BMHSM,ENMEIL! RIFLES

PUBLICATIONS

C o p y r i g h t © 1 9 9 0 N a t i o n a l R i f l e A s s o c i a t i o n o f A m e r i c a

1 1 2 5 0 W a p l e s M i l l R o a d F a i r f a x , V i r g i n i a 2 2 0 3 0 - 9 4 0 0

E l e v e n t h P r i n t i n g , S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 4

T h e C o v e r : L e e - E n f i e l d r i f l e s f r o m t h e c o l l e c t i o n o f t h e

N a t i o n a l F i r e a r m s M u s e u m , F a i r f a x , V i r g i n i a

U n i f o r m s a n d a c c o u t e r m e n t s f r o m N a t i o n a l C a p i t a l H i s t o r i c a l S a l e s , S p r i n g f i e l d , V i r g i n i a

D e s i g n b y M i c h a e l R . B l o o m

P h o t o g r a p h b y J o h n R . L a m s o n

C A U T I O N : T h e m a t e r i a l c o n t a i n e d h e r e i n i s r e p r i n t e d f r o m p a s t i s s u e s o f t h e AMERICAN RIFLEMAN m a g a z i n e , a c o p y r i g h t e d p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e N a t i o n a l R i f l e A s s o c i a t i o n o f A m e r i c a ( N R A ) . T h e r e f o r e , w h i l e t e c h n i c a l l y s o u n d a n d h i s t o r i c a l l y r e l e v a n t , it m a y h a v e b e e n u p d a t e d b y r e s e a r c h m o r e r e c e n t t h a n t h e o r i g i n a l d a t e o f p u b l i c a t i o n . A l l t e c h n i c a l d a t a i n t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y fo r h a n d l o a d i n g , r e f l e c t t h e l i m i t e d e x p e r i e n c e o f i n d i v i d u a l s u s i n g s p e c i f i c t o o l s , p r o d u c t s , e q u i p ­m e n t a n d c o m p o n e n t s u n d e r s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y r e p o r t e d in t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n , a n d o v e r w h i c h t h e N R A h a s n o c o n t r o l . T h e d a t a h a v e n o t o t h e r w i s e b e e n t e s t e d o r v e r i f i e d b y t h e N R A . T h e N R A , i t s a g e n t s , o f f i c e r s a n d e m p l o y e e s a c c e p t n o r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d b y p e r s o n s u s i n g s u c h d a t a a n d d i s c l a i m al l l i a b i l i t y f o r a n y c o n s e q u e n t i a l i n j u r i e s o r d a m a g e s .

Enfield— Britain's Springfield-

And Its Rifles Its products have served well in wars over the globe, including ours, in 1861-65

BR I T I S H l a b o r e r s p l a n t i n g n u m e r o u s w a l n u t t r e e s i n 1 8 0 0 a n d m u s k e t r y

i n t h e A m e r i c a n C i v i l W a r w e r e a n o c e a n a n d m o r e t h a n a h a l f c e n t u r y a p a r t . Y e t a r e l a t i o n s h i p e x i s t s . I t i s p a r t o f a firearms k i n s h i p w h i c h h a s e x t e n d e d , i n o n e w a y o r a n o t h e r , t h r o u g h a s e r i e s o f w a r s i n t o t h e p r e s e n t t i m e .

T h e t r e e s se t o u t i n q u a n t i t y a r o u n d E n f i e l d L o c k , a c a n a l l o c k i n t h e L e a w a t e r w a y i n M i d d l e s e x , w e r e a s o u r c e of g u n s t o c k s f o r m o r e t h a n 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 m u z z l e l o a d i n g E n f i e l d r i f l ed m u s k e t s b o u g h t b y b o t h t h e U n i o n a n d t h e C o n f e d e r a c y . T h i s a r m w a s , i n f a c t , m o r e u s e d b y i n f a n t r y o f b o t h s i d e s t h a n a n y o t h e r e x c e p t t h e M 1 8 6 1 - 6 3 S p r i n g f i e l d .

T h e m u z z l e l o a d e r s w e r e m a s s - p r o ­d u c e d i n p a r t w i t h i m p o r t e d Y a n k e e m a c h i n e r y . I n W o r l d W a r I , p r i v a t e i n d u s t r y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s m a n u ­f a c t u r e d P a t t e r n 1 4 b o l t - a c t i o n E n f i e l d s in c a l i b e r . 3 0 3 a n d t h e n c h a n g e d , a f t e r A m e r i c a ' s e n t r y , t o p r o d u c i n g t h e m in . 3 0 - ' 0 6 a s t h e U . S . R i f l e , M o d e l 1 9 1 7 — s t i l l p o p u l a r l y c a l l e d t h e E n f i e l d . L a r g e q u a n t i t i e s o f s u r p l u s B r i t i s h E n -fields o f W o r l d W a r s I a n d I I a r e d o i n g d u t y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , C a n a d a a n d e l s e w h e r e t o d a y a s s p o r t i n g a r m s , u s u ­a l ly s o m e w h a t m o d i f i e d . S o i t i s v e r y m u c h i n o r d e r t o t a k e a l o o k a t t h e o r i g i n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h i s r i f le .

First arms works T h e first B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t a r m s

w o r k s a t E n f i e l d L o c k , a l o c a t i o n af­f o r d i n g b o t h w a t e r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d w a t e r p o w e r f r o m t h e l o c k f a l l , w a s e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1 8 0 4 l a r g e l y t o a s s e m b l e B r o w n B e s s flintlock m u s k e t s , t h e p r i n ­c i p a l a r m of B r i t i s h i n f a n t r y f o r o v e r 1 0 0 y e a r s . P a r t s , e x c e p t i n g s t o c k s , w e r e

By E. G. B. REYNOLDS

m a n u f a c t u r e d p r i v a t e l y i n L o n d o n a n d B i r m i n g h a m " b y m e n w o r k i n g b y h a n d i n w r e t c h e d c e l l a r s a n d a t t i c s , " a s o n e o r d n a n c e r e p o r t p u t i t . S t a n d a r d i z a t i o n a n d w h a t is m o d e r n l y c a l l e d q u a l i t y c o n t r o l w e r e l a r g e l y l a c k i n g .

M e a n w h i l e e f fo r t s w e r e b e i n g m a d e t o find a b e t t e r i n f a n t r y a r m f o r t h e B r i t i s h A r m y . T h e c h o i c e l a y b e t w e e n s m o o t h b o r e w i t h r e a s o n a b l y f a s t l o a d ­i n g b u t l i t t l e a c c u r a c y b e y o n d 1 0 0 y d s . , a n d r i f led w e a p o n s t h a t w e r e m o r e a c ­c u r a t e b u t s l o w e r t o l o a d . T h e first s e r i o u s r i v a l t o t h e s m o o t h b o r e B r o w n B e s s w a s t h e B a k e r flintlock r i f le . I n 1 8 2 3 , E n f i e l d r e c e i v e d a n o r d e r f o r 5 , 0 0 0 a n d t h e rif le c o n t i n u e d in s e r v ­i c e , w i t h m o d i f i c a t i o n s , f o r n e a r l y 4 0 y e a r s . B y 1 8 3 9 , E n f i e l d w a s c o n v e r t ­i n g 3 0 , 0 0 0 flintlock m u s k e t s t o t h e p e r c u s s i o n s y s t e m .

G e o r g e L o v e l l , a s t o r e k e e p e r i n 1 8 2 3 , p l a y e d a p r o m i n e n t p a r t i n t h e c o n v e r s i o n p r o g r a m a n d w a s p r o m o t e d i n 1 8 4 0 t o t h e p o s t of G o v e r n m e n t I n s p e c t o r o f S m a l l A r m s . L a r g e l y d u e t o L o v e l l , t h e B r u n s w i c k r if le , first r i f l ed a r m t o g o i n t o ful l p r o d u c t i o n , h a d i ts e a r l y b a c k - a c t i o n l o c k r e p l a c e d w i t h a n i m p r o v e d b a r - a c t i o n l o c k i n 1 8 4 1 . A fire g u t t e d t h e rif le w o r k ­s h o p s i n t h e T o w e r o f L o n d o n t h a t

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For 14 years, Major E. G. B. Reynolds was a Technical Officer on the Inspectorate of Arm­aments Headquarters Staff, and dealt chiefly with the inspection and development of rifles and other small arms.

Major Reynolds was closely connected with the inspection and development of the No. 4 Lee-Enfield rifle since first it went into pro­duction in 1941 .

He was a member of 10 British Dewar Tro­phy teams and was the first person to fire 400 x 400 in this match.

s a m e y e a r , s o m u c h w o r k w a s t r a n s ­f e r r e d t o E n f i e l d . L o v e l l d e s i g n e d t h e first B r i t i s h p e r c u s s i o n m u s k e t , w h i c h w e n t i n t o p r o d u c t i o n a t E n f i e l d i n 1 8 4 2 . I n 1 8 5 2 t h e first B r i t i s h M i n i e r i f les , o u t w a r d l y r e s e m b l i n g t h e P e r ­c u s s i o n M u s k e t , 1 8 4 2 , w e r e m a n u f a c ­t u r e d a t E n f i e l d .

New rifle adopted

I n 1 8 5 2 L o r d H a r d i n g e , t h e n M a s t e r -G e n e r a l o f O r d n a n c e , i n v i t e d t h e l e a d ­i n g g u n s m i t h s t o e n t e r i n t o c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h t h e o b j e c t o f finding t h e b e s t p o s ­s i b l e w e a p o n f o r t h e B r i t i s h A r m y . A s p e c i a l c o m m i t t e e , a s s e m b l e d a t E n f i e l d t o s u r v e y t h e n u m e r o u s w e a p o n s s u b ­m i t t e d , w i s e l y c h o s e t h e b e s t f e a t u r e s o f t h e v a r i o u s w e a p o n s , i n c l u d i n g a s m a l l e r b o r e , a n d 2 e x p e r i m e n t a l r i f l e - m u s k e t s w e r e m a d e a t t h e R o y a l E n f i e l d M a n u ­f a c t o r y . A f t e r n u m e r o u s t r i a l s , t h e n e w rifle w a s a d o p t e d a n d off ic ia l ly i n t r o ­d u c e d a s t h e Ri f le , M u s k e t , P a t t e r n 1 8 5 3 . I t w a s m o r e c o m m o n l y r e f e r r e d t o a s T h e E n f i e l d 3 - g r o o v e Ri f le , a n d t h e i n i t i a l c o n t r a c t f o r 2 0 , 0 0 0 w a s p l a c e d w i t h t h e E n f i e l d f a c t o r y . T h e i m p r o v e d P r i t c h e t t b u l l e t f o r t h i s r if le w a s a d o p t e d 2 y e a r s l a t e r .

T h e E n f i e l d r i f le , t h e first r i f led a r m t o b e a r t h e f a c t o r y ' s n a m e , q u a d r u p l e d t h e e f fec t ive fire o f t h e E n g l i s h r e g i ­m e n t s i n w h i c h i t r e p l a c e d t h e M i n i e r i f le i n t h e C r i m e a n W a r . I t w a s g e n e r ­a l l y a g r e e d t h a t it w a s s u p e r i o r t o a l m o s t a l l r i f les i n t h e C o n t i n e n t a l a r m i e s . W h e n i t w e n t i n t o p r o d u c t i o n t h e E n ­field f a c t o r y , l a r g e l y d u e t o t h e e f for t s o f L o v e l l , e x p a n d e d i n s t a t u r e . N e w w o r k s h o p s a n d a n e w r o l l i n g p l a n t a n d o t h e r m a c h i n e r y w e r e i n s t a l l e d , a n d t h e f a c t o r y r e a c h e d a n a n n u a l c a p a c i t y f o r 5 0 , 0 0 0 m u s k e t s a n d 5 0 0 0 s w o r d s .

I n 1 8 5 5 , a n u m b e r o f E n f i e l d r i f les

1

A s s e m b l y of c a l . . 7 5 3 Brown B e s s s m o o t h b o r e f l in t lock m u s k e t s w a s first i m p o r t a n t t a s k c a r r i e d o u t a t Enf ie ld e s t a b l i s h m e n t . Brown B e s s m u s k e t w a s s t a n d a r d Br i t i sh in fan t ry a r m for m o r e t h a n 1 0 0 y e a r s .

B a k e r rifle w a s c a p a b l e of m a k i n g g r o u p s IV2 ft. w i d e by 2V2 ft. d e e p a t 1 0 0 y d s . It w a s m o s t a c c u r a t e B r i t i s h mi l i t a ry a r m a t t i m e of i t s i n t r o d u c t i o n .

An ea r ly t y p e of b a c k - a c t i o n B r u n s w i c k rifle m a d e a t Enfie ld . N a m e d a f t e r D u k e of B r u n s w i c k , t h i s rifle w a s first m a d e wi th 11-g roove rifl ing, l a t e r c h a n g e d t o 2-groove for u s e wi th b e l t e d s p h e r i c a l ba l l . A s t a n d a r d rifle for 4 0 y e a r s , B r u n s w i c k rifle w a s difficult t o load w h e n b o r e b e c a m e f o u l e d .

w e r e m a d e w i t h s h o r t e r b a r r e l s a n d l o n g s w o r d b a y o n e t s , a n d w e r e i s s u e d t o t h e 6 0 t h Ri f les ( K i n g ' s R o y a l Ri f le C o r p s ) a n d t h e Rif le B r i g a d e . C a r b i n e s o n t h e s a m e p r i n c i p l e w e r e m a d e a t E n f i e l d a n d i s s u e d t o t h e A r t i l l e r y a n d C a v a l r y . T h r e e y e a r s l a t e r a n o t h e r s h o r t e n e d v e r s i o n w a s m a d e f o r t h e R o y a l N a v y t o r e p l a c e t h e P a t t e r n 1 8 4 2

S e a - S e r v i c e m u s k e t s . A s i m i l a r a r m w a s m a d e f o r S e r g e a n t s o f I n f a n t r y . I t w a s m o r e a c c u r a t e t h a n t h e l o n g rif le a n d , a s s e r g e a n t s w e r e t h o u g h t t o h a v e less t i m e t h a n t h e l o w e r r a n k s f o r a c t u a l f i r ing , i t w a s c o n s i d e r e d i m p e r a t i v e t h a t t h e y h a v e t h e m o s t a c c u r a t e w e a p o n s .

A l t h o u g h i m p r o v e m e n t s h a d b e e n e f f ec t ed , t h e r e w a s sti l l d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n i n

G o v e r n m e n t c i r c l e s r e g a r d i n g t h e s u p p l y of s m a l l a r m s t o t h e B r i t i s h F o r c e s , a n d t h e w e a p o n s g e n e r a l l y w e r e c o n s i d e r e d i n f e r i o r t o t h o s e m a d e i n A m e r i c a . E v e n a t E n f i e l d t h e s y s t e m w a s b a d . S o m e of t h e w o r k w a s d o n e u n d e r c o n t r a c t , a n d t o o l s w e r e o f t e n t h e p r o p e r t y of w o r k ­m e n . T h e s i t u a t i o n i m p r o v e d a n d , b y 1 8 6 0 , t h e f irs t E n f i e l d rif le w a s i n ful l p r o d u c t i o n . I n 1 8 6 1 it w a s p r o u d l y a c ­c l a i m e d in t h e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s t h a t 9 0 , 7 0 7 r i f les h a d b e e n m a d e i n t h e f a c ­t o r y t h a t y e a r . L a r g e l y d u e t o t h e v is i t o f a B r i t i s h C o m m i s s i o n t o t h e U . S . G o v e r n m e n t A r m o r i e s a t H a r p e r s F e r r y a n d S p r i n g f i e l d , t h e E n f i e l d f a c t o r y w a s m o d e r n i z e d b y A m e r i c a n m a c h i n e r y .

