George Rex SHTLE III No. 1 Mk III 303 British 25.2" Bolt Action Rifle

The George Rex SHTLE III (Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III) chambered in .303 British with a 25.2-inch barrel is the absolute definitive British Empire combat rifle of World War I. The designation SHTLE is the early, historical factory abbreviation for "Short Magazine Lee-Enfield", which was later simplified to "No. 1 Mk III" in the 1920s. Stamping the G.R. (George Rex) royal cypher on the receiver wrist strap means this weapon was manufactured under the authority of King George V during an era when the British Empire spanned the globe. A sliding steel plate located on the right side of the receiver. When pushed inward, it blocked cartridges in the 10-round magazine from feeding. This forced soldiers to load single rounds by hand, holding the 10 rounds in the magazine in "reserve" for emergency rapid-fire orders. A dial sight mounted on the left side of the wooden stock, paired with a flip-up aperture near the safety. This allowed an entire squad of infantry to rain indirect, mortar-like rifle fire onto massive enemy formations at distances between 1,500 and 2,800 yards.