Versions of the Pattern 1914 / Rifle No. 3 sniper rifle:

– Pattern 1914 Mk. I W (F) [1917-1918 conversions with FINE sight, renamed No. 3 Mk. I (F) in 1926]

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– Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (F) [1917-1918 conversions with FINE sight, renamed No. 3 Mk. I* (F) in 1926]

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– Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (T) [1918 conversions with FINE sight and Model 1918 scope, renamed No. 3 Mk. I* (T) in 1926]

Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (T)  – 1918 British conversion. S/n W191781, renumbered 248.191781 by New South Wales with Model 1918 scope. Restored 2024-2026.. Colin MacGregor Stevens’ Collection.

Then, after the 1926 new nomenclature change, new conversions to sniper rifle:

 

– No. 3 Mk. I* (T) 1930s BSA conversions for the Irish Army. (Never a Pattern 1914 sniper as these were only converted AFTER the 1926 name changes)

– No. 3 Mk. I* (T) A, a new design made in 1940-1941 (Never a Pattern 1914 sniper as these were only converted AFTER the 1926 name changes)

– No. 3 Mk. I* (T) fitted with Model of 1913 Warner & Swazey  Musket Sight (sniper scope), as used by the Canadian Army.

– No. 3 Mk. I* Unfinished experiments by Lithgow in Australia converting No. 3 rifles to sniper as per 1918 version. 

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Photos of Pattern1914 / Rifle No. 3 Sniper Rifles in service

 

Sniper aiming No. 3 mk. I* (T) at a sniping school in Normandy 27 JUL 44 British 5 AF&PU © IWM (B 8179)

During the Great War, of 1914-1919 (later renamed World War I or the First World War), the Allies eventually realized that they were suffering significant casualties from German snipers. The Allies lagged far behind the Germans in sniping equipment for several years, but eventually, with organization and training, gained the upper hand.

Early Allied sniper rifles consisted simply of using the issue “iron sights”. The Ross Mk. III rifle was the best example of this as it was very accurate and had as standard an excellent “iron sight.” Early optical aids were of the Galilean type, which in effect were a telescope without a tube. The British created several versions. One lens was fitted to the muzzle and one either to the rear sight or over the bolt. They were of very low magnification and were fragile. Lattey Lense Sights were one example.

By 1915 the British started copying German scope designs. The ALDIS BROTHERS of Birmingham and the PERISCOPIC PRISM COMPANY of London were two of the major manufacturers. The American designed WINCHESTER scopes also were fitted to rifles. A very odd decision is that the British mounted most of their scopes offset to the left, leaving the ability to quickly reload the rifle using chargers (aka stripper clips). This offset caused many problems in accuracy and the use of armoured loopholes.  The British fitted these scopes to .303″ SMLE Mk. III and Mk. III* rifles in World War I and a few to No. 3 rifles in 1941 

THE PATTERN 1913 and PATTERN 1914 RIFLES

NOTE: The terminology describing these rifles and their scopes varies considerably in official and unofficial publications. 

In 1913, ust before the Great War of 1914-1919 later renamed World War I and also as The First World War), the British had looked at adopting a new pattern of rifle using a flatter shooting cartridge in .276″.They produced the Pattern 1913 Trials rifles. This design had copied some of the design features of the German Mauser rifle, but still had some problems with the ammunition. When war broke out in August 1914, the British gave up the idea of changing rifles and calibres at that time. The S.M.L.E. Mk. III rifles were in short supply to the decision was made to produce the new design of rifle as the Pattern 1914 in .303″ calibre, and after some production problems in England, the work was contracted out to three American firms. Winchester, Remington and Remington-Eddystone. These rifles were sturdy and accurate but had major problems of lack of interchangeability of parts. “A total of 1,235,298 rifles were recorded  as being produced  on the British contract.” ((THE US ENFIELD by Ian Skennerton  p. 63.

USE OF THE PATTERN 1914 / RIFLE NO.3

Oddly very few Pattern 1914 rifles were used by the British in combat. The Rifles No. 3 (ex-Pattern 1914) were generally used for units in training, or home defence. The exception for combat use were the Winchester sniper rifles equipped with Fine sights and those equipped with telescopes.