F o r s o m e y e a r s t h e B r i t i s h A r m y h a d p r e s s e d f o r a b r e e c h - l o a d i n g rifle a n d , in 1 8 6 7 , i t w a s d e c i d e d t o c o n v e r t e x i s t ­i n g s t o c k s of t h e 1 8 5 3 m u z z l e - l o a d i n g E n f i e l d b y a m e t h o d s u b m i t t e d b y a n A m e r i c a n , J a c o b S n i d e r . T h e w o r k o f c o n v e r s i o n , a n d e v e n t u a l l y t h e m a n u ­f a c t u r e o f n e w S n i d e r s f i t t ed w i t h s t ee l b a r r e l s ( e a r l i e r E n f i e l d w e a p o n s h a d w r o u g h t - i r o n b a r r e l s ) , w a s c a r r i e d o u t a t E n f i e l d . T h e r i f le w a s c a l l e d t h e E n ­field S n i d e r a n d , w i t h t h e B o x e r c a r ­t r i d g e , t h e r i f le ' s a c c u r a c y i m p r o v e d .

British Breech-Loading Service Rifles Made Or Designed At The Enfield Royal Smal l Arms Factory 1 8 7 1 - 1 9 4 4

Model Designation & Year of Adoption Caliber Martini-Henry (1871) .45

Lee-Metford (1888)

Lee-Enfield (1895)

.303

.303

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield .303 (1902)

Pattern 1914 Enfield (1916) .303

No. 4 Rifle (1939)

No. 5 Rifle (1944)

.303

.303

Action System Weight (Magazine Capacity) (lbs.—ozs.)

Pivoting-block 9 (single-shot) Lee bolt-action 9—8 (8 rounds) Lee bolt-action 9—4 (10 rounds) Lee bolt-action 8—llA (10 rounds) Mauser-type bolt-action 8—11 (5 rounds) Lee bolt-action 9—1 (10 rounds) Lee bolt-action 7—2V4 (10 rounds)

Over-all Barrel Length Length Rifling Form &

(inches) (Inches) Twist Rate 49.5 33.2 Henry 7-groove

Right, 1 turn in 22" 49.5 30.2 Metford 7-groove

Left, 1 turn in 10" 49.5 30.2 Enfield 5-groove

Left, 1 turn in 10" 44.5 25.18 Enfield 5-groove

Left, 1 turn in 10" 46.3 26 Enfield 5-groove

Left, 1 turn in 10" 44.5 25.18 Enfield 5-groove

Left, 1 turn in 10" 39.5 18.75 Enfield 5-groove

Lett, 1 turn in 10"

Sighting Rear: 100-1450 yds.

Rear: 300-Dial: 1800 Rear: 200-Dial: 1600 Rear: 200-Dial: 1600 Rear: 400-Dial: 1600 Rear: 200-

1900 yds. •3500 yds. 1800 yds. 2800 yds.

2000 yds. 2800 yds. 1900 yds. •2800 yds. 1300 yds.

Rear: 200-800 yds.

2 Photos courtesy M.o.D. Pattern Room, Nottingham, England

British Army Muzzle-Loading Arms Made At Or Associated With The Enfield Royal Smal l Arms Factory

Name & Over-Al l Barrel Rifling Sighted Bullet Bullet Powder Approximate Year of Caliber Weight Length Length Number Twist to Diameter Weight Charge

Introduction (inches) lbs.—ozs. (inches) (inches) Grooves Rate (yds.) ( inches) 1 (irs.)' ( l i s . ) ' Brown Bess .753 1 0 - 2 55 39 Smoothbore _ 200 .683 480 164

(About 1790) Baker Rifle .628 9 - 7 45V4 30- 7 Vi turn 200 .625 350 110

(1800) in 30" Brunswick Rifle .704 11-5V4 46 30 2 1 turn 300 .696 557 68

(1836) in 30" Percussion Musket .753 9 - 1 4 54 ! / 4

39 Smoothbore — 150 .683 480 123 (1842)

British Version Minie Rifle .702 9—13 55 39 4 1 turn 1000 .690 680 68 (1851) in 78"

Enfield Rifle .577 8 - 1 4 ' / 2 541 i 39 3 1 turn 900 .568 530 68

(1853) in 78" Short Enfield Rifle .577 8 — 1 1 % 4 8 ' , 33 ' 5 1 turn 1200 .568 530 68

(1858) in 48"

(1) These figures are approximations (2) Some Baker rifles with 20" barrels were made for British Cavalry. (3) The Short Enfield Rifle of 1855 had 29" barrel.

T h e E n f i e l d S n i d e r w a s i n t e n d e d a s a s t o p - g a p p e n d i n g d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n e w b r e e c h - l o a d i n g a r m . I n 1 8 6 9 a s p e c i a l W a r Off ice c o m m i t t e e a p p o i n t e d 3 y e a r s e a r l i e r r e c o m m e n d e d a d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e P e a b o d y b r e e c h - m e c h a n i s m e n t e r e d b y F r i e d e r i c h v o n M a r t i n i o f S w i t z e r ­l a n d . T h e b a r r e l w a s d e s i g n e d b y A l e x ­a n d e r H e n r y o f E d i n b u r g h . T h e n e w a r m w a s c a l l e d t h e M a r t i n i - H e n r y , a n d 2 0 0 w e r e m a d e a t E n f i e l d a n d i s s u e d f o r t r o o p t r i a l s . I n i n t r o d u c i n g t h i s c a l . . 4 5 r i f le , t h e c o m m i t t e e h a d a c h i e v e d a r e ­d u c t i o n in b o r e a t t h a t t i m e b e l i e v e d i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h i s c l a s s o f m i l i t a r y a r m . M u c h of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t w o r k w a s c a r r i e d o u t a t E n f i e l d a n d n u m e r o u s m o d i f i c a t i o n s w e r e e f f e c t e d b e f o r e t h e r i f le a n d a n e w b o t t l e n e c k c a r t r i d g e w e r e a d o p t e d . I n 1 8 7 1 t h e y w e r e offi­c i a l l y i n t r o d u c e d f o r t h e B r i t i s h A r m y

(Top) Rifle, M u s k e t , P a t t e r n 1 8 5 3 . S n i d e r h i n g e d - b r e e c h a c t i o n u s e d in c o n v e r t i n g P a t t e r n 1 8 5 3 for b r e e c h - l o a d i n g . Lower a r m is S n i d e r c a r b i n e i s s u e d t o cava l ry a n d a r t i l l e ry u n i t s . I n t r o d u c e d in 1 8 6 7 , S n i d e r c o n v e r s i o n w a s a s t o p - g a p d e v e l o p m e n t . C o n v e r s i o n a n d m a n u f a c t u r e of c a l . . 5 7 7 S n i d e r a r m s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t a t Enfield.

S h o r t e n e d ve r s ion of Model 1 8 5 3 Enfield rifle d e s i g n a t e d S e r g e a n t ' s Fus i l , Model 1 8 5 6 . It p roved m o r e a c c u r a t e t h a n long rifle.

E x p e r i m e n t a l S e r v i c e P a t t e r n c a l . . 4 5 Whi tw or th rifle m a d e a t Enfield. H e x a g o n a l - b o r e Whi twor th , p o p u l a r for t a r g e t s h o o t i n g , w a s no t i s s u e d g e n e r a l l y for S e r v i c e u s e .

Photos courtesy M.o.D. Pattern Room. Nottingham. England 3

Pr inc ipa l d i f fe rence b e t w e e n Mar t in i -Henry rifle ( uppe r ) a n d Enf ie ld-Mar t in i ( c e n t e r ) was in form of rifling. Enf ie ld-Mart in i rifle had longer a c t i o n lever t o i m p r o v e e x t r a c t i o n power. In 1 8 9 5 m a n y of t h e s e c a l . . 4 5 rifles w e r e f i t ted wi th c a l . . 3 0 3 b a r r e l s a n d r e d e s i g n a t e d Mart in i -Enf ie ld . Mar t in i -Henry c a r b i n e (bo t t om) w a s i s s u e d to cava l ry a n d ar t i l le ry u n i t s .

Lee-Metford Mark I c a l . . 3 0 3 rifle ( uppe r ) a d o p t e d in 1 8 8 8 , wi th Lee-Enfie ld rifle (lower) a d o p t e d in 1 8 9 5 . The i n t r o d u c t i o n of c o r d i t e s m o k e l e s s p o w d e r led t o a d o p t i o n of d e e p e r Enfield rifling form in 1 8 9 5 .

a n d t h e R o y a l N a v y . L a t e r , a b o u t 7 0 , 0 0 0 M a r t i n i rifles e m b o d y i n g M e t -fo rd r i f l ing w e r e m a d e a t En f i e ld . T h e y w e r e c a l l e d E n f i e l d - M a r t i n i ' s , b u t w e r e n e v e r officially a d o p t e d ; t h e y w e r e e v e n ­tua l l y f i t ted w i t h H e n r y b a r r e l s a t E n ­field a n d b e c a m e t h e M a r k I V p a t t e r n M a r t i n i - H e n r y .

F o r a n u m b e r of y e a r s t h e B r i t i s h R o y a l N a v y h a d p r e s s e d fo r a m a g a z i n e rifle, a n d m u c h e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d d e s i g n w o r k w a s c a r r i e d o u t a t En f i e ld b e f o r e t h e L e e - a c t i o n m a g a z i n e rifle w a s a p ­p r o v e d fo r m a n u f a c t u r e in 1 8 8 8 . T h i s w e a p o n , e m b o d y i n g t h e s h a l l o w M e t -f o r d f o r m of r i f l ing, w h i c h h a d s h o w n a g r e a t a d v a n c e in a c c u r a c y in c o m p e t i ­t i o n s h o o t i n g at W i m b l e d o n , w a s a f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a b l e r e d u c t i o n in c a l i ­b e r . I t w a s d e s t i n e d t o r e m a i n in t h e Br i t i sh R e g u l a r A r m y f o r n e a r l y 7 0 y e a r s . I n t r o d u c e d as t h e M a g a z i n e Rif le , M a r k I , in 1 8 8 9 , a n d c h a n g e d t o t h e L e e - M e t f o r d 2 y e a r s l a t e r , it b e c a m e t h e L e e - E n f i e l d in 1 8 9 5 , a f t e r a c h a n g e of r i f l ing.

T h e Enf ie ld r i f l ing f o r m w a s d e s i g n e d a n d d e v e l o p e d a t En f i e ld t o e n s u r e a l o n g e r b a r r e l a c c u r a c y life b y r e n d e r i n g g r e a t e r r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e d e s t r u c t i v e

e r o s i o n of c o r d i t e t h a n d i d t h e s h a l l o w M e t f o r d g r o o v i n g . I t w a s t h e r e f o r e t h e r i f l ing t h a t b r o u g h t b a c k t h e n a m e of E n f i e l d i n t o t h e rif le 's d e s i g n a t i o n .

A f e w y e a r s e a r l i e r , a n i m p o r t a n t c h a n g e in p r o c e d u r e h a d t a k e n p l a c e a t E n f i e l d . T h e i n s p e c t i o n of s m a l l a r m s w a s d i v o r c e d f r o m p r o d u c t i o n a n d b e ­c a m e t h e p r e r o g a t i v e of a s e p a r a t e b o d y k n o w n a s t h e S m a l l A r m s I n s p e c t i o n D e p a r t m e n t . I t w a s e s t a b l i s h e d a t E n ­field u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e M a s t e r -G e n e r a l of O r d n a n c e , a n d w a s s u p e r ­v i s e d l a r g e l y b y m i l i t a r y off icers u n d e r a C h i e f I n s p e c t o r of S m a l l A r m s . I t e v e n t u a l l y b e c a m e r e s p o n s i b l e fo r t e c h ­n i c a l t r i a l s , s e a l i n g of p a t t e r n s t o g u i d e m a n u f a c t u r e , i n s p e c t i o n of t r o o p a r m s , a n d o t h e r d u t i e s . En f i e ld w a s a l s o t h e t r a i n i n g g r o u n d fo r S e r v i c e a r m o r e r s .

A t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y , E n f i e l d w a s w o r k i n g t o c a p a c i t y m a k i n g w e a p o n s fo r t h e B r i t i s h f o r c e s in S o u t h A f r i c a . T h e L e e - E n f i e l d rif le, a n d L e e -E n f i e l d c a r b i n e s fo r t h e C a v a l r y a n d A r t i l l e r y w e r e in full p r o d u c t i o n . A n e r r o r in t h e s i g h t i n g a r r a n g e m e n t of t h e L e e - E n f i e l d n e c e s s i t a t e d a m o d i ­fication t o t h e r e a r s igh t leaf of t h o u s ­a n d s of r i f les , m a n y b e i n g h u r r i e d l y r e t u r n e d f r o m S o u t h A f r i c a fo r t h e p u r p o s e . A n o t h e r s e r i o u s f a u l t w h i c h h a d t o b e d e a l t w i t h w a s t h e u n e q u a l b e a r i n g of r e c e i v e r a n d b o l t . T h e s igh t ­i n g t r o u b l e c a u s e d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a n a c c u r a c y s h o o t i n g tes t fo r e v e r y r if le , o n m u c h t h e s a m e l i ne s a s p r e ­v a i l s t o d a y .

Lee-Enf ie ld c a l . . 3 0 3 c a r b i n e was sho r t ­e n e d ve r s ion of Lee-Enfie ld rifle. After 1 9 0 2 , t h i s a n d o t h e r c a r b i n e s g r a d u a l l y d i s a p p e a r e d from t h e Br i t i sh S e r v i c e s .

S h o r t M a g a z i n e Lee-Enfie ld (SMLE) c a l . . 3 0 3 rifle a d o p t e d in 1 9 0 2 w a s la te r r edes ig ­n a t e d No. 1 Rifle. P r o b a b l y t h e m o s t f a m o u s rifle e v e r p r o d u c e d a t Enfield, it w a s l igh te r a n d s h o r t e r ve r s ion of t h e long Lee-Enfie ld rifle. It e m b o d i e d c h a r g e r load ing , b e t t e r s i g h t s , a n d o t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t s .

S h o r t M a g a z i n e Lee-Enfie ld No. 1 Mark V c a l . . 3 0 3 rifle w a s e x p e r i m e n t a l a r m d e v e l ­o p e d a t Enfield a f t e r World War I. T h e first Lee-Enf ie ld rifle d e s i g n e d wi th a p e r t u r e rea r s igh t , it w a s s u p e r s e d e d in d e v e l o p m e n t s t a g e by SMLE No. 1 Mark VI rifle.

4 Photos courtesy M.o.D. Pattern Room. Nottingham. England

L E E - E N F I E L D H I S T O R Y

Introduction or Adoption Date Designation Some Features of New Pattern

Dec. 22, 1888 Magazine Rifle, Mark I Aug. 8, 1891 Lee-Metford Magazine Rifle,

Mark I S a m e rifle, r e n a m e d .

J an . 19, 1892 Lee-Metford Magazine Rifle, Mark I*

Safety ca tch omitted. Altered sighting, magaz ine , handguard , mainspring.

J an . 30, 1892 Lee-Metford Magaz ine Rifle, Mark II

New 10-round m a g a z i n e . Lighter barrel . Weight r educed to 9 lbs., 4 o z s .

Apr. 22, 1895 Lee-Metford Magazine Rifle, Mark II*

New pattern safety ca tch fitted to cocking piece .

July 1, 1907 Charger-loading Lee-Metford Magazine Rifle

Conver ted to charger- loading.

Nov. 11 , 1895 Lee-Enfield Magazine Rifle, Mark I

S a m e a s Lee-Metford, Mark II*, but fitted with Enfield barrel .

