Which is the most generic, No1 MK3 or No4 MK1?
When and where?
A No1 MkIII can be used from 1916 to at least 1945, but it wouldn't have been too prevalent amongst first line troops in NW Europe in the latter half of WWII.
I was hoping there would be one to cover the entire war, because if I was to fork out £300+ for an airsoft one id need it to be able to cover the entire war, but as the No1 Mk3 wasn't common for front line troops in the later half of the war it seems I've hit a snag. 
Well, there aren't many pre-1941 events, and even if there were, I don't believe anybody would disallow a No.4. The other alternative is the SMLE.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
So No4 it is I suppose, although I do like the idea of a sword bayonet...
Well get an SMLE then. There were some in Normandy in 1944, whereas there were no No4s at Dunkirk!
Yeah I did hear that there was about 200 No4's at dunkirk with the BEF.
Heh and here's me thinking it wasn't used at all until 1941. Apparently it was around in 1939, just not officially adopted into service. (According to wiki... )
although I do like the idea of a sword bayonet...
Warren doesn't make a rubber sword bayonet though, although he does do a pig sticker for a No. 4. Not much fun having a bayonet if you can't use it in a game 
I wonder if it would be possible to make Lee Enfield with two different muzzle bits, one an No. 4 and the other an SMLE? I did something similar for my M14 to turn it into either a G43 or an SVT40.
Cheers
Martin
"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone
The front isn't the only bit that's different... However it is the most noticeable from a distance.
although I do like the idea of a sword bayonet...
Warren doesn't make a rubber sword bayonet though, although he does do a pig sticker for a No. 4. Not much fun having a bayonet if you can't use it in a game
I wonder if it would be possible to make Lee Enfield with two different muzzle bits, one an No. 4 and the other an SMLE? I did something similar for my M14 to turn it into either a G43 or an SVT40.
Cheers
Martin
I did ask Warren about a long bayonet and he said so far it had proved too long to get any stability. He also mentioned the thought of some sort of end piece because of the possibility of a WWI event although I haven't heard anything about one.
I had a No4 rubber bayonet but lost it somewhere, it wasn't a great fit. At £25 a go I have yet to be tempted to buy another one and hope that just the sight of the cold steel hanging on my hip is enough to put the wind up any foe. They don't like it up 'em you know.
As for the SMLE or No4 I made both and have failed to hit anything with either of them. I prefer the looks of the SMLE, more iconic somehow, but really the No4 is more appropriate for virtually all the games. I used the SMLE at Il Giogo but the wind and firing up most of the time meant that it wasn't particulalarly effective but every game I have been on since then has really been for a scenario which would be No 4 based. Even Greenback although in Italy is Commando and so I believe they would have been using the No 4 by then.
Cheers
Charlie
I have a small skewer hidden in the collar of my jumping jacket, and a razorblade in my gaiter, as well as my knife.
i used to prefer the look of the smle but over time the simple efficiency of the no4 has overcome the rarity of the first models.
armoury
m1a1 Thompson,sten mk2,mp40,stg44,sterling,mk2 bren gun,lee Enfield no4 mk1,Mauser Kar98, Walther ppk,smith and Weston m10 and Mauser m712
Give me a big enough hammer and a place to stand and I could fix the world.
i'll kill a man in a fair fight or if i think he's going to start a fair fight or over a woman or.......
a problem shared is a problem halved ,but an advantage shared is no advantage at all
if a job's not worth doing then its certainly not worth doing well
I also wanted an SMLE at first but I'm actually very happy with my (or rather Yiths) No. 4.
Cheers
Martin
"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone
Heh, I was only the second (or maybe even third or fourth) owner. I forget who had it before me though.
Anyway glad you're happy with it!
Yeah I think I might try for a No4, bit more useable and I do like the look of it and the idea if spiking someone. 
I've been asking myself the same question; if I'm going to fork over $500 for an airsoft rifle, I'd like to get the type that saw the most use. I would probably go with the SMLE just because it's iconic, plus I can attach the 1907 Wilkinson bayonet I bought for my real rifle. I don't think anyone at our local site would notice that it's a real bayonet!
From a practical shooting standpoint having shot thousands of rounds through both models, I have to say that I prefer my No.4... much smoother action, longer sight radius, free-floated barrel. At a friend's farm I was able to continually smack a 4' x 4' section of dirt at 500 yards with the No.4. Could not do so with the SMLE unfortunately!