Contrary to popular belief, Canada was not a major user of the Pattern 1914 rifles./ Rifles No. 3. Canada used the Rifle No. 1 (ex-SMLE) with Ross rifles Mk. III as a backup. In 1941 Canada started manufacturing the No. 4 Mk. I rifles at Long Branch. In WWII Canada chose not to buy surplus Rifles No. 3 (ex-P14) rifles from the USA, and later when the need was great and they wanted you buy them, it was too late as they had been sent to England by then. Thus Canada ended up buying Model of 1917 rifles in .30/06 calibre. These were only used in Canada as far as I know. As they look almost identical to P14 rifles, it is understandable that many people assume they see Rifles No. 3 (ex-P14) rifles in wartime photos in Canada. The Model of 1917 rifles had a red band painted around the fore-end and often had 30 / 06 painted in black on this to alert users of the different calibre. 

Documentary film footage in 1942 taken on the Island of TIMOR shows Australian troops with the No. 3 Mk. I* (T) sniper rifle. The 1943 Pathe news film is entitled THE MEN OF TIMOR. They were left behind and believed to be dead, but they kept fighting and finally managed to make radio contact with Darwin, Australia. Rifles No. 3 Mk. I* (T) appear briefly in a firing sequence at 0:48 to 0:50 and a sniper in behind a radio operator at 2:11 to 2:14.  Here is the link on YouTube:   

THE MEN OF TIMOR   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wlpC3uUt5I

 

THE PATTERN 1914 Mk. I W (F) and PATTERN MK. I* W (F)

The British selected the Winchester examples for use as sniper rifles. A modification of the rear sight resulted in the “Fine” sight. Rifles so equipped were found to be more accurate than SMLE rifles fitted with scopes. This model was designated the Patter 1914 Mk. I W (F) or Pattern 1913 Mk. I W (F) depending upon whether the rifle had the Mk. I* change in locking lug length. 

These “Fine” sight Pattern 1914 rifles were issued starting in late 1917 on a scale of three per battalion. The FINE sight versions tended to be issued to Territorial Army units post-war. 

SNIPER RIFLE PATTERN 1914 MK. I* W (T) [ renamed Rifle No. 3 Mk. I* (T) in 1926 ]

In 1918 the decision was made to convert 2,001 of these Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (F) rifles into telescopic equipped rifles. The new designation was Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (T). These were usually fitted with a Periscopic Prism Scope, “1918 MODEL”. One will see the rifle model and the scope model described in many different ways, e.g. the scopes are called “Model 1918” as well as “Pattern 1918”. Sometimes they are incorrectly referred to as “the PPCo scope”, but this is confusing as the PPCo also manufactured an earlier model of scope that was of different dimensions and design.

In 1944-1945, the Australians made a version of the Model 1918 scope, as the “Sight Telescope (Aust.) Pattern 1918 and “Sight Telescope (Aust.) Pattern 1918/1” in 1944-1945. The Australian scopes appear to have been made as replacements for damaged or lost British made Pattern 1918 scopes and for the new Heavy Barrel No. 1 Mk. III* H.T. rifles. (H= Heavy Barrel, T = Telescope equipped).

The Pattern 1914 Mk. I* (T) rifles were just coming online in the system when the fighting ended on November 11, 1918. After the war the British decided to keep the new Pattern 1914 Mk. I* (T) as their standard sniping rifle and removed the scopes from almost all of the SMLE Mk. III and III* sniper rifles. These Rifles Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (T) sniper rifles were the standard sniper rifle into WWII until eventually being replaced by the new No. 4 Mk. I (T) rifles  (first issued in December 1941) and the Australian No. 1 Mk. III* H.T (starting in 1944). Canada had kept Ross sniper rifles between the wars and had not adopted the Pattern 1914 Mk. I* (T), and reportedly only acquired two examples for study purposes. 

Research by “Damien” that he posted on GUNBOARDS.COM in thread “P 14 rifle” at  (3) P 14 rifle | Page 2 | Gunboards Forums  Please see his original posting for details, indicates that Small arms returns to the Colonial Office in 1935 showed 668 No. 3 Mk. I* (T) in Australia. These were then distributed  as follows:

• Roughly 1/3 to 2MD (Military District), New South Wales (NSW)
• Roughly 1/3 to 3MD, Victoria
• Roughly 1/3 to the other MDs, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Damien wrote: “Only NSW stamped a prefix to the serial number on the RH rear sight protector. I took down some of the NSW issue numbers … They led me to believe that NSW got more than their usual 1/3 share. … As for their use by Australia in WW2, they were the mainstay 2nd AIF sniper in North Africa and Middle East and were used especially in Tobruk during the siege defence.”