May 11 , 1899 Lee-Enfield Magaz ine Rifle, Mark I*

Cleaning rod, and provision for rod in fore-end omitted.

July 1, 1907 Charger- loading Lee-Enfield Magazine Rifle. Mark I*

Conver ted from Lee-Enfields and Lee-Metfords.

Dec. 23 , 1902 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark I

A new rifle.

J a n . 16, 1903 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Conver ted Mark II

Conver ted to Mark I pat tern from Lee-Enfields and Lee-Metfords.

July 2, 1906 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark I*

Deepe r m a g a z i n e c a s e , e tc . Weight of rifle 8 lbs., 7 ozs .

July 2, 1906 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Conver ted Mark II*

Deepe r m a g a z i n e than conver ted Mark II. Pull-through a c c o m m o d a t e d in butt.

J an . 26, 1907 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark III

Bridge cha rge r gu ide fitted to body. Weight of rifle 8 lbs., 10-1/2 oz s .

Sept . 1 ,1907 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Conver ted Mark IV

Conver ted to Mark III pattern from Lee-Enfields and Lee-Metfords.

J an . 4, 1908 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark I**

Sighting al tered for Mark VII cartr idge. Conver ted from Mark I for Royal Navy.

J an . 4, 1908 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark II**

New sighting, etc . Conver ted from conver ted Mark II rifles.

J an . 4, 1908 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark II***

New sighting, etc . Conver ted from conver ted Mark II* rifles.

Apr. 22, 1914 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark I***

Sighting al tered for Mark VII car t r idge. Conver ted from Mark I* rifles for Royal Navy.

J an . 2, 1916 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle. Mark Ill-

Long-range s ights , cut-off omitted.

1922/23 (Not adopted)

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark V

Aperture backsight . One -p i ece handgua rd . etc .

1930/31 (Not adopted)

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark VI

Heavier barrel. Two-piece h a n d g u a r d . Similar to later No. 4 Rifle.

Nov. 15, 1939 No. 4 Rifle, Mark I Development of No. 1 Rifle, Mark VI, but with s t r eng thened body.

Nov. 15, 1939 (Adopted 1939. Officially introduced Nov. 11 , 1946.)

No. 4 Rifle, Mark I* Alternative method of manufac ture to Mark I. Differs in body ribway, bol t-head catch, and bridge piece .

Feb. 12, 1942 No. 4 Rifle, Mark l(T) Mark I or Mark I* fitted with T e l e s c o p e No. 32 for sn ipers .

Mar. 3 1 , 1949 No. 4 Rifle, Mark II Trigger pivoted on body, and not hung on trigger guard .

Mar. 3 1 , 1949 No. 4 Rifle Mark I/2 Mark I conver ted to Mark II pat tern . Mar. 3 1 , 1 9 4 9 No. 4 Rifle Mark I/3 Mark I* conver ted to Mark II pat tern. Mar. 3 1 , 1949 No. 4 Rifle, Mark l/2(T) Mark I (T) with trigger pivoted on body. Sept . 1 2 , 1 9 4 4 No. 5 Rifle, Mark I A lightened No. 4 Rifle. A Mark II pattern w a s

m a d e but not p roduced . The re never w a s a Mark I*.

1946/47 No. 7 Rifle Similar to No. 4 Rifle, but fitted with cal. .22 barrel . I s sued to R.A.F.

Sept . 7, 1950 No. 8 Rifle Cal. .22 rifle. For Military Fo rces Sept . 7, 1950 No. 9 Rifle No. 4 Rifle fitted with cal. .22 tubed barre ls .

I ssued to Royal Navy.

E x p e r i e n c e in t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n c a m p a i g n led t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d u l t i m a t e a d o p t i o n in 1 9 0 2 of t h e S h o r t M a g a z i n e L e e - E n f i e l d ( S M L E ) , n o w k n o w n as t h e N o . I Rifle . S h o r t e r t h a n its p r e d e c e s s o r s , it w a s d e s i g n e d for u s e in all b r a n c h e s of t h e Br i t i sh A r m y a n d e v e n t u a l l y s u p e r s e d e d t h e m a n y t y p e s of c a r b i n e s in u s e .

In 1 9 1 0 a n e w rifle, m o d e l e d l a rge ly o n t h e M l 9 0 3 S p r i n g f i e l d , w a s d e v e l ­o p e d a t Enf i e ld , w h e r e 1 0 0 0 w e r e m a d e for t r o o p t r i a l s . I t s d e v e l o p m e n t w a s d e l a y e d by a m m u n i t i o n t r o u b l e s . By 1 9 1 4 t h e s e w e r e l a r g e l y o v e r c o m e a n d . b u t f o r t h e o u t b r e a k of w a r , it w o u l d p r o b a b l y h a v e g o n e i n t o full p r o d u c ­t i o n . It w a s d e s i g n e d fo r a c a l . . 2 7 6 r i m l e s s c a r t r i d g e b u t , d u r i n g t h e w a r , it w a s p r o d u c e d in l a r g e n u m b e r s in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s in c a l . . 3 0 3 Br i t i sh . It w a s k n o w n as t h e P a t t e r n 1 9 1 4 E n ­field Rif le , b u t is n o w k n o w n a s t h e N o . 3 Rif le .

W h e n w a r b r o k e o u t . t h e Enf ie ld f ac ­t o r y w a s f a c e d w i t h difficult p r o d u c t i o n p r o b l e m s . F o r t u n a t e l y it w a s e n g a g e d o n a h i g h o u t p u t b e f o r e t h e w a r , a n d m a c h i n e r y a n d w o r k s h o p s w e r e in e x ­c e l l e n t o r d e r a n d r e a d y fo r t h e i m m e d ­ia t e e x p a n s i o n w h i c h t o o k p l a c e . Be­t w e e n A u g u s t 1 9 1 4 a n d N o v e m b e r 1 9 1 8 o v e r 2 m i l l i o n S M L E rifles w e r e m a d e a n d m a n y o t h e r w e a p o n s w e r e r e p a i r e d o r m o d i f i e d .

Experiments continue

I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e w a r a m u c h s m a l l e r p r o d u c t i o n sat isf ied r e q u i r e ­m e n t s , b u t a g o o d d e a l of e x p e r i m e n t a l w o r k w a s c a r r i e d o u t in t h e f a c t o r y . T h i s i n c l u d e d d e v e l o p m e n t of 2 m o r e v e r s i o n s o f t h e S M L E , t h e M a r k V a n d t h e M a r k V I . B o t h w e r e p r o d u c e d in c o n s i d e r a b l e n u m b e r s fo r t r o o p t r i a l s , b u t n e v e r w e n t i n t o full p r o d u c t i o n .

O n t h e o u t b r e a k of W o r l d W a r I I , t h e last of t h e L e e - E n f i e l d rifles, t h e N o . 4 ( a d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e M a r k V I ) . w a s d i v o r c e d f r o m t h e Enf ie ld f a c t o r y a n d m a d e e l s e w h e r e . C a p a c i t y w a s t a k e n u p by t h e m a n u f a c t u r e a n d r e p a i r of t h e B r e n l ight m a c h i n e g u n , t h e c a l . .38 r e v o l v e r , t h e S t e n m a c h i n e c a r b i n e , a n d n u m e r o u s o t h e r w e a p o n s . O v e r 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 B r e n g u n s a n d n e a r l y 3 0 0 . 0 0 0 r e v o l v e r s w e r e p r o d u c e d a t Enf ie ld d u r ­ing t h e w a r p e r i o d .

Enf ie ld n o l o n g e r p r o d u c e s a w e a p o n w h i c h c a r r i e s its n a m e , a n d its ac t i v i t i e s a r e n o w l a r g e l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e p r o ­d u c t i o n of t h e c a l . 7 . 6 2 m m . s e l f - l o a d ­i n g rifle. T h e R o y a l S m a l l A r m s F a c t o r y is sti l l a b u s y p l a c e , b u t n o t so c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e Br i t i sh A r m y a s it w a s in t h e d a y s w h e n its t r a v e l i n g e x ­a m i n e r s p a i d r e g u l a r v is i t s t o u n i t s t o e x a m i n e a n d r e p a i r t h e i r a r m s . It still h a s m a n y l i n k s w i t h t h e B r i t i s h F o r c e s .

5

Rifle No . 4 M a r k I w a s b o t h d e ­s i g n e d a n d d e v e l o p e d a t t h e Royal S m a l l A r m s Fac to ry , En­field, b u t w a s m a s s p r o d u c e d a t o t h e r f a c t o r i e s in G r e a t Brit­a in , C a n a d a a n d t h e Un i t ed S t a t e s . It w a s a d o p t e d in No­v e m b e r 1 9 3 9 , a n d w a s c h a m ­b e r e d for t h e c a l . . 3 0 3 Bri t ish S e r v i c e c a r t r i d g e .

Rifle No . 5 ( J u n g l e C a r b i n e ) w a s a l s o d e s i g n e d a n d d e v e l o p e d a t t h e Royal S m a l l A r m s Fac to ry , Enfield. A l i g h t e n e d v e r s i o n of t h e No . 4 rifle with a s h o r t e r ba r r e l , it w a s f i t ted with a f l a s h h ide r , t h e only Lee-Enfield rifle with t h i s a c c e s s o r y .

No . 8 Infantry M o d e l ( u p p e r ) , c a l . . 2 2 rimfire t r a i n i n g rifle w a s d e v e l o p e d a t Enfield a n d intro­d u c e d in 1 9 5 0 . I ts s u c c e s s led t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d u s e of t h e Enfield "Envoy" ( lower) , a full b o r e rifle in 7 . 6 2 m m NATO.

S h o r t M a g a z i n e Lee-Enfield No . 1 M a r k VI c a l . . 3 0 3 e x p e r i m e n t a l rifle w a s n e v e r a d o p t e d , b u t b o t h p r o t o t y p e a n d t r o o p trial v e r s i o n s w e r e m a d e a t Enfield. T r o o p trial r if les f e a t u r e d a c h e c k e r e d fore-e n d . P r o t o t y p e s ( s h o w n ) did n o t a n d , e x c e p t for t h e m a g a z i n e cutoff a n d m a r k i n g d i s c o n t h e b u t t s t o c k , a r e n e a r l y i n d i s t i n g u i s h ­a b l e f rom l a t e r No. 4 r i f les .

C z e c h - d e s i g n e d BREN (Brno-Enfield) ca l . 3 0 3 light m a c h i n e g u n w e n t in to p r o d u c t i o n a t Enfield in 1 9 3 7 . After World W a r II m a n y w e r e c o n v e r t e d a t Enfield t o fire t h e 7 . 6 2 m m NATO c a r t r i d g e . C z e c h - d e s i g n e d BESA m a c h i n e g u n s w e r e a l s o m a d e a t Enfield for t h e Bri t ish Army.

P i s t o l , Revo lve r N o . 2 w a s in full p r o d u c ­t i o n a t Enfield d u r i n g World W a r II. Th i s c a l . . 3 8 r evo lve r s u p e r s e d e d t h e c a l . . 4 5 5 P i s t o l , Revo lve r in Bri t ish s e r v i c e .

Photos courtesy M.o.D. Pattern Room, Nottingham, England

THE PATTERN 1914

ENFIELD RIFLE Adopted by the British Army, this weapon became known for its accuracy but its service use was l imited

C a l . .276 1913 e x p e r i m e n t a l ca r t r idge ( r . ) wi th ca l . .303 British ca r t r idge for which Pa t ­t e r n 1914 Enfield Service rifle was a d a p t e d . By E. G. B. REYNOLDS

TH E P a t t e r n 1 9 1 4 Enf i e ld Ri f le , f a ­m i l i a r l y k n o w n a s t h e P . 14 , a n d in

B r i t i s h S e r v i c e n o m e n c l a t u r e as t h e N o . 3 Rif le , e n j o y s t h e d i s t i n c t i o n of b e i n g t h e o n l y rifle w i t h M a u s e r - t y p e a c t i o n e v e r a d o p t e d b y t h e B r i t i s h A r m y . I t s a c t u a l s e r v i c e , t h o u g h p a r t l y of a d i s ­t i n c t i v e n a t u r e , w a s v e r y l i m i t e d f o r s o e x c e l l e n t a w e a p o n .

W h e n t h e S h o r t M a g a z i n e L e e - E n ­field ( S M L E ) rifle w a s a p p r o v e d f o r t h e Br i t i sh S e r v i c e s in 1 9 0 2 , it m e t w i t h i n ­s t a n t o p p o s i t i o n , m o s t l y o n t h e g r o u n d s of i n a c c u r a c y . A l t h o u g h it p r o v e d itself a first-class S e r v i c e w e a p o n , o p p o s i t i o n p e r s i s t e d a n d a f ew y e a r s a f t e r its a d o p ­t i o n t h e G o v e r n m e n t D e s i g n D e p a r t ­m e n t a t t h e R o y a l S m a l l A r m s F a c t o r y a t Enf ie ld w a s c o n s i d e r i n g d e s i g n o f a rifle b a l l i s t i c a l l y m o r e eff ic ient .

I n A u g u s t 1 9 1 0 , t h e B r i t i s h W a r Of­fice d e c i d e d t h a t a n e w rifle w a s n e e d e d . T h e r e q u i r e m e n t w a s p u t t o t h e S m a l l

A r m s C o m m i t t e e , a b o d y of e x p e r t s i n ­c l u d i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of m a n u f a c t u r e , i n s p e c t i o n , a n d u s e r s of s m a l l a r m s a n d a m m u n i t i o n . O n S e p t . 2 , t h e f o l l o w i n g p o i n t s w e r e a g r e e d o n :

1. T h e rifle t o b e f o r C a v a l r y a n d I n f a n t r y .

2 . L e n g t h a n d w e i g h t a s n e a r a s p o s s i b l e t o t h e S M L E .

3 . A o n e - p i e c e s t o c k . 4 . A t r a p p e d b u t t p l a t e a s o n

S M L E . 5 . T h e n o s e c a p t o b e l i g h t e r , p r o ­

v i d i n g suf f ic ien t s u p p o r t f o r t h e b a y o n e t w a s a s s u r e d .

6 . H a n d g u a r d t o b e ful l l e n g t h o f b a r r e l .

7 . If p o s s i b l e , b a r r e l t o w e i g h 2 l b s . 14 o z s .

8 . R e c o i l a b o u t t h e s a m e a s S M L E . 9 . D e t a c h a b l e m a g a z i n e t o h o l d 10

r o u n d s . 10. C h a r g e r - l o a d i n g a n d n o cut -off .

1 1 . A c t i o n t o b e of M a u s e r t y p e . 1 2 . T o fire r i m l e s s c a r t r i d g e s . 1 3 . T r i g g e r t o b e d i r e c t l y c o n n e c t e d

t o b o d y of r i f le . 1 4 . S a f e t y - c a t c h t o o p e r a t e in b o t h

fired a n d c o c k e d p o s i t i o n s . 1 5 . S t r i k e r t o b e c o n t r o l l e d b y c o c k ­

i n g p i e c e . 1 6 . A p e r t u r e b a c k s i g h t , a n d d i a l s i g h t

f o r d i s t a n c e s b e y o n d 1 6 0 0 y d s .

I t w a s d e c i d e d t o m a k e u p a n e x p e r i ­m e n t a l rifle e m b o d y i n g as m a n y of t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s as p o s s i b l e , a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t w o r k w a s c a r r i e d o u t a t E n f i e l d . M e a n w h i l e , a n e w c a r t r i d g e in c a l . . 2 7 6 w a s b e i n g d e v e l o p e d a t W o o l ­w i c h A r s e n a l .

