Rifle, Magazine, Lee Enfield Mark 1
During the 1880s the British Army busied itself with the study of various rifle systems, in an endeavour to determine which might best suit their requirements, and their deliberations ended with the adoption in 1888 of the Lee-Metford rifle, under the official designation of 'Rifle, Magazine, Mark 1'. This utilised the turnbolt action and magazine attributable to James Lee, the Scots-born American inventor, together with the rifling and barrel designed by William Metford, specifically to combat the fouling inherent in the gunpowder propelling charges of the time.
With the adoption of cordite as the standard military propellant, a change in rifling was made. Because cordite left virtually no residue in the bore after firing, the principal advantage of Metford rifling no longer existed, and it was possible to adopt a more efficient pattern of rifling which was more suited to a high-velocity rifle. This was the Enfield rifling — named from its development at the Royal Small ArmFactory,
Enfield Lock — and the marriage of this to the Lee action produced the Lee-Enfiel rifle.
The new Magazine Lee-Enfield Mark I rifle was approved in 1895. Lee-Metford and
Lee-Enfield rifles are often colloquially referred to as 'Long Toms', distinct from the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield series which is some 5-in. shorter in overall and barrel lengths.
Clearing rods were officially abolished for all .303-in. rifles in May 1899 and this resulted in an advance in mark of the Lee-Enfield rifle from I to I*. The new rifle became the Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle Mark I*. The only changes with the
new Mk I* are associated with the absence of a clearing
rod and its provision inside the fore-end.
The 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion was armed with the "Long Lee" prior to the outbreak of World War One and took the rifle with them when they went overseas on active service in March 1915. (In fact they did not exchange their LLE's for SMLEs until 20th May 1916).
During the 1880s the British Army busied itself with the study of various rifle systems, in an endeavour to determine which might best suit their requirements, and their deliberations ended with the adoption in 1888 of the Lee-Metford rifle, under the official designation of 'Rifle, Magazine, Mark 1'. This utilised the turnbolt action and magazine attributable to James Lee, the Scots-born American inventor, together with the rifling and barrel designed by William Metford, specifically to combat the fouling inherent in the gunpowder propelling charges of the time.
With the adoption of cordite as the standard military propellant, a change in rifling was made. Because cordite left virtually no residue in the bore after firing, the principal advantage of Metford rifling no longer existed, and it was possible to adopt a more efficient pattern of rifling which was more suited to a high-velocity rifle. This was the Enfield rifling — named from its development at the Royal Small ArmFactory,
Enfield Lock — and the marriage of this to the Lee action produced the Lee-Enfiel rifle.
The new Magazine Lee-Enfield Mark I rifle was approved in 1895. Lee-Metford and
Lee-Enfield rifles are often colloquially referred to as 'Long Toms', distinct from the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield series which is some 5-in. shorter in overall and barrel lengths.
Clearing rods were officially abolished for all .303-in. rifles in May 1899 and this resulted in an advance in mark of the Lee-Enfield rifle from I to I*. The new rifle became the Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle Mark I*. The only changes with the
new Mk I* are associated with the absence of a clearing
rod and its provision inside the fore-end.
The 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion was armed with the "Long Lee" prior to the outbreak of World War One and took the rifle with them when they went overseas on active service in March 1915. (In fact they did not exchange their LLE's for SMLEs until 20th May 1916).
Rifle, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mark I** (introduced on 19 May 1899). This is simply the Mark 1 without the attached cleaning rod and its fittings.
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OPERATION
FEED CALIBRE SIGHTS LENGTH BARREL LENGTH WEIGHT (UNLOADED) MUZZLE VELOCITY |
BOLT
10 ROUND BOX MAGAZINE .303 inch 49.50in (1257mm) 30.22in (767mm) 9 lb 4oz (4.19kg) 2060fps (642mps) |
RIFLE, SHORT MAGAZINE, LEE ENFIELD (SMLE) MARK 3
British experience in the South Africa War (Boer) of 1899-1902 showed the need for a short rifle with universal use and even before the end of the war a new trial weapon had been produced. This became the Rifle, Short Magazine Lee Enfield, Mark 1 introduced on 1 July 1903 with the intention of developing one rifle which would serve the Infantryman as a rifle and everybody else as a carbine. After troop trials the Mark 1* was introduced on 2 July 1906. (Mark 2s were Long Lee Enfield's & Lee Metfords converted to SMLEs)
A change of sights and the fitting on the body a new bridge charger guide brought about the introduction of the Mark 3 in 1907.