 

QUANTITY OF SNIPER RIFLES PATTERN 1914 Mk. I* (T) / RIFLE No. 3 Mk.I* (T) and No. 3 Mk. I* (T)A MADE

2, 001 British conversions by Periscopic Prism Company Limited in England in 1918.

Quoted both as 2,000 and 2,001, it is likely that one was sent to the Pattern Room and 2,000  to the British Army. Later many of these were sent to Australia.

79 converted by BSA for Ireland between the wars. Aa YouTube “Forgotten Weapons” video on the Irish Contract No. 3 Mk. I* (T) sniper rifle. 79 is the most common number reported, but there is a higher number sometimes quoted. I suspect that any “extra” rifles were existing standard sniper rifles transferred from British stores.  

421 wereconverted by Alex Martin in Glasgow for the British in 1941.

Even though more Martin conversions (421) were made than the Irish Contract (79), virtually all of the Irish Contract rifles survive intact, as collectors bought them when the majority of them were sold surplus to a U.S. dealer. The Alex Martin conversions are much more rare today even though more than five times as many of them were made. They were obsolescent very quickly and some were likely lost in action.

Does anyone have any photos showing iths model in use? 

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2,501 TOTAL Pattern 1914 / Rifle No. 3 were converted to sniper equipment

Where was the serial number marked?

1. On barrel, right side. 

2. On body right side, just aft of the chamber. 

3. On bolt handle, on top. 

4. On 1918 and the 1930s sniper rifle conversions, the scope front mount obscured the body serial number. In 1918 this serial number, WITHOUT THE “W” PREFIX, was stamped into the left side of the rear sight housing, just below the range dial.

5. In the 1930s, BSA engraved the serial number in the same location, and included the “W” prefix. On the 1941 Rifle No. 3 Mk. I* (T) A the serial number on the body was not obscured so there was no need to repeat it on the rear sight housing. 

6. The rifle serial number, less the “W” prefix, was engraved on the left side of the Model 1918 scopes.

Were there any Australian produced of No. 3 Mk. I* (T) Sniper Rifles?

Ian Skennerton has come up with an interesting theory that Lithgow in Australia converted the No. 3 Mk. I* (T) rifles used by Australia around the beginning of WWII. Skennerton is highly respected for his research and publications, especially on Lee-Enfield and Enfield types of rifles. He bases this theory upon the fact that he found some incomplete Pattern 1914 style sniper actions in Lithgow’s storage areas and it looks like they tinkered with the idea, even working on some non-Winchester examples. So far none are known to have been completed. 

Research indicates that the complete Australian issue marked Patt’14 Mk. I* W (T) sniper rifles are from the original British batch of 2001 converted in England in 1918. When issued to Australian forces they were later marked  with Australian issue marks. The D/|\ (arrow inside the D) Australian issue mark was used up until circa 1926 according to Skennerton, has been noted on a number of them on the left side. The D/|\D mark that superceded that marking on the right side.  Research by “Damien” indicates that Australia had 668 out of 2,001 of these Pattern 1914/No. 3 sniper rifles. Only New South Wales (NSW), which was Military District # 2, apparently received over 1/3 of these, added a prefix serial number to the relocated serial number (lacking the “W”) on the right side of the rear sight housing. e.g. mine 248.191781. Other researchers feel that the number may have referred to both Patt’14 sniper rifles and spare Patt’14 rifles, which would indicate a much small number of sniper rifles.

IRISH CONTRACT So far, my research indicates that only the 79 rifles converted by BSA in 1935-1938 for Ireland had the “W” prefix included in the relocated rifle serial number on the right side of the rear sight housing. 

Here are the Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (T)  / No. 3 Mk. I* (T) Rifles with Australian issue markings that I am aware of at this time. Any additions or corrections are appreciated. Those with a prefix number are believed to have been so marked by the State of New South Wales in Australia after World War I. 

Sight base prefix	SN on sight base		Owner
89.	T5974		UNKNOWN – in Australia ?
___?.	________?		Australian War Memorial. Australian issue marked, but Serial number was not provided.
114.	77745		UNKNOWN, Australia?
122	149556 ?		UNKNOWN SOLD by Weller & Dufty late 1980s
138.	199789		UNKNOWN
206.	208325		UNKNOWN, Australia?
228.	228719		Son on Gunboards.com  Australia
244.	???		B.P. Australia
247.	191511		T H. Australia
248.	191781		Colin MacGregor Stevens (Seaforth72) Richmond, B.C., Canada. Restored
260.	198841		Skwan on Milsurps.com. Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, Undergoing restoration.