I t w a s i n t e n d e d t o s t o c k t h e n e w rifle o n t h e l i n e s o f t h e U . S. M l 9 0 3 S p r i n g f i e l d , a n d it w a s e v e n t u a l l y d e ­c i d e d t o a l t e r a S p r i n g f i e l d t o c o m p l y , a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e , w i t h t h e C o m m i t t e e ' s r e q u i r e m e n t s . A n u m b e r o f e x p e r i m e n -

7

Cal . .276 e x p e r i m e n t a l rifle issued for t r o o p tr ial in 1913 and identified by d i agona l g rooves on sides of s tock fo re -end . A to ta l of 1000 rifles was m a d e .

ta l rifles w a s p r e p a r e d s u b s e q u e n t l y f o r t r i a l s a t E n f i e l d a n d t h e S m a l l A r m s S c h o o l a t H y t h e , K e n t . A t t h e s a m e t i m e o t h e r p a t t e r n s w e r e p u t f o r w a r d fo r t r i a l , i n c l u d i n g 2 f r o m t h e B i r m i n g ­h a m S m a l l A r m s C o m p a n y , o n e o f w h i c h h a d a n i n c l i n e d b o l t , b u t t h e y w e r e n o t r e c o m m e n d e d . A s a r e s u l t of t h e t r i a l s a t E n f i e l d a n d H y t h e , it w a s d e c i d e d t o m a n u f a c t u r e 1 0 0 0 of t h e E n f i e l d p a t t e r n f o r t r o o p t r i a l s . A b i g p r o b l e m h a d still t o b e s o l v e d — e x c e s ­s ive m e t a l l i c f o u l i n g of t h e b a r r e l . I t s s e r i o u s n e s s c a n b e j u d g e d f r o m a S m a l l A r m s C o m m i t t e e m i n u t e d a t e d M a y 10 , 1 9 1 2 , w h i c h r e a d :

" T h e C o m m i t t e e d e s i r e t o p o i n t o u t t h a t n o c a r t r i d g e h a s y e t b e e n p r o d u c e d fo r t h e . 2 7 6 - i n . rifle w h i c h d o e s n o t g i v e s u c h m e t a l l i c f o u l i n g as t o q u i t e p r e ­c l u d e its b e i n g t r i e d by t h e t r o o p s in t h e 1 ,000 rif les a b o u t t o b e m a n u f a c t u r e d , a n d t h e C o m m i t t e e s ee l i t t le p r o s p e c t of a r r i v i n g a t a s a t i s f a c t o r y s o l u t i o n of t h e p r o b l e m b y t h e t i m e w h e n a d e c i ­s i o n as t o t h e c a r t r i d g e wi l l b e r e q u i r e d if t h e t r i a l o f 1 ,000 rif les b y t h e t r o o p s is t o b e c a r r i e d o u t n e x t y e a r . "

T h e C o m m i t t e e ' s o p i n i o n w a s t h a t t h e m a i n c a u s e of t h e f o u l i n g w a s t h e h i g h p r e s s u r e , c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e h i g h t e m p e r a t u r e of t h e C o r d i t e M . D . T . p r o ­p e l l e n t c h a r g e . C e r t a i n m o d i f i c a t i o n s t o t h e c a r t r i d g e w e r e p u t f o r w a r d .

Ammunition trials

V a r i o u s a m m u n i t i o n t r i a l s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t a t W o o l w i c h a n d H y t h e a n d , a l t h o u g h s o m e i m p r o v e m e n t w a s m a d e ba l l i s t i c a l l y a n d i n t h e r e d u c t i o n o f m e t a l l i c f o u l i n g , t h e c a r t r i d g e p r o v i d e d fo r t h e t r o o p t r i a l s w a s sti l l n o t e n t i r e l y s a t i s f a c t o r y in p e r f o r m a n c e .

T h e c a s e w a s r i m l e s s . O v e r - a l l c a r ­t r i d g e l e n g t h w a s 3 . 2 3 0 " . T h e 1 6 5 - g r . p o i n t e d b u l l e t h a d a l e a d - a n t i m o n y c o r e a n d w a s j a c k e t e d w i t h m i l d s t ee l p l a t e d w i t h c u p r o - n i c k e l . T h e 4 9 . 3 - g r . c h a r g e o f C o r d i t e M . D . T . g a v e a m u z z l e v e ­loc i t y of 2 7 8 5 f .p . s . ( f e e t p e r s e c o n d ) .

T h e t r i a l r if le, w h i c h f e a t u r e d a o n e -p i e c e s t o c k a n d i n t e g r a l 5 - r o u n d b o x m a g a z i n e , w e i g h e d 8 lbs . 11 o z s . a n d h a d a n o v e r - a l l l e n g t h of 4 6 . 3 " . T h e a c ­t i o n w a s of M a u s e r t y p e w i t h d u a l f r o n t l o c k i n g l ugs e n g a g i n g l o c k i n g r e c e s s e s w i t h i n t h e r e c e i v e r r i n g . T h e 2 6 " c a l . . 2 7 6 b a r r e l w e i g h e d 2 lbs . 15 o z s . a n d w a s r i f led w i t h left t w i s t a t t h e r a t e of o n e t u r n in 1 0 " . G r o o v e d e p t h w a s . 0 0 5 " . B a r r e l l a n d s a n d g r o o v e s w e r e . 0 8 5 3 " w i d e .

T h e a p e r t u r e - t y p e f o l d i n g lea f r e a r s i gh t w a s a d j u s t a b l e f o r e l e v a t i o n o n l y . T h e lea f w a s g r a d u a t e d f r o m 4 0 0 t o 1 9 0 0 y d s . T h e m o v a b l e s l i de c o n t a i n i n g t h e . 1 0 " a p e r t u r e l o c k e d i n t o d e t e n t s o n t h e r i g h t s i d e of t h e leaf . A f ixed . 1 0 " a p e r t u r e b a t t l e s i g h t f o r r a n g e s u p t o

6 0 0 y d s . w a s e x p o s e d w h e n t h e l ea f w a s t u r n e d d o w n . A d i a l s i g h t w a s f i t ted t o t h e left s i d e of t h e rif le f o r l o n g - r a n g e ' b a r r a g e ' f i r ing .

T h e 1 0 0 0 t r o o p - t r i a l r if les w e r e m a d e a t t h e R o y a l S m a l l A r m s F a c t o r y a n d , e a r l y in 1 9 1 3 , w e r e i s s u e d t o B r i t i s h t r o o p s in t h e A l d e r s h o t , S o u t h e r n , N o r t h e r n , a n d I r i s h C o m m a n d s , i n S o u t h A f r i c a a n d E g y p t , a n d t o t h e S m a l l A r m s S c h o o l ( t h e n c a l l e d t h e S c h o o l o f M u s k e t r y ) a t H y t h e . I n J u n e t h e t r i a l w a s s u s p e n d e d in t h e A l d e r s h o t C o m m a n d w h e n it w a s f o u n d t h a t t h e a m m u n i t i o n h a d a g r e a t h e a t i n g effect o n t h e r if le , a n d d a n g e r o u s p r e s s u r e s d e v e l o p e d if a r o u n d w a s left in a h e a t e d c h a m b e r f o r o n l y a s h o r t t i m e . T h e p r o g r a m w a s a m e n d e d s o t h a t r if les w e r e a l l o w e d t o c o o l a f t e r n o t m o r e t h a n 15 r o u n d s h a d b e e n f i red .

B e s i d e s t h e h e a t i n g e f fec t s , t h e r e ­p o r t s f r o m t h e C o m m a n d s c o n t a i n e d s e v e r a l s m a l l a d v e r s e c r i t i c i s m s , b u t g e n ­e r a l l y s p e a k i n g t h e rifle p e r f o r m e d w e l l a n d w a s p o p u l a r w i t h t h e t r o o p s . O n e c o m p l a i n t is of p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t in v i e w of s u b s e q u e n t e v e n t s . I t w a s t h a t t h e r e w a s a t e n d e n c y to p i c k u p s a n d in t h e m u z z l e w h e n l o a d i n g o n s a n d y so i l .

I n W o r l d W a r I I , w h e n t h e rifle ( t h e n t h e P . 1 4 ) w a s fo r a t i m e in g e n e r a l u s e in s e v e r a l u n i t s of t h e B r i t i s h A r m y , t h e r e w e r e m a n y i n s t a n c e s of sp l i t b a r ­r e l s d u e t o o b s t r u c t i o n s b e i n g p i c k e d u p in t h e p r o t r u d i n g m u z z l e d u r i n g t r a i n ­i n g . I n v e s t i g a t i o n o f m a n y d a m a g e d rifles s h o w e d a h i g h s u l p h u r a n d p h o s ­p h o r u s c o n t e n t in t h e s t ee l a s c a u s i n g a t e n d e n c y t o sp l i t w h e n a r o u n d w a s fired w i t h a n y s l i g h t o b s t r u c t i o n in t h e b o r e . T h e h i g h e s t p e r c e n t a g e o f sp l i t b a r r e l s w a s of E d d y s t o n e m a n u f a c t u r e .

T h e t r o o p t r i a l s w e r e f o l l o w e d b y a n

i n v e s t i g a t i o n of t h e r e p o r t s b y t h e S m a l l A r m s C o m m i t t e e a n d , a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of 1 9 1 4 , s ix r if les w e r e m a n u f a c t u r e d a t E n f i e l d t o a n i m p r o v e d d e s i g n . M o s t of t h e t r o u b l e s w e r e e a s i l y d e a l t w i t h , b u t t h e c o m p l a i n t of e x c e s s i v e f lash h a d n o e a s y s o l u t i o n . T h i s w a s r e p o r t e d t o b e v i s i b l e a t n i g h t f o r a m i l e , a n d a n a c ­c o m p a n y i n g l o u d r e p o r t w a s a l s o c o n ­s i d e r e d s e r i o u s . B a r r e l w e a r w a s a n o t h e r s e r i o u s p r o b l e m : a c c u r a c y w a s o f t e n b a d a f t e r o n l y 1 0 0 0 r o u n d s a n d w a s s e l d o m r e t a i n e d a f t e r 3 0 0 0 .

War ends experimentation

E x p e r i m e n t s w i t h n e w b a r r e l s t ee l s a n d n e w p r o p e l l e n t c h a r g e s w e r e b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t w h e n t h e s t a r t o f W o r l d W a r I p u t a n e n d t o m o s t of t h e m . P l a n s f o r t h e n e w rifle r e p l a c i n g t h e S M L E w e r e d r o p p e d . A r m i n g t h e r a p i d l y i n c r e a s i n g f i g h t i n g f o r c e s p r e s e n t e d a p r o b l e m w i t h w h i c h B r i t i s h a r m a m e n t m a n u f a c t u r i n g r e s o u r c e s c o u l d n o t c o p e , a n d B r i t a i n t u r n e d t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . U . S. m a n u ­f a c t u r e r s a g r e e d t o p r o d u c e t h e n e w B r i t i s h r i f le , w i t h c e r t a i n m o d i f i c a t i o n s , in c a l . . 3 0 3 B r i t i s h , a n d l a r g e o r d e r s w e r e p l a c e d w i t h t h e W i n c h e s t e r , R e m ­i n g t o n , a n d E d d y s t o n e firms.

O n J u n e 2 1 , 1 9 1 6 , t h e n e w rifle w a s off icial ly i n t r o d u c e d in t h e B r i t i s h S e r v ­ice as t h e P a t t e r n 1 9 1 4 E n f i e l d Rif le . It w a s fitted w i t h t h e P a t t e r n 1 9 1 3 S w o r d B a y o n e t M a r k I a n d w a s i s s u e d t o H o m e S e r v i c e u n i t s in G r e a t B r i t a i n . T h e s u p e r i o r a c c u r a c y of t h e P . 1 4 t o t h e S M L E as i s s u e d t o t h e S e r v i c e s w a s s o o n e s t a b l i s h e d , a n d it w a s d e c i d e d t o e q u i p a n u m b e r of t h e s e r i f les w i t h A l d i s offset a n d P a t t e r n 1 9 1 8 t e l e s c o p e s i g h t s a n d i s s u e t h e m t o s n i p e r s in t h e v a r i o u s t h e a t e r s of w a r . A h i g h s t a n d -

8

a r d of a c c u r a c y w a s o b t a i n e d w i t h t h i s e q u i p m e n t , a n d t h e y w o u l d h a v e b e e n of i n e s t i m a b l e v a l u e h a d t h e y b e e n a v a i l a b l e in t h e e a r l i e r y e a r s of t h e w a r . A f t e r t h e w a r , t h e y w e r e i s s u e d o n t h e sca l e of 8 t o a b a t t a l i o n o f i n f a n t r y .

I n 1 9 3 5 , t h e P . 1 4 e n t e r e d a n e w p h a s e of its h i s t o r y . I n t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m a n d B r i t i s h D o m i n i o n s , t h e S M L E h a d a c h i e v e d a b a d r e p u t a t i o n in t a r g e t - s h o o t i n g c i r c l e s f o r i n s t a b i l i t y o f a c c u r a c y . P a c k i n g , r e g u l a t i n g , a n d t h e u s e of s m a l l m e t a l p a r t s in r e s t o c k ­ing h a d p r o v e d p a l l i a t i v e s , b u t n o t c u r e s , a n d t h e W a r Office d e c i s i o n t o r e l e a s e a n u m b e r of P . 1 4 ' s f o r t a r g e t s h o o t i n g w a s g r e a t l y w e l c o m e d b y t h e N a t i o n a l Rifle A s s o c i a t i o n ( o f G r e a t B r i t a i n ) a n d its m e m b e r s . T h e P . 14 w h i c h w a s so ld t o m a r k s m e n f o r o n l y £ 3 , i m m e ­d i a t e l y b e c a m e p o p u l a r a n d fo r a t i m e g a i n e d a l m o s t u n i v e r s a l p r a i s e . U n f o r ­t u n a t e l y , m a n y w e r e s t o c k e d w i t h p o o r l y s e a s o n e d w o o d a n d , a f t e r a p e r i o d of s h o o t i n g a n d w e a t h e r i n g , t h e f o r e - e n d s w a r p e d , s o m e b e y o n d r e c t i f i c a t i o n .

Proper stocking method

D o u b t s r e g a r d i n g t h e c o n s i s t e n t a c ­c u r a c y of t h e rifle w e r e e x p r e s s e d a t t h e 1 9 3 6 Bis ley M e e t i n g , a n d a n i n v e s ­t i g a t i o n w a s c a r r i e d o u t b y t h e C h i e f I n s p e c t o r of S m a l l A r m s a t E n f i e l d . T h e t r o u b l e s w e r e n o t all d u e t o f a u l t y w o o d w o r k a n d it w a s f o u n d t h a t m a n y of t h e c o m p l a i n t s a r o s e f r o m rif les w h i c h h a d b e e n a d j u s t e d i n a m a n n e r c o n t r a r y t o t h e a c c e p t e d S e r v i c e m e t h o d o f s t o c k i n g . T h i s p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e a c ­t i o n s h o u l d b e s o b e d d e d t h a t t h e fo l ­l o w i n g p a r t s b e a r o n t h e s t o c k :

( a ) T h e r e a r f a c e o f t h e r e c o i l l u g . ( b ) T h e u n d e r s i d e o f t h e r e c e i v e r a t

t h e f r o n t a n d r e a r e n d s . ( c ) T h e b a r r e l r e i n f o r c e . ( d ) T h e b a r r e l a t t h e m u z z l e e n d

s h o u l d b e a r l i gh t ly a g a i n s t s t o c k w h e n r e c e i v e r a n d r e i n f o r c e b e a r ­i ngs h a v e b e e n c o r r e c t l y a d j u s t e d .

