Lee-Enfield (Series)

Bolt-Action, Magazine-Fed, Repeating Service Rifle

United Kingdom | 1895

"The classic Lee-Enfield bolt-action service rifle served the British Empire from 1895 through 1957."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/10/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

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The Lee-Enfield series of rifles is one of the most successful bolt-action rifles of all time. First debuted in November 1895 as the .303 calibre, Rifle, Magazine, Lee-Enfield, the rifle has still found use today in military, sporting and ceremonial roles - over one hundred years since its inception in its original form. The rifle has been produced by a variety of manufacturers around the world including the United States, Canada, Australia and India. It is estimated that some 17 million rifles of this type have been produced in all its various marks.

The Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk I (SMLE) appeared on January 1st, 1904. It was essentially a revised version of the MLE rifle though designed to a much lighter operating weight and a shorter barrel o f 640mm length. The Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk III (SMLE Mk III) appeared three years later on January 26th, firing the new Mk VII High Velocity Spitzer .303 caliber cartridge. This model became the standard for previous Lee-Enfield offerings including the MLM, MLE and SMLE rifle lines.

Lee-Enfield rifles were the standard infantry rifle of the British in World War 1. The SMLE Mk III rifle excelled in its role though wartime demands forced a revision of the system. As such, the SMLE Mk III became the revised SMLE Mk III* model, a new production series designed with cost-efficiency and mass production in mind. After the war, the British Army adjusted their naming convention and the SMLE rifle no became the Rifle, No. 1 with appropriate marks.

In their SMLE Mk III form, the Lee-Enfield saw service from 1907 through the present day. The weapon weighed in at roughly 4 kilograms (8.8lbs) and featured an overall length of 1,130mm (44.5 inches) with a barrel length of 635mm (25 inches). The official cartridge designation remained the .303 Mk VII SAA Ball and the weapon sported a muzzle velocity of 2,441 feet per second with an effective range of approximately 2,000 yards. The weapon was fed from a 10-round magazine, loaded with 5-round charger clips through the top of the weapon body. Cartridges could be loaded individually as well. Sights consisted of the standard sliding ramp rear sight and a fixed-post front sight. Telescopic sights could be affixed to the top of the body for use as a sniper weapon.

World War Two brought about the Lee-Enfield in yet another renewed form, this becoming the famous Rifle, No. 4 Mk I. These rifles were official accepted into British Army service in 1941. These No. 4 rifles were built with the infantryman in mind, adding an inherent robustness to rival any of her counterparts. Weight was reduced to an extent, making her considerably more portable. A new bayonet was affixed to the underside of the forward rifle body as well, rounding out these very important war-winning changes. The No. 4 Mk I* became a mass-production version of the base No. 4 rifle. The rifle also appeared in a specialized sniper form during the war years, developed from choice existing Australian and British rifle models. These rifles would also see combat action in the upcoming Korean War.

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"Jungle Carbines" appeared in the war years in an attempt to solve the need for such a weapon in the confines and rigors of a jungle environment. The Rifle, No. 5 Mk I was such a product and featured a flash suppressor and shortened length for increased portability. The Australians experimented with the Rifle, No. 6, Mk I Jungle Carbine. Neither model entered full quantitative production. Similarly, the "De Lisle Commando" was a specially-designed Lee-Enfield rifle (in carbine form) for British special operatives, these being chambered to fire the man-stopping .45 ACP cartridge while sporting a shortened barrel for increased portability and integrated sound suppressor for clandestine operations.

Many Lee-Enfields of early production runs were later modified to accept the .22 rimfire cartridge making these ideal and cost-effective weapons for use in rifle training of new recruits.

While the Cold War was in full swing, a move among NATO and her supporting countries brought about the standardized 7.56x51mm cartridge. Thusly, Lee-Enfield rifles were now converted as experimental rifles to fire this new ammunition. Trials for the gun were not enough to impress the British military to upgrade their existing supply of Lee-Enfields, but the Indian company of Ishapore did eventually produce 7.56x51mm-firing systems in the form of the Rifle, 7.62mm 2A and the Rifle, 7.62mm 2A1. Ishapore rifle production began in 1963 and continued through 1975, though their operational use has continued beyond that span.

Ishapore 7.62x51mm rifles featured a length of 1,130mm (44.5 inches) and an unloaded weight of 4.7 kilograms. The official cartridge designation remained the 7.62x51mm NATO round. The rifle had a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet per second and fired from a 12-round detachable box magazine featuring 5-round stripper clips. Sights amounted to a fixed-front post-type sight and a sliding ramp rear sight.

Overall, various manufacturers handled production of the various Lee-Enfield rifles. British production was handled through Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield, Royal Small Arms Factory Sparkbrook, Birmingham Small Arms Company Ltd, London Small Arms Company Ltd, Royal Ordnance Factory Fazakerley, Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby and Birmingham Small Arms Factory Shirley. American production was handled by Savage Arms while Canadian Lee-Enfields were produced by Small Arms Limited, and in the post-World War 2 period, by Canadian Arsenals Limited. In Pakistan, Lee-Enfields were produced by Pakistan Ordnance Factories. Australian Lee-Enfields fell under the Lithgow Small Arms Factory brand.