NAME CHANGES

In 1926 the British system for naming small arms was changed. 

1. SMLE Mk. III or III* became the Rifle, No. 1 Mk. III or III*
2. Pattern 1914 Mk. I and Mk. I*  became the Rifle No. 3 Mk. I or Mk. I* 

Thus in World War II, it was NOT correct to use the terms SMLE or Pattern 1914, though many training manuals and soldiers continued to do so. 

Sniper Rifles

• Patt’14 Mk. I W (F) became the Rifle, No. 3 Mk. I (F)
• Patt’14 Mk. I* W (F) became the Rifle, No. 3 Mk. I* (F)
• Patt’14 Mk. I* (T) became the Rifle, No. 3 Mk. I* (T) (Note that this does NOT include the Irish Contract)

Two sniper versions built AFTER the nomenclature change never used the pre-1926 designation:

• No. 3 Mk. I* (T) (IRISH CONTRACT) converted in the 1930s. Mated with BSA made Model 1918 scopes and built for the Irish Republic. Although they are identical to the Patt’14 Mk. I* (T), they were assembled as sniper rifles later and bear some different makings. 
• No. 3 Mk. I* (T) A, converted in 1940-1941 was not renamed as the model was created AFTER the nomenclature 

Canada fitted some Warner & Swasey Model of 1913 sniper scopes, apparently removed from Ross rifles, to some No. 3 rifles after arriving in England and photos show these being used in Italy in 1943-1944. 

My Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (F) Sniper Rifle with FINE sight

I have a Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (F) with all matching serial numbers including the FINE sight. Reportedly many had the serial number on the back of the FINE sight cancelled. One theory is that if a rifle was converted at R.S.A.F. Enfield, that the matching wight was also converted. In other cases, FINE sights were reportedly sent out to units in the field and the only conversion necessary to make a Winchester Pattern 1914 rifle into a No. 4 Mk. I or Mk. I* W (T) sniper rifle was to install the FINE sight, a job that only takes about 5 to 10 minutes, 

 

/// PHOTOS TO COME

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My Pattern  1914 Mk. I* (T)  / No. 3 Mk. I* (T) Sniper Rifle (British, then Australian issued)

This rare and historic rifle was restored 2023-2026 in Canada. – It is serial number W191781, which was changed in Australian Military District 2, New South Wales’, service to 248.191781.

This rifle had been sporterized by removing the scope, rings and bases, but fortunately the barrel and action were not damaged other than plugging the two holes for the front scope mounts. The wood had been cut back and sanded. The rifle was found with the Fine sight still in place, but its aperture “O” battle sight had been modified to an open “U” battle sight, presumably by a civilian owner. This rifle has all of the important serial numbers matching (the body, barrel and bolt). This rifle was made in 1917, was almost certainly converted to Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (F) with a FINE sight in 1917-1918, and then late in 1918 was further converted to the Pattern 1914 Mk. I* (T) by adding a Model 1918 (aka Pattern 1918) sniper scope made and installed by The Periscopic Prism Co. Ltd. The scope originally fitted to this rifle was 191781, matching serial number with the rifle. 

The altered FINE sight has now been replaced with an undamaged original Fine sight. Both are Winchester sights and both had the old serial numbers cancelled. 

The furniture has been replaced with an original set of Patt’14 Mk.I* Winchester furniture off of another Patt’14 Mk.I* rifle as there were no differences, other than the removal of the long range “volley” sights. The Australians did stamp the right side of the butt, forward of the factory markings, with an early Australian issue D/|\ (with the arrow inside the D). They amy also have stamped the serial number of the rifle into the wood but this has not yet been confirmed. 

A Pattern 1908 web sling dated 1916 has been installed. By happy coincidence it is an ANZAC one, marked N/|\Z. One collector reported that in the “List of Changes” it stated that the rifle was to be issued with a leather sling. I do not know if that referred to the sinple single loop sling or far more likely, the more elaborate U.S. Model 1907 sling which the British chose to use for all of their No. 4 (T) sniper rifles. The Australians however did issue the standard web sling as shown in their “Armourer Identificatiuon Lists” as shown in Skennerton’s Small Arms Identification Series on “.303 PATTERN 1914 RIFLE & SNIPING VAIANTS”,  S.A.I.S. No. 10,  page 26. This being an Australian issued rifle, I have an ANZAC N/|\Z 1916 sling fitted to it. 