T h e i m p o r t a n t p a r t of c o r r e c t s t o c k ­i n g of t h e P . 14 is t h e b e d d i n g o f t h e a c t i o n . A l t e r n a t i v e m e t h o d s of s t o c k i n g a r e p e r m i t t e d f o r t a r g e t s h o o t i n g . T h e b a r r e l m a y b e c o m p l e t e l y f r e e a t t h e m u z z l e , t h e c l e a r a n c e b e i n g k e p t t o a m i n i m u m . A b e a r i n g m a y a l s o b e o b ­t a i n e d a b o u t 6 " f o r w a r d o f t h e r e c e i v e r by b u i l d i n g u p t h e f o r e - e n d a t t h i s p o i n t by a l i gh t m e t a l s h i m o r w o o d i n s e r t g l u e d in p o s i t i o n . W i t h t h i s m e t h o d t h e b a r r e l , f o r w a r d of t h e b e a r i n g , s h o u l d b e c l e a r of t h e w o o d w o r k .

W o r l d W a r I I h a d b e e n i n p r o g r e s s s e v e r a l m o n t h s b e f o r e t h e r e w a s a n y r e a l i n t e r e s t in t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f s n i p e r s b e i n g a g a i n r e q u i r e d . I n M a y 1 9 4 0 , a S n i p i n g W i n g of t h e S m a l l A r m s S c h o o l w a s f o r m e d a t B i s l e y , l a r g e l y o n t h e

i n i t i a t i v e o f M a j . G e n . S i r A l a n H u n t e r , t h e n S e c r e t a r y of t h e N a t i o n a l Rif le A s ­s o c i a t i o n ( o f G r e a t B r i t a i n ) . S n i p i n g w a s a l m o s t a los t a r t a n d its r e s t o r a t i o n c e n t e r e d a r o u n d t h e P . 1 4 , t h e o n l y s n i p i n g rifle t h e n i n t h e B r i t i s h A r m y . T h e P . 14 c o n t i n u e d i n t h i s r o l e u n t i l 1 9 4 2 , w h e n it w a s s u p e r s e d e d b y t h e N o . 4 Ri f le , M a r k I ( T ) . T h e P . 14 rif le, w i t h o u t a t e l e s c o p e , r e m a i n e d in t h e h a n d s of H o m e D e f e n c e f o r c e s t h r o u g h ­o u t t h e w a r .

I t is s a d t o r e c o r d t h a t s o fine a rifle a s t h e P . 14 s h o u l d h a v e r e c e i v e d s u c h u n f o r t u n a t e t r e a t m e n t as w a s a c c o r d e d t h i s a c c u r a t e w e a p o n a f t e r t h e w a r . M a n y t h o u s a n d s w e r e d u m p e d in O r d ­n a n c e D e p o t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m , a n d so c a r e l e s s l y w e r e m a n y of t h e m s t o r e d t h a t t h e y r a p i d l y d e ­t e r i o r a t e d i n t o s c r a p . E v e n t u a l l y a f e w w e r e s o l d t o rifle c l u b s b u t m o s t w e r e

b r o k e n u p a n d , in official j a r g o n , ' b r o u g h t t o p r o d u c e ' . T h u s t h e P . 14 w e n t t h e w a y o f m a n y w a r t i m e s t o r e s in t h e u r g e t o d e s t r o y a n d c l e a n u p , r e ­g a r d l e s s , w h i c h a l w a y s s e e m s t o f o l l o w in t h e w a k e o f a w a r .

T h e r e a r e sti l l s o m e m a r k s m e n w h o r e g a r d t h e P . 14 a s t h e m o s t a c c u r a t e B r i t i s h f u l l - b o r e r i f le , t h o u g h t h e n u m ­b e r s e e n o n B i s l ey r a n g e s is n o w c o m ­p a r a t i v e l y s m a l l l a r g e l y d u e t o t h e diffi­c u l t y of o b t a i n i n g r e p l a c e m e n t s f o r s h o t o u t b a r r e l s . W h e t h e r t h o s e t h a t h a v e s u r v i v e d wi l l e v e r b e c o n v e r t e d t o t a k e t h e 7 . 6 2 m m . N A T O c a r t r i d g e w h e n t h e t a r g e t - s h o o t i n g c h a n g e o v e r f r o m c a l . . 3 0 3 B r i t i s h t a k e s p l a c e is a m a t t e r f o r c o n j e c t u r e . If it is e v e n t u a l l y c o n v e r t e d , t h e P . 14 , t h o u g h l i m i t e d in n u m b e r s , c o u l d a g a i n b e c o m e a s e r i o u s c o n t e n d e r f o r m a j o r B r i t i s h a n d C o m ­m o n w e a l t h t a r g e t - s h o o t i n g h o n o r s . •

C lose-up of Pa t t e r n 1918 te lescope sight on P a t t e r n 1914 rifle.

Pa t t e rn 1914 Enfield Service rifle fitted wi th Ald i s offset t e lescope sight. T h i s sight h a s a lower s i lhoue t te than P a t t e r n 1918 sight . L a t e r a l ad jus tmen t is e m b o d i e d in the m o u n t i n g .

Photos courtesy M.o.D. Pattern Room, Nottingham, England 9

Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 1, Mark III Parts Legend 14. Sa fe ty s p r i n g 2 7 . M a g a z i n e c a t c h 4 0 . B u t t p l a t e 5 2 . E j ec to r s c r e w Parts Legend

15 . Sa f e ty s p r i n g s c r e w 2 8 . R e t a i n i n g 4 1 . B u t t p l a t e 5 3 . S t r i k e r s c r e w 1. Barrel 16 . B a c k t r i g g e r g u a r d s p r i n g s c r e w t r a p s p r i n g 54 . C o c k i n g p i e c e 2 . F o r e s i g h t b l a d e s c r e w 2 9 . S e a r s p r i n g 4 2 . B u t t p l a t e t r a p 5 5 . B r e e c h b o l t 3. I n n e r b a n d 17 . S t o c k bo l t p l a t e 3 0 . S e a r s p r i n g s c r e w 56 . M a i n s p r i n g 4. I n n e r b a n d s c r e w 18. Swivel s c r e w (3) 3 1 . T r igge r pin 4 3 . O u t e r b a n d 5 7 . S t r i k e r 5 . B a c k s i g h t a s s e m b l y 19. B u t t swivel b r a c k e t 3 2 . T r igge r 4 4 . Fo re -end s t u d s p r i n g 5 8 . B r e e c h b o l t h e a d 6. B a c k s i g h t p r o t e c t o r 2 0 . Swivel b r a c k e t 3 3 . F ron t t r i g g e r 4 5 . Fo re -end s t u d 59 . E x t r a c t o r s c r e w 7. B a c k s i g h t s c r e w (2) g u a r d s c r e w 4 6 . B a c k n o s e c a p s c r e w 6 0 . E x t r a c t o r

p r o t e c t o r s c r e w 2 1 . S l i n g swivel (2) 3 4 . T r igge r g u a r d 4 7 . P i l ing swivel 6 1 . E x t r a c t o r s p r i n g 8. Fo re -end co l l a r 2 2 . S t o c k bo l t w a s h e r 3 5 . M a g a z i n e 4 8 . N o s e c a p 6 2 . Cutoff 9 . P r o t e c t o r n u t 2 3 . S t o c k bo l t 3 6 . F ron t t r i gge r g u a r d 4 9 . N o s e c a p n u t 6 3 . Cutoff s c r e w

10 . Act ion body 2 4 . S t o c k bo l t wad s c r e w b u s h i n g 5 0 . F ron t n o s e 6 4 . B u t t s t o c k 1 1 . Sa f e ty c a t c h ( l e a the r ) 3 7 . B u t t p l a t e t r a p c a p s c r e w 6 5 . Fo re -end 12 . Lock ing bo l t 2 5 . M a g a z i n e c a t c h p in 3 8 . B u t t p l a t e t r a p pin 5 1 . I n n e r b a n d 6 6 . R e a r h a n d g u a r d 1 3 . Sa fe ty c a t c h w a s h e r 2 6 . R e t a i n i n g s p r i n g 3 9 . B u t t p l a t e s c r e w (2) s c r e w s p r i n g 6 7 . F ron t h a n d g u a r d

TH E c a l . . 3 0 3 B r i t i s h S h o r t M a g a z i n e L e e - E n f i e l d Ri f le , M a r k I I I w a s a p ­

p r o v e d f o r t h e B r i t i s h S e r v i c e o n J a n . 2 6 , 1 9 0 7 . I t w a s a n e v o l u t i o n a r y d e v e l ­o p m e n t of t h e S h o r t M a g a z i n e L e e -E n f i e l d Ri f le , M a r k I , w h i c h w a s a d o p t e d o n D e c . 2 3 , 1 9 0 2 .

T h e M a r k I I I v e r s i o n is d i m e n s i o n a l l y s i m i l a r t o t h e e a r l i e r M a r k I b u t is h e a v i e r . I t w e i g h s 8 l b s . 10Vi o z s . a s a g a i n s t 8 l b s . 2Vi o z s . f o r t h e M a r k I . ( T h e w e i g h t s g i v e n d o n o t i n c l u d e t h e b a y o n e t . )

T h e M a r k I I I is f i t ted w i t h a m a g a ­z i n e cu to f f s o t h a t c o n t e n t s o f t h e 1 0 -s h o t d e t a c h a b l e b o x m a g a z i n e c o u l d b e h e l d i n r e s e r v e w h i l e t h e rifle w a s u s e d as a s i n g l e - l o a d e r . T h e r e c e i v e r o r b o d y is fitted w i t h a b r i d g e - t y p e c h a r g e r g u i d e w i t h s lo t s s l o p e d t o t h e f r o n t s o t h a t t h e e m p t y c h a r g e r is a u t o m a t i c a l l y e j e c t e d f r o m t h e c h a r g e r g u i d e as t h e b o l t is c l o s e d .

T h e U - n o t c h r e a r s i g h t is fu l ly a d ­j u s t a b l e f o r w i n d a g e a n d e l e v a t i o n . T h e f r o n t s igh t is o f s q u a r e - b l a d e P a t r i d g e -t y p e . A n a d d i t i o n a l d i a l s i g h t a r r a n g e ­m e n t is p r o v i d e d f o r l o n g - r a n g e firing. T h i s is a c a r r y - o v e r f r o m t h e M a r k I .

T h e r e w e r e m a n y c h a n g e s m a d e i n e s t a b l i s h i n g s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r t h e M a r k I I I r if le, a n d t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d in a d e ­t a i l e d h i s t o r y o f t h i s a n d o t h e r B r i t i s h L e e - E n f i e l d S e r v i c e r i f les a r e r e f e r r e d t o t h e b o o k e n t i t l e d The Lee-Enfield Rifle b y M a j . E . G . B . R e y n o l d s .

I n M a y 1 9 2 6 , B r i t i s h S e r v i c e rif les w e r e r e d e s i g n a t e d b y n u m b e r , a n d t h e Shor t . M a g a z i n e L e e - E n f i e l d Ri f le , M a r k I I I , b e c a m e t h e Rif le N o . 1, M a r k I I I .

1 0

No. 4 Rifle Disassembly

1 C o m m e n c e d isassembly by first re ­moving magaz ine ( 3 5 ) and then ro ta t ­

ing b reechbo l t ( 5 5 ) coun te rc lockwise and wi thdrawing r e a r w a r d as far as it will go . Disengage b reechbo l t h e a d ( 5 8 ) f rom re­ta in ing spr ing ( 2 6 ) by ro ta t ing it as shown . It will d isengage wi th an audib le click. W i t h d r a w bol t f rom act ion b o d y (10)

rows r e spec t i ve ly ) . Lift a w a y t r igger g u a r d ( 3 4 ) . R e m o v e back and f ront nose c a p screws ( 4 6 and 50 respec t ive ly) a n d pull nose c a p ( 4 8 ) f o r w a r d off rifle. R e m o v e inner b a n d screw ( 4 ) , a n d swivel screw ( 1 8 ) f rom ou te r b a n d ( 4 3 ) . O p e n and lift a w a y ou t e r b a n d . F r o n t h a n d g u a r d ( 6 7 ) , fore-end ( 6 5 ) , a n d r ea r h a n d g u a r d ( 6 6 ) m a y n o w be r e m o v e d in tha t o r d e r

2 Disassemble b reechbo l t by r e m o v i n g C R e m o v e re t a in ing spr ing sc rew ( 2 8 , s t r iker screw ( 5 3 ) , and then unsc rew- ^ left a r r o w ) a n d lift a w a y r e t a in ing

ing b reechbo l t head f rom the o t h e r end spr ing ( 2 6 ) , sear ( 3 0 ) , a n d sear spr ing of the b reechbo l t ( 2 9 ) . Dr i f t ou t m a g a z i n e ca t ch pin ( 2 5 ,

r ight a r r o w ) , r e m o v e m a g a z i n e ca t ch ( 2 7 )

3 T o r e m o v e s t r iker ( 5 7 ) , it is necessa ry t o have an Enfield bol t s t r ipp ing

wrench o r improv ise one as shown us ing a % " O . D . brass t ube a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6" long. F i le 2 oppos ing keys o r n o t c h e s in one end of tube and affix w o o d e n ball on o the r end to serve as h a n d l e . Dr i l l t h r o u g h h a n d l e a n d tube wi th Vs" dril l and insert pin to p reven t s l ippage. Inse r t tool in to front end of b reechbo l t unt i l no tches en­gage co r r e spond ing no tches in s t r iker col­lar . U n s c r e w s t r iker f rom cock ing piece ( 5 4 ) m a i n t a i n i n g s teady i n w a r d p ressure t o p reven t ma insp r ing ( 5 6 ) f r o m expel l ing s t r iker w h e n it b e c o m e s fully unsc rewed from cock ing piece

6 S h o u l d r e m o v a l of bu t t s tock ( 6 4 ) be ­c o m e necessary , o p e n bu t t p l a t e t r a p

( 3 7 ) a n d wi th a p iece of b e n t w i re fish ou t l ea the r s tock bol t w a d ( 2 4 ) . Inse r t long, squa re s h a n k e d sc rewdr ive r a n d en­gage slot in s tock bol t ( 2 3 ) . W h i l e app ly­ing d o w n w a r d p ressure , p l ace a n a p p r o ­pr ia te ly sized o p e n - e n d w r e n c h aga ins t s c rewdr ive r shank a n d t u r n ou t s tock bol t . A smal l quan t i t y of p e n e t r a t i n g oil m a y aid this o p e r a t i o n as the bol ts a re of ten rus ted in. R e a s s e m b l e rifle in reverse •

/ want to remove the extractor spring from my British .303, No. 4 rifle so that I can clean inside the extractor slot on the bolt head. How is this spring removed from the rifle?

A n s w e r : M a k e sure that the rifle is un­loaded, and r e m o v e the bolt. T h e m c l amp the bol t in a padded vise and insert a drift punch of less than 0 .04" d i ame te r into the small hole in the s ideward project ion of the bolt head . Press the punch inward against the ex t rac to r spr ing and push the spr ing for­ward , out of the bolt head us ing a sc rewdr iver . Hold a finger over the extractor slot whi l e do ing this to p reven t loss of the spr ing. In r eas sembly , s imply push the spr ing into the ex t rac tor slot until the small project ion on the spr ing e n g a g e s in its seat in the bolt head.

T h e s e ins t ruct ions a l so apply to the N o . I , rifle. — L .O .

Punch is inserted through the hole (a) in the bolt head. Extractor spring (b) is of V type.

LEE-ENFIELD BOLT TAKEDOWN Shooters examin ing the British .303 Lee-

Enfield rifle soon find t h e bo l t head can b e unscrewed by h a n d from t h e bol t body , b u t r ema in ing disassembly is no t so easy.

