John Wilkes even assisted the Asprey company with the start up of their own Gun Department, and was in some way involved with an SMLE rifle (the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield) that T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) gave to King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, in thanks and recognition of the dramatic time of his service during the First World War liaising with the King. The rifle was elaborately clad with fine silver filigree decoration.