Oddly, bayonets were apparently issued with this model of sniper rifle, and it is now mated with a Pattern 1913 Winchester made bayonet with an unusual history of combat use according to the soldier’s grandson, who is also a veteran.

The blank brass butt disc was still in place in the sporterized stock, and so it was transferred to the replacement stock which still had its own brass disc.

The rifle has on its left side, the 1926 and earlier Australian issue mark of “D” with an “/|\” inside.

On the right side of the rear sight housing, the rifle’s serial number was stamped, without the “W” prefix. From what I can see in a research database that I have created of Patt’14 (T) serial numbers, the “W” prefix for the relocated serial number was only added on the Irish Contract rifles that were assembled in the 1930s by BSA in England. Added in front of the relocated serial number on this example is a three digit number separated from the main serial number by a period. Above this number combination is the 1926 and later “D/|\D” Australian Government property mark and above that is a “2” indicating Military District # 2 which was New South Wales.

 2             
D/|\D            
248.191781

This translates as rifle W191781 and assigned New South Wales (Australia)’s  number 248. Skwan’s Patt’14 Mk.I* (T) has prefix number 260. This suggests that NSW Australia had at least 260 of these Patt’14 Mk.I* (T) rifles on issue.

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No. 3 Mk. I* (T) A – Formerly in my Collection.

421 of these rifles were converted to Rifle No. 3 Mk. I* (T) A by Alex Martin of Glasgow in 1941 period. The contract was cut to 421, probably because the new Rifle No. 4 Mk. I (T) was then being made.

I let it go to another Canadian collector in order to get a very rare Canadian made sniper rifle that was more relevant to my collection.

My video on this very rare sniper rifle. Published 2025-08-19

https://youtu.be/crulhmVrDyg

REFERENCES (selected)

• Skennerton, Ian  THE US ENFIELD, 1983
• Skennerton, Ian Small Arms Identification Series – .303 PATTERN 1914 RIFLE & SNIPING VARIANTS, S.A.I.S. No. 10,  1998/2012
• Skennerton, Ian THE BRITISH SNIPER British Commonwealth Sniping & Equipments 1915-1983, 1983
• Stratton, Charles R. PATTERN 1914 AND U.S. MODEL OF 1917, 2000 / 2007
• His Majesty’s Stationery Office, SMALL ARMS TRAINING VOLUME I., 1924
• YouTube video “Pattern  MKI W (T) – The Best Sniper Rifle of World War One .”
• YouTube Video “Lithgow’s first production .303 Sniper Rifle”  NOTE: I believe that these were unfinished conversions, Australia used original British 1918 period Pattern 1914 Mk. I* W (T) and probably the No. 3 Mk. I* W (F) sniper rifles. 

• LINKS TO OTHER PAGES OF MINE

  • Sniper Rifles & Snipers      

    • Photographs of Snipers         

    • A few photos for reference from “With British Snipers to the Reich”  

  • Ross Sniper Rifles

  • Pattern 1914 (later renamed No. 3) Sniper Rifles (this page)

  • Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. I (T) Sniper Rifle

    • No. 4 (T) Research Database

      • No. 4 (T) Research Database Data Contribution Form

    • No. 4 Mk. I (T) Sniper Equipment Markings 

      • Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. I (T) – Furniture

    • Long Branch Scout Sniper’s Rifle 1943-1944

    • R.E.L. C No. 67 Mk. I sniper scope

    • R.E.L. Scope Case C No. 8 Mk. 2

    • Sniper Scope Tools

    • Sniping Observation Telescopes

      • Telescope Scout Regiment Mk. IIs

      • Telescope, Observing, Sniper’s C Mark I

    • “Shoot To Live” book 1945 Canadian Army *

    • U.S. M1903A4 Sniper Rifle

    • FN C1A1 Sniper Rifle

    • C3 Sniper Rifle

    • C3A1 Sniper Rifle

    • MacMillan C15 (TAC-50)

    • World War II sniper rifles which shows where the No. 4 (T) rifles fitted in with its contemporaries.

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