It is very rare to come across a converted  Sparkbrook Mk1*  Service rifle to a Number 1 Mklll SMLE service rifle.

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    This Long Lee Sparkbrook Mk1*  manufactured service rifle was manufactured at the British Government Sparkbrook factory, Birmingham factory in 1900.

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    In 1903 the Long lee service rifle was replaced by Number 1 Mk1 SMLE service rifle and in 1904 the Number 1 Mk1* was in full production after modification from the original SMLE Mk1. 

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   In 1906 the Government Sparkbrook factory was sold to the BSA Company on the promise of British Government buying  SMLE Number 1 Mk1*  from the BSA Company.

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   It became pretty clear to the BSA Company by late December 1906 that the British Government was in fact not going to order any SMLE Number 1 Mk1* from BSA. 

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   In 1907 the BSA Company closed down the Sparkbrook rifle factory down and convert it to manufacturing motorcycle and trucks.

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   In 1907 the New Number 1 Mark lll service rifle was in production at R.S.A.F Enfield but it had tooling problem with the manufacture of the Mklll so production carried on at the Enfield factory of the Number 1 Mk1* service rifle until mid October 1907.

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   By mid 1907 the Number 1 Mklll was in full production running along side the Number 1 Mk1* production line.

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   In 1905 the British Government started converting the now discontinued Long Lee rifles held in War Reserve to SMLE Number 1 Mk1* this conversion program was called the ConD ll  program.

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  In 1908 the Government start converting Long Lee Service rifles held in War Reserve to the new Number 1 Mklll  specification and this program was called the  ConD lV  and this rifle is one of those conversion done at the Enfield factory in 1908..