T h e Lee-Enfield firing pin is screwed into t h e cocking piece a n d is r emoved from the front . W i t h t h e bo l t head off, look in to t h e front of t h e bo l t a n d n o t e the 2 no tches on oppos i t e sides of t h e firing pin shoulder , a b o u t 1" back from t h e po in t . T h e s e pro-

LEE-ENFIELD BOLT HEADS

vide m e a n s for grasping t h e firing pin w i th t h e necessary tool , wh ich is n o t ha rd to m a k e . T h e p ic ture shows t h e bo l t of t h e N o . 1 rifle, a n d t h a t of t h e N o . 4 rifle is practically ident ical .

T o disassemble, t u rn t h e cocking piece to t h e lower of t h e 2 no tches in the bol t ( th is takes a lmos t all compress ion off t h e firing pin s p r i n g ) . R e m o v e t h e firing pin locking screw in t h e rear face of t h e cocking piece. T u r n ou t t h e firing pin from t h e front , w i th t h e tool s h o w n . — E . H . H .

I I

SLfl IhreaJ J

R e m o v i n g the firing p in f rom a . 3 0 3 Lee-Enfield rifle bol t o rd ina r i ly re­qui res a special too l . T o r e m o v e pin with c o m m o n tools , unsc rew bol t head and r e m o v e lock screw ( 1 ) in cock­ing piece . T h e n pull cock ing p iece ( 2 ) back and tu rn it t o r ight to lock it back . H o l d cock ing piece in w r e n c h o r vise, a n d u n s c r e w firing p in wi th se l f -c lamping pl iers g rasped at ( 3 ) . In reassembl ing , p u s h firing pin r e a r w a r d against m a i n s p r i n g with % " dowel which h a s ho le dr i l led in end to c l ea r firing pin t i p . — W . E D W A R D H A Y

F o r the necessa ry r e i n f o r c e m e n t of r e a r ends of Lee-E n f i e l d s p o r t e r fore-ends I fo rm a s taple of Va " sp r ing wi re as s h o w n and dr ive it i n t o p lace . I n l e t Vs" t o a c ­c o m m o d a t e h e a d

/ of s t a p l e . — T H O M A S ' 2 E . S I S S O N

Double F Marked SMLE

/ have a British Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle (SMLE) which is dated 1918 and was, according to its previous owner, issued in England after the Dunkirk evacuation. The buttstock is a replace­ment, and the original and still legible serial number has been struck through with a new number stamped above it. With the new number, on barrel and receiver ring, is a capital F superimposed on another capital F and enclosed in a circle.

After considerable research, I can find no reference to the double-F-in-a-circle marking. Can you tell me its significance?

Answer: W h e n t h e R e p u b l i c of I r e l a n d o r g a n i z e d its a r m y in 1 9 2 3 , m u c h of its e q u i p m e n t , i n c l u d i n g S M L E rifles, w a s o b t a i n e d f r o m E n g l a n d . W h e n t h e rifles were rece ived , t h e I r i sh p l aced t h e i r o w n iden t i f i ca t ion m a r k o n t h e m a n d c r o s s e d o u t t h e o r i g i n a l ser ia l n u m b e r s , r e p l a c i n g t h e m wi th n e w n u m b e r s .

T h e m a r k of " F F " w i t h i n a c i rc le is t h e R e p u b l i c of I r e l a n d A r m y p r o p e r t y m a r k . " F . F . " signifies " F i a n n a F a i l . " " F i a n n a " is

Lee-Speed Rifle A British army rifle in my collection is

marked Lee-Speed. The Speed marking seems appropriate for the Lee since it can be operated faster than most bolt-action rifles. However, 1 lack proof that the marking has reference to fast operation, and would ap­preciate information on the subject.

A n s w e r : T h e w o r d " s p e e d " is ap ­propr ia te in connec t ion wi th the L e e rifle, but has reference to a co -deve lope r of the a rm ra ther than rapidi ty of opera t ion . Mr . Jo seph Speed w a s the Ass is tan t M a n a g e r (later, the m a n a g e r ) of the Roya l Smal l A r m s Factory at Enfield Lock in the 1880s, and deve loped the m a g a z i n e cutoff, two-p iece s tock, and several o ther mechan ica l features of British Lee rifles. T h e Lee -Speed mark ­ing appeared on s o m e early long Lee rifles, and especia l ly on spec imens in tended for the c o m m e r c i a l marke t . — L .O .

Mk IV SMLE Rifle In what way was the Mk IV British SMLE

improved over the Mk III? The only dif­ferences I can see in these rifles are that the Mk IV has no marking disc on the stock, and its buttplate tang is longer than that of the Mklll.

Answer : T h e M k IV is not an improved S M L E , but s imply an early long Lee rifle conver ted to con fo rm to the pat tern of the M k III. S ince it is a conver t ed a rm and the m o d e l fo l lowing the M k III, it is cal led C o n ­ver ted, M k IV.

T h e long but tp la te tang and lack of a m a r k i n g disc are charac ter is t ic of the long Lee rifles from wh ich M k IVs were con ­ver ted. T h e but tp la te tang was used for or­ganiza t ional m a r k i n g s and served the same purpose as a m a r k i n g disc . — L .O .

t h e n a m e of a n a n c i e n t m i l i t a r y o r g a n i z a ­t i o n f o r m i n g w h a t t h e n c o r r e s p o n d e d t o t h e s t a n d i n g a r m y of t h e c o u n t r y ; " F a i l " m e a n s " d e s t i n y . " O n e of t h e a n c i e n t n a m e s of I r e l a n d w a s " I n n i s f a i l " ( T h e Isles of D e s t i n y ) a n d " F i a n n a F a i l " t h u s signif ies t h e " F i a n n a ( o r a r m y ) of D e s t i n y , " o r it m a y b e r e n d e r e d a s " T h e F i a n n a ( o r a r m y ) of I r e l a n d . "

T h e a b o v e i n f o r m a t i o n w a s o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e R e p u b l i c of I r e l a n d A r m y .

A s t h e Br i t i sh A r m y lost m u c h e q u i p ­m e n t a t D u n k i r k , rifles w e r e o b t a i n e d a n y w h e r e t h e y c o u l d b e f o u n d , a n d t h e y p r o b a b l y g o t a lo t of t h e o l d e r d a t e d rifles f r o m t h e I r i sh A r m y . — C . H . Y . , J r .

Compensation / have read that the .303 Lee-Enfield

rifle is 'compensated', which improves the accuracy of the rifle at long range. What is this compensation?

A n s w e r : B r i t i s h l o n g - r a n g e t a r g e t s h o o t e r s n o t i c e d m a n y y e a r s a g o t h a t t h e .303 M a r k I I I S M L E rifle a n d .303 M a r k V I I a m m u n i t i o n g a v e l e s s v e r t i c a l d i s ­p e r s i o n o n 9 0 0 - y d . a n d 1000-yd . t a r g e t s t h a n w o u l d b e e x p e c t e d f r o m t h e v e l o c i t y v a r i a t i o n o f t h e a m m u n i t i o n . T h i s w a s e x p l a i n e d a s d u e t o t h e rifle d e l i v e r i n g s h o t s o f a b o v e - n o r m a l m u z z l e v e l o c i t y a t a l o w e r a n g l e o f d e p a r t u r e t h a n s h o t s o f l o w m u z z l e v e l o c i t y ( t h e r e is a l w a y s s o m e s h o t - t o - s h o t v a r i a t i o n in v e l o c i t y ) . T h i s u n i n t e n t i o n a l ' c o m p e n s a t i o n ' in d e ­s ign o f t h e rifle a n d i t s m a t i n g t o t h e a m m u n i t i o n t h u s r e s u l t e d a d v a n t a ­g e o u s l y in l o n g - r a n g e s h o o t i n g .

T h i s m a t t e r r e c e i v e d a g r e a t d e a l o f d i s c u s s i o n a m o n g B r i t i s h C o m m o n ­w e a l t h s h o o t e r s , a n d o n a d o p t i o n o f t h e . 303 N o . 4 r i f le , t h e L e e - E n f i e l d w h i c h w a s s t a n d a r d d u r i n g W o r l d W a r I I , t h e s u b j e c t w a s b r o u g h t u p a g a i n . S e v e r a l e x p e r i m e n t s w e r e m a d e t o e s t a b l i s h t h e e x i s t e n c e a n d a c t u a l a m o u n t o f c o m p e n ­s a t i o n , b u t t h e y w e r e n o t c a r r i e d t o a c o n c l u s i v e r e s u l t . I n f o r m a t i o n o n c o m ­p e n s a t i o n in t h e M a r k I I I rifle w a s g i v e n in t h e B r i t i s h Textbook of Small Arms 1929, n o w o u t o f p r i n t ; a n d fo r t h e N o . 4 rifle in t h e b o o k The Lee-Enfield Rifle b y M a j . E . G . B . R e y n o l d s .

N o w it a p p e a r s t h a t s u c h a n e f fec t m a y e x i s t t o s o m e d e g r e e in m a n y r i f les . S h o u l d e r r i f les o f u s u a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n suf­fe r b e n d i n g b y t h e s t r e s s e s o f d i s c h a r g e , a n d s e l d o m d e l i v e r t h e i r b u l l e t s in t h e n e a r l y i n v a r i a b l e d i r e c t i o n g i v e n b y h e a v y t e s t b a r r e l s in s l i d i n g m o u n t s . T e s t o f a l a r g e s a m p l e o f U . S . M 1 4 rif les s h o w e d t h a t t h e y g a v e t h i s e f fec t c o n s i s t e n t l y a n d in a d i r e c t i o n t o i m p r o v e t h e i r l o n g - r a n g e v e r t i c a l d i s p e r s i o n . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , if m a n y m o d e l s a n d t y p e s o f r i f les w e r e i n v e s t i g a t e d it m i g h t b e f o u n d t h a t s o m e g i v e it a n u n f a v o r a b l e d i r e c t i o n — t h a t i s , h i g h - v e l o c i t y r o u n d s m i g h t b e d e l i v e r e d a t a h i g h e r a n g l e o f e l e v a t i o n t h a n l o w -v e l o c i t y r o u n d s , w i t h r e s u l t i n g v e r y u n ­f a v o r a b l e e f fec t o n t h e s h o o t i n g a c c u ­r a c y . S i n c e n o s u c h b r o a d i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e m a t t e r e v e r h a s b e e n m a d e , t h e p r o p o r t i o n o f f a v o r a b l e a n d u n f a v o r a b l e s i t u a t i o n s w h i c h e x i s t is n o t k n o w n .

T h e m e c h a n i s m o f t h i s c o m p e n s a t i n g ( o r m u t u a l l y r e i n f o r c i n g ) a c t i o n o f j u m p a n d d r o p is e x p l a i n e d in d e t a i l in t h e a r t i c l e " D i s p e r s i o n A n d R a n g e " in t h e S e p t e m b e r 1962 i s s u e o f T H E A M E R I C A N R I F L E M A N . T h e r e a r e n o f u r t h e r a u t h o r ­i t a t i v e a v a i l a b l e r e f e r e n c e s k n o w n .

It m i g h t a p p e a r a t t r a c t i v e t o d e s i g n a t a r g e t rifle i n t e n t i o n a l l y t o p r o v i d e v a r i ­a t i o n . T h e r e h a s b e e n n o t h o r o u g h a t ­t e m p t t o d o s o fo r a n y n o n - m i l i t a r y w e a p o n . It w o u l d b e a c o n s i d e r a b l e u n ­d e r t a k i n g , a n d e v e n if s u c c e s s f u l t h e d e s i r e d a c t i o n c o u l d b e c o u n t e d o n o n l y w i t h e x a c t l y t h a t d e s i g n a n d c o n s t r u c ­t i o n o f rifle a n d a m m u n i t i o n . — E . H . H .

12

0* .303 Rifle No. 5, Mk I — or "jungle carbine."

303 Jungle Carbine Can you identify the following military

rifle? Its markings are: England 1147 No. 5 Mk I (F) .303 " 2.22" 18.5 tons Serial Number beginning with "Z" Some cartridges with it are .303 British.

Answer : This is the Rifle N o . 5, M k I, a modif ied form of the Rifle N o . 4 which w a s the British infantry rifle of W o r l d W a r II. The mark ings indicate the cal iber , the length of the car t r idge case , and the service p res ­sure in long tons per square inch as measu red by the Brit ish base c rusher method . A m m u n i t i o n was the s tandard .303 Ball Car t r idge , M k VII .

The No . 5 had the s a m e act ion as the N o . 4 , the final form of the Lee-Enf ie ld , but the N o . 5 was a shor tened and l ightened m o d e l

in tended for j u n g l e use . T h e barrel w a s shor tened to 18.75" and equ ipped wi th a bayone t stud and short conical flash hider , the fore-end was shor tened and the front handgua rd r emoved , and the butt w a s equ ipped with a small recoil pad . T h e piece w a s c o m m o n l y called the j u n g l e carb ine . It is repor ted to have been popu la r wi th the t roops in that role despi te a ra ther heavy recoi l . By the end of 1944, 50 ,000 had been accepted for service. It was dec lared o b ­solete in Ju ly 1947 . T h u s only a l imited n u m b e r were p r o d u c e d and the rifle is c o m ­parat ively scarce .

O n e reason for its obso le t ion w a s a t roub le some defect , a " w a n d e r i n g z e r o " wh ich m a d e it difficult to k e e p the rifle cor­rectly s ighted. M u c h w o r k w a s d o n e in an effort to e l imina te this p r o b l e m but even tua l ­ly it w a s c o n c l u d e d that the defect was an in­herent one . — C.R .S .

Cord-Wrapped SMLE While stationed in England during World

War II, I saw some British SMLE rifles with cord-wrapped forearms. There was wrap­ping around forearm and handguard just he-hind the nosecap and also between the lower band and the receiver. Only a few of the many SMLE rifles I observed were so wrapped, and I wonder why it was done.

Answer : W r a p p i n g of S M L E forearms with whipcord or copper wire was done to reinforce rifles for g renade l aunch ing . T h e pract ice was inst i tuted in W o r l d W a r I as a m e a n s of using rifles that we re badly worn and general ly not repairable short of rebui ld­ing. The orignial intent was that s tandard-issue rifles would be used for g renade launching in the field, and " s t r e n g t h e n e d " rifles would be used for t raining only , and

not fired with Ball car t r idges excep t in emer ­gency . Rifles in this t ra ining ca tegory are m a r k e d " E . Y . " on the barrel re inforce and on the s tock.

In Aus t ra l ian and Indian prac t ice , rifles in tended for front line serv ice were rout inely adap ted for g renade l aunch ing by w r a p p i n g the fore-ends wi th wi re or cord , and these rifles saw m u c h use dur ing Wor ld W a r II. Indian rifles, par t icular ly , m a y be found wi th an addi t ional re inforcement , a w o o d screw t ransverse th rough the fore-end jus t ahead of the front t r igger guard screw.

S o m e U .S . M 1 9 1 7 rifles in Bri t ish use and Pat tern 14 Enfield rifles were s imi lar ly wrapped , but with c o p p e r or ga lvan ized steel wire instead of wh ipcord . Pistol gr ips as well as fore-ends of these latter Enfield rifles were wrapped , and steel re inforcement p la tes connec ted into the top and bo t tom of the pis­tol gr ip . — L .O .

Mark V SMLE In what way does the British Mk V Short

Magazine Lee-Enfield differ from earlier models of the SMLE? This rifle is mentioned in the 1929 edition of the British Army's T e x t b o o k of Smal l A r m s , but a detailed description, and illustrations, are lacking.

