Rifle, Short, Magazine Lee Enfield Mark 1

Rifle, Short, Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) Mark 1 -- Introduced in 1906

Rifle, Short, Magazine Lee Enfield Mark 3

Rifle, Short, Magazine Lee Enfield Mark 3 -- 1907, different sights
A wartime version for WWI had several mods for ease of manufacture

Rifle, Short, Number 4 Mark 1, Short, Magazine Lee Enfield

Rifle, Short, Number 4 Mark 1, Short, Magazine Lee Enfield - 1941
Top shown mounting Bayonet Number 9, bottom blow-up mounts "Pig-Sticker" bayonet

Rifle Manual: Lee Enfield
Rifles No.1 Mk III; No.3 Mk I; No.4 Mk I; No. 5 Mk I


- Mark 1 Mark 3 No. 4 Mark 1
- Barley Corn foresight
Tangent Leaf Rear 		Blade foresight
Tangent leaf Rear		 Blade foresight
Vertical leaf Rear
Operation Bolt Action
Caliber .303 in, Rimmed cartridge, 2.15in case length
Muzzle velocity 2060 fps 2440 fps 2440 fps
Ammunition Mark 6 ball, 215 grain bullet, 33 gr charge
Mark 7 ball, 174 grain bullet, 36.5 gr charge
Capacity detachable box magazine, holding 10 rounds in two columns
Normally loaded from stripper clips
Weight 8.12 lbs, unloaded 8.62 lbs, unloaded 8.8 lbs, unloaded
Overall length 44.57 in overall, 25.2 in barrel
Rate of fire 20 aimed rounds per minute
Slim

Posthumous George Cross recipient


The M1 Garand was the weapon of choice for US infantry. The M2 Carbine, half the weight and with a less powerful cartridge, was the weapon of choice for support troops, and others not primarily involved in infantry combat. It was designed to meet combat needs less demanding than the M1 Rifle, but more than can be met by the M1911A1 pistol. It was more convenient to use than the M1, and less intrusive to their other duties, while still much more effective than hand guns.
When the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield was first introduced into British service, it met with a storm of criticism -- though little from the troops whom it served well during two World Wars, Korea, and beyond.

British Commonwealth forces used the Lee Enfield Mark 4 as their main rifle. Although bolt action, its locking mechanism made it the fastest bolt action rifle in the world. Its long service also permitted its design to be optimized over time to make it very rugged and reliable.

The trained soldier could fire 30 aimed rounds at a target 200 meters in one minute (known as "the mad minute").

 Mark 4
On Active service
Ron Cashman, 3RAR 		As one vet, Vince Gilligan, 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Army said:

"... on the Lee Enfield .303 rifle our mob(Australians) used in Korea. The brits used a later version with the pig sticker bayonet. We had the 18" bayonet (blued). One of the rifles I had was made in 1917-1918. It was a very effective weapon. At least if you hit something, it stayed Hit."

And after all, that's the idea.

- The bluing process creates a protective layer of treated metal on the surface of the steel, by immersing the metal in a solution of salts that chemically alter the surface. The chemical reaction discolors the surface of the metal to a blue color, sometimes a vivid blue, sometimes more gray or black.



3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment distinguished itself in Korea in a number of engagements. In its first fight the Aussies, using mainly Enfield rifles and 18" bayonets, routed a North Korean regiment.
(British Commonwealth Occupation Forces Japan photo.)
One browser, Shane, offered the following comments

These come for the Lee-Enfield No.4 MK1. I now own one and some of your information is a little off.

Rear Sights are flip-up adjustable aperature micrometer sights, not vertical leaf

Weight unloaded is Nine pounds even (I weighed it!) not 8.8 Barrel length is 25 1/4 inches, not 25 2 inches

Case length is actually 2.222 inches (Chamber size) and not 2.15

And, as for the aimed shot capacity, it's actually more along the lines of 15 rounds per minute. Because of the way the Lee action is set up, rapid fire is very easy to do. As long as you've got some charger clips handy, you can manage 3" groups on a rapid fire string.

Another browser, Shane, responded

I am afraid I must disagree with Shane's opinion on Lee Enfield rate of fire. In British military rifle qualification with the SMLE the minimum passing score was 15 hits on a siluette target at 200 yards in 1 minute. This was required of any cook or clerk. Combat soldiers averaged 20 to 30 hits in 1 minute.

The all time aimed fire record with a bolt action rifle was by Sgt. Snoxall of the British army, 38 hits on a 12" bull at 300 yards in 1 minute.

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