round. Its possible to fit the .303 mag and nosecap to the 2A1 to make it resemble a No.1 Mk3 but I like mine the way it is.

[4md]

nice ishy rifle, i love those front sight protectors, very solid
regards Paul

[Thanatos]

You would think that no.4's would have been the most common 7.62 conversion from British MOD war stocks during the early 60's.
Very interesting MkIII Ishy new build I would say.
Cheers for showing her.

[Panzer 3]

Hi,
thanks for showing the rifle, it is the first iv seen as a converted .303 to .7.62,
not a great deal of changes to it. Please let us know how it handles.
dave.

[lithgow]

Conversions to 7.62 x 51mm were tried but weren't economical to do in Western countries as well as being an obsolete concept for major armies as automatic rifles were adopted in the 50s and 60s-LEs required a great deal of work to be done on them to allow the higher powered round to be safely chambered-the Indian rifles had new receivers made of stronger grade steel and were primarily meant for training and paramilitary police use-still in use along with .303 models but as recent terrorist attacks have shown they are at the end of their useful service vs AK automatics.

[m3bobby]

I also believed that the steel used in the new rifles was of a higher grade steel but Peter Laidler posted on another forum that when the steel was tested, it had the same content and quality as the .303 models, and some even had unused .303 bodies with the No.1 Mk3 markings removed and over stamped with 2A1.

[MarkV]

Nice looking rifle!! Thanks for sharing!!