Answer : The M k V (officially the Rifle, Short , Magaz ine , Lee-Enf ie ld M a r k V) dif­fers from preced ing mode l s of the S M L E in that it has an aper ture rear sight and a rein­forcing band at the rear of the nosecap . T h e sight is located at the rear of the rece iver in s imilar fashion to that of the Brit ish Pat tern 14 (No . 3) and U .S . M o d e l 1917 Enfield rifles. The idea for the reinforcing band was

apparent ly taken from the N o r w e g i a n M o d e l 1912 Krag ca rb ine , and this c o m p o n e n t facili tates recogni t ion of the a rm. T h e 1929 Bri t ish T e x t b o o k of Smal l A r m s desc r ibes this rifle as hav ing a one-p iece h a n d g u a r d , but the handgua r d of a spec imen avai lab le for examina t i on is of the two-p iece type .

D e v e l o p m e n t of the M k V was p r o m p t e d by bat t le exper i ence of W o r l d W a r I, and a relat ively small n u m b e r were p r o d u c e d in the 1920s for test pu rposes . It was super­seded by the M k VI S M L E , a l imited-produc t ion m o d e l wh ich was the direct forerunner of the Rifle N o . 4, a pr incipal shoulder a rm of Brit ish forces dur ing W o r l d W a r II. Due to the small n u m b e r p roduced , the M k V is one of the rarest of the S M L E rifles, and a cho ice co l l ec to r ' s i tem. — L .O .

L E E - E N F I E L D C A R B I N E N a m e : Lee-Enfield Carbine

M o d e l : Mark I

M a n u f a c t u r e r : British Government Armory at Enfield

C a l i b e r & C a r t r i d g e : .303 British

Barre l L e n g t h : 20%"

O v e r a l l L e n g t h : 39-5/16"

W e i g h t ( E m p t y ) : 7 lbs. 7 ozs.

F i n i s h : Blued

M a g a z i n e : 7-shot, removable box

S t o c k : 3-piece plain wood

Rif l ing: Enfield type, 5-groove, left-hand, I turn in 10".

B o r e D i a m e t e r : .303"

G r o o v e D i a m e t e r : .316"

S i g h t s : Fixed blade front with wing guards. V notch rear, adjustable elevation to 2,000 yds. with leather cover protector.

M a r k i n g : Left-hand side of butt socket: Crown over V R EN­FIELD 1896 L. E. C. I

R e m a r k s : T h i s L e e -E n f i e l d c a r b i n e w a s of f ic ia l ly a d o p t e d b y t h e B r i t i s h W a r Office in 1 8 9 6 , r e p l a c i n g t h e L e e - M e t f o r d c a r b i n e o f 1 8 9 4 . T h e g u n is s i m i l a r t o t h e L e e -M e t f o r d M a r k 11* R i ­fle a n d L e e - E n f i e l d M a r k I a n d M a r k I * Rif les e x c e p t f o r a s h o r t e r b a r r e l , w o o d h a n d g u a r d , w i n g e d f r o n t s i g h t , a n d t h e o m i s s i o n o f t h e l o n g -r a n g e r e a r s i g h t .

T h i s c a r b i n e w a s is­s u e d e s p e c i a l l y fo r t h e u s e o f c a v a l r y u n i t s a n d w a s g r a d u a l l y r e ­p l a c e d in t h e B r i t i s h S e r v i c e a f t e r D e c . 2 3 , 1 9 0 2 , t h e d a t e m a r k ­i n g t h e off icial a p p r o v ­a l o f t h e S h o r t M a g a ­z i n e L e e - E n f i e l d M a r k I Rif le . T h e l a t t e r w e a p o n w a s a d e s i g n fo r u s e of b o t h c a v a l r y a n d i n f a n t r y . — H . P . W H I T E L A B O R A T O R Y .

1 3

THE NO. 4 RIFLE MARK 1 (T) Development and modif ications of a British Service arm for snipers

X M M E D I A T E L Y f o l l o w i n g W o r l d W a r I , t h e B r i t i s h W a r Office S m a l l A r m s

C o m m i t t e e s p e n t m u c h t i m e a n d t h o u g h t o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f a n e w rif le . T h e r e w e r e d i f f e r e n c e s of o p i n i o n a s t o w h e t h e r t h e p r o p o s e d n e w a r m s h o u l d h a v e a u t o m a t i c l o a d i n g , b o l t - a c t i o n w i t h f o r w a r d l o c k i n g , o r w h e t h e r t h e L e e a c ­t i o n s h o u l d b e r e t a i n e d .

I t w a s d e c i d e d t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e n o r e d u c t i o n in c a l i b e r , a s s e e m e d l i ke ly b e f o r e t h e w a r , a n d t h a t a n a p e r t u r e r e a r s i gh t w o u l d b e u s e d . I t w a s a l s o a g r e e d t h a t t h e s t a n d a r d of a c c u r a c y s h o u l d b e a t l ea s t a s g o o d as t h a t o f t h e P a t t e r n 14 r if le .

L a r g e l y o n t h e g r o u n d s of e c o n o m y , effor ts w e r e d e v o t e d t o d e s i g n i n g a p a t ­t e r n t o w h i c h t h e e x i s t i n g S e r v i c e r i f le , t h e S h o r t M a g a z i n e L e e - E n f i e l d , c o u l d b e m o d i f i e d .

M a n u f a c t u r i n g d i f f icu l t ies in t i m e s o f e m e r g e n c y h a d t o b e c o n s i d e r e d a n d it w a s e v e n t u a l l y d e c i d e d t o d e s i g n a n e w

By MAJ. E. G. B. REYNOLDS

rifle o n t h e S . M . L . E . p a t t e r n w h i c h w o u l d l e n d i tself t o m a s s p r o d u c t i o n a n d w o u l d e m b o d y t h e n e w r e q u i r e m e n t s .

T h e u l t i m a t e r e s u l t w a s t h e rifle k n o w n as t h e N o . 1 M a r k V I ( F i g . 1 ) . T h e b e s t f e a t u r e s , b a s e d o n w a r t i m e e x ­p e r i e n c e s , of t h e N o . 1 ( S . M . L . E . ) rifle w e r e r e t a i n e d . I m p r o v e m e n t s i n c l u d e d a st i ffer . h e a v i e r b a r r e l t o g i v e a h i g h s t a n d a r d of a c c u r a c y s u i t a b l e fo r s n i p ­i n g , a s m a l l e r a n d l i g h t e r n o s e - c a p , a n d a n e x p o s e d m u z z l e o n w h i c h a b a y o n e t c o u l d b e f i t ted . A n a p e r t u r e r e a r s i gh t e m b o d y i n g a f ixed o r b a t t l e s i gh t f o r r a n g e s u p t o 4 0 0 y d s . w a s f i t ted . R e ­c e i v e r a n d b o l t - h e a d w e r e m a d e m o r e c o m p a c t a n d of c l e a n e r d e s i g n , t o s a v e w e i g h t a n d r e d u c e t h e l i ab i l i t y t o c a t c h c l o t h i n g a n d e q u i p m e n t . O t h e r s m a l l m o d i f i c a t i o n s w e r e e m b o d i e d , a n d a n u m b e r o f w e a p o n s w e r e t h o r o u g h l y t e s t e d b y t h e S m a l l A r m s S c h o o l a t H y t h e . F u r t h e r m o d i f i c a t i o n s a r o s e f r o m t h e s e t r i a l s a n d , b y 1 9 2 6 , s ix finalized

N o . 1 M a r k V I rif les w e r e r e a d y fo r f u r t h e r t e s t i n g . T h e s e w e r e first s h o t f o r a c c u r a c y a t t h e S m a l l A r m s I n s p e c t i o n D e p a r t m e n t , E n f i e l d L o c k , a n d a d i s ­t u r b i n g f e a t u r e e m e r g e d .

Shot low with bayonet

W i t h b a y o n e t fitted, t h e m e a n p o i n t o f i m p a c t o n t h e t a r g e t c a m e d o w n b y a b o u t 9 m i n u t e s , o r a b o u t 1 8 " a t 2 0 0 y d s . S e r v i c e t r i a l s c o n f i r m e d t h i s r e s u l t . T h e rif les a l s o s h o w e d a t e n d e n c y t o s t r i n g o u t t h e i r g r o u p s in t h e v e r t i c a l p l a n e , w h i l e k e e p i n g a n e x t r e m e l y g o o d l a t e r a l a n g l e . T h e t r o u b l e w a s t r a c e d t o t h e r e c e i v e r of t h e rifle. T h i s w a s s t r e n g t h e n e d , a n d a c c u r a c y i m m e d i a t e l y i m p r o v e d . M a n y m e t h o d s of s t o c k i n g -u p w e r e t r i e d o u t a n d t h e o n e a d o p t e d ( F i g . 2 ) w a s as f o l l o w s :

T h e f o r e - e n d fitted firmly a t t h e r e a r , b e t w e e n t h e s e a r l u g s a n d f a c e of t h e r e c e i v e r b u t t s o c k e t .

•1 T h e N o . 1 M a r k VI rifle, deve loped fol lowing W o r l d W a r I, was never adop ted for se rv ice , t hough the later N o . 4 J . Mark 1 is near ly identical in appea rance , except for the m a g a z i n e cutoff. P ro to type M a r k VI rifles had pla in fore-ends ; t roop trial rifles featured a c ross -ha tched g rasp ing surface on the fore-end. forward of the receiver .

2 Conven t iona l m e t h o d of s tocking the N o . 4 rifle. G o o d bear ings be tween the meta l parts and fore-end are essen­tial at (A) muzz le ; (B) r ece iver reinforce; (C) rece iver seat ing; and (D) the " d r a w s " b e t w e e n sear and socket face.

It is ex t r eme ly impor tant that the col lar ( shown be low fore-end) is of correct length . If too long , the bear ing at (C) will be too light. If the col lar is too short , the w o o d work will be c rushed w h e n the t r igger guard sc rew is t ightened, and this will affect the re inforce and m u z z l e bea r ings . T h e t r igger guard sc rew mus t be kept t ight.

1 4 Photo courtesy M.o.D. Pattern Room. Nottingham. England

I t s e a t e d o n t h e r e c e i v e r s u r f a c e s a r o u n d t h e f r o n t t r i g g e r g u a r d s c r e w -h o l e a n d e x t e n d e d r e a r w a r d a l o n g t h e n a r r o w l e d g e s o n e a c h s i d e of t h e m a g a ­z i n e o p e n i n g fo r n o t less t h a n IV2". T h e r e s i s t a n c e o f t h e r e c e i v e r t o t h e f o r e -e n d w a s e q u a l o n e a c h s i d e o f t h e t r i g ­g e r g u a r d s c r e w . T h e r e w a s a c l e a r a n c e b e t w e e n b a r r e l s o c k e t o f r e c e i v e r a n d s t o c k f o r e - e n d o n e a c h s i d e .

T h e r e w a s a firm b e a r i n g o n t h e b a r ­rel r e i n f o r c e , e x t e n d i n g t h e full l e n g t h of t h e r e i n f o r c e a n d a b o u t o n e - t h i r d o f its r a d i u s in w i d t h . T h e b e a r i n g w a s in t h e c e n t e r of t h e r a d i a l c l e a r a n c e o f t h e f o r e - e n d , a n d t h e s ides of t h e b a r r e l w e r e e n t i r e l y c l e a r o f t h e w o o d .

T h e b a r r e l r e s t e d o n t h e r a i s e d s e a t ­i n g a t m u z z l e e n d o f t h e f o r e - e n d . T h e b e a r i n g e x t e n d e d t h e full l e n g t h of t h i s s e a t i n g , w i t h t h e b a r r e l p o s i t i o n e d c e n ­t r a l l y . T h e c l e a r a n c e o n e a c h s ide w a s n o t less t h a n . 0 2 " , a n d t h e lift r e q u i r e d t o r a i s e t h e b a r r e l f r o m its s e a t i n g w a s b e t w e e n 3 a n d 5 lbs . If t h e lift w a s b e ­l o w 3 lbs . , t h e b e a r i n g a t t h e r e i n f o r c e w a s l o w e r e d s l i gh t ly a n d t h e c o l l a r o n t h e f r o n t t r i g g e r g u a r d s c r e w w a s s h o r t ­e n e d if n e c e s s a r y . If t h e lift w a s a b o v e 5 lbs . , t h e b e a r i n g of t h e r e c e i v e r s e a t ­i n g w a s l o w e r e d , a n d t h e c o l l a r s h o r t ­e n e d t h e d e s i r e d a m o u n t .

Barrel free of fore-end It w a s n e c e s s a r y fo r t h e b a r r e l t o b e

e n t i r e l y f r ee f r o m i n f l u e n c e of t h e f o r e -e n d e x c e p t a t t h e p o i n t s spec i f i ed , a n d t h e c l e a r a n c e w a s a b o u t . 0 5 " . T h e h a n d -g u a r d s w e r e a l s o c l e a r o f t h e b a r r e l b y t h e s a m e a m o u n t , e x c e p t a t t h e m u z z l e e n d , w h e r e t h e c l e a r a n c e c o u l d b e less p r o v i d i n g t h e b a r r e l w a s f r e e .

In 1 9 2 6 , a n e w s y s t e m of n o m e n c l a ­t u r e w a s i n t r o d u c e d in t h e B r i t i s h S e r v ­ice a n d t h e rifle b e c a m e k n o w n as t h e N o . 4 M a r k I. F i v e y e a r s l a t e r 1 0 0 0 rifles w e r e m a n u f a c t u r e d a t E n f i e l d f o r t r o o p t r i a l s . T h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r m o r e rifles w e r e m a d e a n d i s s u e d t o u n i t s f o r t r i a l . R e p o r t s w e r e f a v o r a b l e a n d o n N o v . 15 , 1 9 3 9 , official a p p r o v a l f o r m a n u f a c t u r e w a s a n n o u n c e d .

T h e N o . 4 M a r k I rifle w a s c h a m ­b e r e d fo r t h e c a l . . 3 0 3 B r i t i s h c a r t r i d g e . I t w e i g h e d 8 l b s . 13 o z s . w i t h o u t b a y ­o n e t a n d its o v e r - a l l l e n g t h w a s AAV2"'. T h e 2 5 . 2 " b a r r e l w a s r if led w i t h 5 g r o o v e s w i t h left tw i s t o f o n e t u r n in 1 0 " . Rif les of th i s p a t t e r n w e r e m a d e l a t e r w i t h 2 a n d 6 g r o o v e b a r r e l s a l s o . S t o c k s w e r e m a d e in i t i a l ly of w a l n u t , bu t b e e c h , b i r c h , a n d m a p l e ( i n C a n ­a d a ) w e r e u s e d in l a t e r p r o d u c t i o n .

W h e r e a s rifle m a n u f a c t u r e h a d p r e v i ­o u s l y b e e n p r a c t i c a l l y c o n f i n e d t o t h e R o y a l S m a l l A r m s F a c t o r y a t E n f i e l d , a n d t h e B . S . A . C o m p a n y a t B i r m i n g ­h a m , t h e o u t b r e a k of W o r l d W a r I I f o u n d c a p a c i t y a t E n f i e l d s t r e t c h e d t o

i ts l im i t in m a k i n g B r e n g u n s , c a l . . 3 8 r e v o l v e r s , a n d o t h e r m a c h i n e g u n s a n d a c c o u t r e m e n t s . N e w o r d n a n c e f a c t o r i e s w e r e b u i l t a t S h i r l e y ( B i r m i n g h a m ) , u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e B . S . A . C o m ­p a n y , a n d a t M a l t b y ( Y o r k s h i r e ) a n d F a z a c k e r l e y ( L a n c a s h i r e ) . A n u m b e r of t h e m o r e s e n i o r e m p l o y e e s f r o m t h e E n f i e l d staff w e r e d i v e r t e d t o t h e n e w f a c t o r i e s , b u t m o s t of t h e w o r k e r s , e s p e ­c i a l l y a t M a l t b y a n d F a z a c k e r l e y , w e r e c o m p l e t e l y u n s k i l l e d a n d i n c l u d e d a l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e of w o m e n . T h r o u g h o u t t h e w a r m o s t o f t h e a c c u r a c y t e s t i n g w a s d o n e b y w o m e n . It w a s n o t s u r ­p r i s i n g t h a t s o m e of t h e e a r l y p r o d u c ­t i o n d i d n o t b e a r c o m p a r i s o n w i t h p r e w a r rifles of Enf ie ld m a n u f a c t u r e .