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Physical
The physical qualities of the Lee-Enfield (Series). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

1,130 mm
44.49 in
O/A Length

635 mm
25.00 in
Barrel Length

8.82 lb
4.00 kg
Weight

Manually-Operated Bolt-Action System
Action

.303 MK VII SAA Ball
Caliber(s)

10-round detachable box
Feed

Sliding Ramp Rear; Fixed Post Front; Telescopic Sights Optional.
Sights

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Lee-Enfield (Series). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

1,640 ft
499.9 m | 546.7 yds
Max.Eff.Range

20
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

2,441 ft/sec
744 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Lee-Enfield (Series) Bolt-Action, Magazine-Fed, Repeating Service Rifle family line.

.303 calibre, Rifle, Magazine, Lee-Enfield (Magazine Lee-Enfield/MLE) - Production beginning 1895; initial production rifle model; 767mm barrel length.

Lee-Enfield Cavalry Carbine Mk I (LEC) - Shortened MLE rifle with 538mm barrel length; production beginning 1896.

Charger Loading Lee-Enfield (CLLE) - Production beginning 1906; MLE and MLM rifles converted to charger loading.

Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk I (SMLE Mk I) - Production beginning 1904; shortened barrel; charger loading system.

Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk II (SMLE Mk II) - Production beginning 1906.

Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk III (SMLE Mk III) - Production beginning 1907; Sword Bayonet; revised rear sight; fixed charger guide; revised magazine and hand guard; chambered for Mk VII High Velocity Spitzer .303 cartridge.

Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk III* (SMLE Mk III*) - Revised SMLE Mk III models for cost-effective mass-production; appearing in 1915.

Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk V (SMLE Mk V) - Production beginning 1922; new sighting system mounted on receiver aperture; improved accuracy; later becoming the Rifle, No. 1, Mk V.

Rifle, No. 1, Mk III - SMLE Mk III rifle redesignation

Rifle, No. 1, Mk III* - SMLE Mk III* rifle redesignation in 1926

Rifle, No. 1, Mk V - Redesignation of SMLE Mk V rifles; 20,000 production examples.

Rifle, No. 1, Mk VI - Heavy Floating Barrel; 1,025 examples produced beginning in 1930.

Rifle, No. 2 - MK III and Mk III* rifles converted to .22 rimfire trainers.

Rifle, No. 4, Mk I - Production beginning 1941; heavier barrel; redesigned spike bayonet eventually updated to bladed type.

Rifle, No. 4, Mk I* - Revised Rifle, No. 4, Mk I models for cost-effective mass-production.

Rifle, No. 4, Mk I (T) - British sniper models converted from standard No. 4 Mk I rifles; wooden cheek-piece; telescopic sight mounts for No. 32 3.5x telescopic sight.

Rifle, No. 4, Mk 2 - Production beginning 1949; improved standardized post-war No. 4 rifles; Arabic numbers now replacing Roman numeral naming convention in the series.

Rifle, No. 4, Mk I/2 - No. 4 Mk I rifles upgraded to Rifle, No. 4, Mk 2 standard.

Rifle, No. 4, Mk I/3 - No. 4 Mk I* rifles upgraded to Rifle, No. 4, Mk 2 standard.

Rifle, No. 5, Mk I "Jungle Carbine" - Production beginning 1944; shortened stock and integrated flash suppressor; revised receiver.

Rifle, No. 6, Mk I "Jungle Carbine" - Experimental Australian Army Jungle Carbine based on SMLE Mk III rifles; limited quantity production.

Rifle, No. 7

Rifle, No. 8

Rifle, No. 9

Rifle, 7.62mm 2A - Production beginning 1964 by Ishapore; based on SMLE Mk III; chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge; new barrel and redesigned extractor.

Rifle, 7.62mm 2A1 - Production beginning 1965 by Ishapore; chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge; revised sights.

L8 - Redesignated Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge; new barrel and magazine.

SMLE No1 Mk III (HT) - Australian Army sniper conversion models; Pattern 1918 telescope; cheek-piece; heavy target barrel; 1,612 Lithgow SMLE No1 Mk III rifles modified as such.

.22 Pattern 1914 Short Rifle / Rifle, No. 2, Mk IV - .22 caliber training rifles converted from Magazine Lee-Metford and Magazine Lee-Enfield rifles.

Charlton Automatic Rifle - Semi-Automatic Loading

De Lisle Commando Carbine - Special Operations model chambered for .45 ACP cartridge; shortened barrel; sound suppressor.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Lee-Enfield (Series). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Royal Small Arms Factory / Birmingham Small Arms / London Small Arms / Royal Ordnance Factory - UK; Lithgow Small Arms - Australia; Ishapore Rifle Factory - India; Small Arms Ltd (Canadian Arsenals Ltd post-war) - Canada; Savage Arms - USA; Pakistan Ordnance Factories - Pakistan

National flag of the United Arab Emirates

[ United Kingdom; Australia; Canada; India; Indonesia; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; New Zealand; Pakistan; South Africa; Thailand; United Arab Emirates ]

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