The SMLE Mark 3 served the British Army throughout the First World War and as the Rifle Number 1 Mark 3 through much of the Second World War.
Entered British Army service 26 January 1907
British experience in the South Africa War (Boer) of 1899-1902 showed the need for a short rifle with universal use and even before the end of the war a new trial weapon had been produced. This became the Rifle, Short Magazine Lee Enfield, Mark 1 introduced on 1 July 1903 with the intention of developing one rifle which would serve the Infantryman as a rifle and everybody else as a carbine. After troop trials the Mark 1* was introduced on 2 July 1906. (Mark 2s were Long Lee Enfield's & Lee Metfords converted to SMLEs)
A change of sights and the fitting on the body a new bridge charger guide brought about the introduction of the Mark 3 in 1907.
The SMLE Mark 3 served the British Army throughout the First World War and as the Rifle Number 1 Mark 3 through much of the Second World War.
Entered British Army service 26 January 1907
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OPERATION
FEED CALIBRE SIGHTS LENGTH BARREL LENGTH WEIGHT (UNLOADED) MUZZLE VELOCITY |
BOLT
10 ROUND DETACHABLE BOX MAGAZINE .303 inch 2000 YARDS / 1829 METRES 44.57inches / 1132mm 25.19 inches / 640mm 8lb, 10.5oz / 3.94kg 2440 fps / 744 mps |
RIFLE, PATTERN 1914 (P14)
The Rifle, .303 Pattern 1914(or P14) was a British service rifle of the First World War period. A bolt action weapon with an integral 5-round magazine, it was principally contract manufactured by companies in the United States. It served as a sniper rifle and as second line and reserve issue until being declared obsolete in 1947. The P14 was the successor to the P13 Enfield and the predecessor of the U.S. Rifle M1917 Enfield.
The action was essentially a Mauser design with some Leef eatures and optimised for rapid fire. The P14 was an advanced design for the time, and was said to be the most advanced service rifle of World War I. The P14 featured a superbly designed aperture rear sight adjustable to 1600 yards and a 300yd battle setting protected by integral and prominent 'ears' on the receiver bridge. The bolt had a Mauser type claw extractor and two forward lugs; there was also a rear safety lug formed by the base of the bolt handle sitting in a recess in the receiver.
Prior to and during World War II, the P14 was used in Britain as a rearguard rifle, primarily to equip the World War II Home Guard. Additionally, the US also sent some M1917 rifles to the UK under Lend-Lease, though the different cartridge limited use and necessitated clearly marking the rifles with a red band around the stock. It was declared obsolete in British service in 1947.
The Rifle, .303 Pattern 1914(or P14) was a British service rifle of the First World War period. A bolt action weapon with an integral 5-round magazine, it was principally contract manufactured by companies in the United States. It served as a sniper rifle and as second line and reserve issue until being declared obsolete in 1947. The P14 was the successor to the P13 Enfield and the predecessor of the U.S. Rifle M1917 Enfield.
The action was essentially a Mauser design with some Leef eatures and optimised for rapid fire. The P14 was an advanced design for the time, and was said to be the most advanced service rifle of World War I. The P14 featured a superbly designed aperture rear sight adjustable to 1600 yards and a 300yd battle setting protected by integral and prominent 'ears' on the receiver bridge. The bolt had a Mauser type claw extractor and two forward lugs; there was also a rear safety lug formed by the base of the bolt handle sitting in a recess in the receiver.
Prior to and during World War II, the P14 was used in Britain as a rearguard rifle, primarily to equip the World War II Home Guard. Additionally, the US also sent some M1917 rifles to the UK under Lend-Lease, though the different cartridge limited use and necessitated clearly marking the rifles with a red band around the stock. It was declared obsolete in British service in 1947.
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OPERATION
FEED CALIBRE SIGHTS LENGTH BARREL LENGTH WEIGHT (UNLOADED) MUZZLE VELOCITY |
BOLT
5 ROUND INTEGRAL BOX MAGAZINE .303 inch 1600 YARDS 46.25 inches / 1175mm 24 inches / 660mm 9lb 6oz / 4.25kg 2,380 fps / 725 mps |
REFERENCES
1. MILITARY SMALL ARMS OF THE 20TH CENTURY 4TH EDITION
By Ian Hogg & John Weeks 1981 DBI BOOKS ISBN 0-910676-28-3
2. MODERN SMALL ARMS
By Major Frederick Myatt MC 1979 SALAMANDER BOOKS ISBN 0-86101-024-8