M e a n w h i l e , a r r a n g e m e n t s w e r e m a d e in C a n a d a a n d t h e U . S. f o r m a n u f a c ­t u r e of t h e N o . 4 rifle. E v e n t u a l l y n e a r l y a m i l l i o n w e r e m a d e a t L o n g B r a n c h , n e a r T o r o n t o , a n d o v e r a m i l ­l i o n b y t h e S a v a g e A r m s C o r p . in t h e U . S. T h e rifle w a s m a d e t o a n a l t e r n a t i v e d e s i g n of r e c e i v e r a n d w a s d e s i g n a t e d t h e N o . 4 rifle, M a r k 1* . I t d i f fe red f r o m U n i t e d K i n g d o m p r o ­d u c t i o n in s e v e r a l r e s p e c t s .

A s lo t w a s c u t in t h e r e c e i v e r r i b w a y , t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e b o l t - h e a d w a s r e ­l e a s e d fo r d i s a s s e m b l y . M a c h i n i n g fo r t h e b o l t - h e a d c a t c h w a s o m i t t e d . T h e

b o l t - h e a d c a t c h , a n d t h e s p r i n g a n d p l a t e , w e r e o m i t t e d . A n e w p a t t e r n b r i d g e - p i e c e w a s i n c o r p o r a t e d in t h e r e c e i v e r t o p e r m i t r e m o v a l of t h e b o l t . T h e m a g a z i n e c a t c h s c r e w w a s r e p l a c e d b y a p i n , a n d t h e s e a r p in w a s i n c r e a s e d in l e n g t h . S o m e rif les m a d e in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w e r e fitted w i t h 6 - g r o o v e b a r r e l s .

O n t h e o u t b r e a k o f w a r t h e P a t t e r n 1 4 M a r k 1 ( T ) w a s t h e o n l y s n i p i n g a r m in t h e B r i t i s h A r m y , a n d t h e s o -c a l l e d ' " P h o n e y W a r " c r e a t e d a n i m ­p r e s s i o n t h a t s n i p i n g w a s n o l o n g e r a r e q u i r e m e n t . A s t h e w a r p r o g r e s s e d , i d e a s c h a n g e d a n d t h e n e e d fo r n e w B r i t i s h s n i p i n g e q u i p m e n t b e c a m e a v e r y r e a l o n e . P l a n s w e r e m a d e t o e q u i p N o . 4 rifles f o r t h i s p u r p o s e .

P r i o r t o t h e w a r a t e l e s c o p i c s i gh t h a d b e e n d e v e l o p e d fo r u s e o n t h e B r e n g u n . T h i s p l a n w a s d i s c a r d e d a n d , in M a r c h 1 9 4 0 , it w a s d e c i d e d t o u s e t h e s i g h t , d e s i g n a t e d t h e N o . 3 2 , M a r k 1, o n t h e n e w s n i p e r rifle. C o m p a r e d w i t h m o d e r n t e l e s c o p e s i g h t s , it w a s a r a t h e r c u m b e r s o m e i n s t r u m e n t . T h i s is u n d e r ­s t a n d a b l e c o n s i d e r i n g t h e p u r p o s e f o r w h i c h it w a s d e s i g n e d . T h e s igh t w a s g r a d u a t e d f r o m 0 t o 1 0 0 0 y d s . , a n d e m ­b o d i e d v e r t i c a l a n d l a t e r a l a d j u s t m e n t . ( S e e F i g . 3 . ) I t w a s a d j u s t a b l e f o r e l e v a t i o n in i n c r e m e n t s of 5 0 y d s . , a c h i e v e d b y t u r n i n g t h e r a n g e d r u m i n

3 M e t h o d s of adjust ing the N o . 32 Te l e scope sight. Marks 1 and 2. T h e range (e levat ion) d r u m is inscr ibed with numera l s 0 - 10. represen t ing yards in hund reds , i.e., ze ro to 1000

yards . T h e def lect ion d r u m is inscr ibed 16. 12, 8. 4 . 0. 4, 8, 12. 16. T h e s e d r u m s are inscr ibed at (A). T h e " 0 " is the zero mark , and the numera l s on e i ther side represent minu te s of angle . For sight set t ing, a small a r r ow head is inscr ibed on the d rum m o u n t i n g s at (B).

W h e n an adjus tment is m a d e to the d r u m s , the c l a m p i n g ring (C) is loosened by turning it in a coun te rc lockwise d i rec t ion , at the same t ime the central pin (D) and the d rum must be held f irmly and not a l lowed to m o v e . W h e n the c l amp ing ring is loosened , the d rum can be m o v e d until the required figure is exact ly oppos i t e the a r r ow head on the d rum moun t ing . T h e pin (D) must be firmly held whi le the d r u m is m o v e d . Pin and d rum mus t be firmly held when the c l amp ing ring is t ightened again.

Mark 3. T h e range and deflect ion figures are inscr ibed on meta l bands which fit a round the d r u m s at (A). Ad jus tmen t s are m a d e by mere ly inser t ing the point of a bullet in a small recess in the band and m o v i n g it to the required se t t ing: at the s a m e t ime ho ld ing the mil led edge of the d r u m to prevent the d rum from m o v i n g .

15

t h e r e q u i r e d d i r e c t i o n . I n t h e d r u m w a s a c l i c k e r d e v i c e , e a c h c l i c k r e c o r d i n g a m o v e m e n t of 2 m i n u t e s o f a n g l e . L a t ­e r a l a d j u s t m e n t w a s e f fec ted b y m e a n s of t h e d e f l e c t i o n d r u m , w h i c h a l s o e m ­b o d i e d a 2 - m i n u t e c l i c k e r d e v i c e . T h e d r u m s h a d m i l l e d e d g e s f o r e a s y a d j u s t ­m e n t . T h e r a n g e d r u m w a s t u r n e d in a c l o c k w i s e d i r e c t i o n t o r a i s e t h e e l e v a ­t i o n . E r r o r s t o t h e r i g h t w e r e c o r r e c t e d b y t u r n i n g t h e d e f l e c t i o n d r u m c l o c k ­w i s e . T h e m a g n i f i c a t i o n w a s 3 X , a n d t h e field of v i e w 9 d e g r e e s .

A s it e m b o d i e d e a s y l a t e r a l a d j u s t ­m e n t , t h e s i gh t w a s a n i m p r o v e m e n t o n t h e P a t t e r n 1 9 1 8 u s e d o n t h e P a t t e r n 1 4 rifle, b u t t h e c l i c k e r p l a t e w a s t o o w i d e l y s p a c e d ; finer a d j u s t m e n t s t h a n 2 m i n u t e s of a n g l e w e r e n e c e s s a r y f o r a s n i p e r . T h e m e t h o d o f z e r o i n g t h e s i gh t w a s a l s o u n s a t i s f a c t o r y . I t w a s t o o c o m ­p l i c a t e d , a n d r e q u i r e d a s p e c i a l t o o l . T h r e e o p e r a t i o n s h a d t o b e c a r r i e d o u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e a n d t h e a d j u s t m e n t r e q u i r e d 2 m e n t o p e r f o r m it .

Introduced in early 1942

T h e N o . 4 rifle M a r k 1 ( T ) ( i n F i g . 4 ) w a s i n t r o d u c e d a s t h e n e w s n i p i n g e q u i p m e n t f o r t h e B r i t i s h S e r v i c e o n F e b . 1 2 , 1 9 4 2 . T h e first r if les t o b e e q u i p p e d w e r e a n u m b e r o f p r e w a r E n ­field m a n u f a c t u r e , a n d t h e c o n v e r s i o n w a s c a r r i e d o u t a t t h e R o y a l S m a l l A r m s F a c t o r y , w h e r e t h e rif les w e r e c a r e f u l l y s t o c k e d - u p a n d s h o t f o r a c c u r a c y .

T h e c o n v e r s i o n c o n s i s t e d o f fitting 2 s tee l p a d s t o t h e left of t h e r e c e i v e r , a n d fitting a b r a c k e t f o r t h e t e l e s c o p e t o t h e p a d s . T h e j o b r e q u i r e d sk i l l .

P e r f e c t f i t t ing of b r a c k e t t o p a d s w a s n e c e s s a r y t o i n s u r e c o r r e c t p o s i t i o n i n g of t h e t e l e s c o p e e v e r y t i m e it w a s fitted t o t h e rifle. T h i s d i d g i v e a c e r t a i n a m o u n t of t r o u b l e in t h e S e r v i c e , a n d e v e n t u a l l y a p r o c e d u r e w a s l a i d d o w n w h e r e b y , in fitting t h e b r a c k e t ( w i t h t e l e s c o p e ) t o t h e rif le, t h e final t i g h t e n ­i n g t o t h e m a x i m u m a m o u n t p o s s i b l e w a s a l w a y s o n t h e rear c l a m p i n g s c r e w .

T h e r if le , w i t h t e l e s c o p e fitted, w a s

finally s u b m i t t e d t o a n a c c u r a c y t e s t in w h i c h 7 o u t of 7 s h o t s h a d t o b e w i t h i n a 5 " c i r c l e a t 2 0 0 y d s . W h e n w e a t h e r p e r m i t t e d , t h e r i f les w e r e a l s o t e s t e d a t 4 0 0 y d s . , w h e n 6 o u t o f 7 s h o t s h a d t o g o i n s i d e a 1 0 " c i r c l e . I t w a s s e l d o m n e c e s s a r y f o r e q u i p m e n t t o b e r e t u r n e d t o t h e f a c t o r y f o r a d j u s t m e n t . E a c h rifle w a s z e r o e d w i t h t h e t e l e s c o p e , a n d a l s o w i t h t h e M a r k 1 b a c k s i g h t , w i t h w h i c h al l s n i p e r r if les w e r e e q u i p p e d .

Prewar stock exhausted

T h e s u p p l y o f p r e - w a r rif les w a s s o o n e x h a u s t e d a n d , a s t h e first c o n s i g n m e n t o f A m e r i c a n m a n u f a c t u r e w h i c h a r ­r i v e d a t t h e C e n t r a l O r d n a n c e D e p o t a t W e e d o n a p p e a r e d t o b e o f a h i g h e r s t a n d a r d t h a n e a r l y U n i t e d K i n g d o m p r o d u c t i o n , a n u m b e r w e r e s e l e c t e d a n d s e n t t o E n f i e l d f o r c o n v e r s i o n . T h e s e h a d 6 - g r o o v e b a r r e l s , a n d all n e e d e d c a r e f u l r e - s t o c k i n g . M e a n w h i l e , B . S . A . a t S h i r l e y h a d o v e r c o m e m o s t of t h e i r t e e t h i n g t r o u b l e s a n d w e r e t u r n i n g o u t a n e x c e l l e n t r i f le ; a n d it w a s d e c i d e d t h a t o n l y rifles f r o m t h i s f a c t o r y s h o u l d b e e a r m a r k e d f o r s n i p e r c o n v e r s i o n . W i t h r e s o u r c e s a t E n f i e l d t a x e d t o t h e l i m i t , t h e w o r k of c o n v e r s i o n w a s t r a n s ­f e r r e d t o H o l l a n d & H o l l a n d , t h e o l d e s t a b l i s h e d L o n d o n firm of g u n s m i t h s . F r o m S e p t . 2 2 , 1 9 4 2 , u n t i l t h e e n d of t h e w a r , t h i s firm d e a l t w i t h n e a r l y 2 5 , 0 0 0 e q u i p m e n t s a n d m a i n t a i n e d a v e r y h i g h s t a n d a r d o f c o n v e r s i o n . T h e b r a c k e t s w e r e m a d e b y p r i v a t e m a n u ­f a c t u r e r s , w i t h final m a c h i n i n g o p e r a ­t i o n s c a r r i e d o u t b y H o l l a n d & H o l l a n d .

T h e first i s s u e o f t h e n e w B r i t i s h s n i p i n g e q u i p m e n t w a s m a d e in D e c e m ­b e r 1 9 4 1 t o N o . 3 C o m m a n d o . W i t h i n t h e n e x t 2 m o n t h s o v e r 150 e q u i p m e n t s w e r e d i s p a t c h e d t o u n i t s , m o s t l y in t h e F a r E a s t e r n t h e a t e r o f w a r . A n u m b e r of t h e m , o w i n g t o e n e m y a c t i o n , n e v e r r e a c h e d t h e i r d e s t i n a t i o n s .

A n i m p r o v e d s i g h t , t h e N o . 3 2 , M a r k 2 , w a s i n t r o d u c e d o n A p r . 2 3 , 1 9 4 3 , in w h i c h t h e c l i c k e r p l a t e w a s g r a d u a t e d in i n t e r v a l s o f 1 m i n u t e of a n g l e . T h e

m a g n i f i c a t i o n w a s t h e s a m e as t h e M a r k 1 b u t t h e field of v i e w w a s s l i gh t ly l e s s , i .e . , 8 d e g r e e s 2 0 m i n u t e s . T h e n e w c l i c k e r p l a t e e n a b l e d finer a d j u s t m e n t s in s i g h t i n g t o b e m a d e , b u t t h e o l d z e r o i n g a d j u s t m e n t p r o b l e m r e m a i n e d .

T h e a n s w e r t o t h e z e r o i n g p r o b l e m w a s s o o n f o r t h c o m i n g , a n d t o o k t h e f o r m of t h i n m e t a l b a n d s , k n o w n as ' s l i p p i n g s k i n s ' , a r o u n d t h e r a n g e a n d d e f l e c t i o n d r u m s . A n e w s i g h t e m b o d y ­i n g t h i s f e a t u r e w a s i n t r o d u c e d as t h e M a r k 3 o n O c t . 7 , 1 9 4 4 . I t w a s s i m i l a r in o t h e r r e s p e c t s t o t h e M a r k 2 , e x c e p t t h a t t h e field of v i e w w a s i n c r e a s e d t o 8 d e g r e e s 3 0 m i n u t e s . T h e n e w s igh t w a s l a t e r m a d e w a t e r t i g h t a n d t h e l e n s e s w e r e c o a t e d t o g i v e t h e m g r e a t e r l i gh t -g a t h e r i n g p o w e r .

Equipment became popular

T h e e q u i p m e n t n o w b e c a m e v e r y p o p u l a r w i t h B r i t i s h s n i p e r s a n d it w a s u n d o u b t e d l y o n e o f t h e m o s t eff ic ient in u s e in a n y a r m y . A t E n f i e l d , c o m ­p a r a t i v e t r i a l s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t f r o m t i m e t o t i m e w i t h c a p t u r e d e n e m y s n i p e r r i f les , a n d in e v e r y i n s t a n c e t h e N o . 4 ( T ) p r o v e d t h e m o r e a c c u r a t e . I n S e p ­t e m b e r 1 9 4 5 , t w o M I C A m e r i c a n s n i p ­i n g rif les w e r e t r i e d o u t i n c o m p a r a t i v e t r i a l s a n d , a l t h o u g h r e c o r d i n g a g o o d s t a n d a r d of a c c u r a c y , w e r e i n f e r i o r t o t h a t o f t h e B r i t i s h e q u i p m e n t s . I n m a i n ­t e n a n c e of M . P . I , ( m e a n p o i n t o f i m ­p a c t ) , e a s e of a i m , a n d m a n i p u l a t i o n o f s igh t , t h e N o . 4 ( T ) rifle a l s o s h o w e d t o a d v a n t a g e in c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h e M I C .

A t r i a l w a s c a r r i e d o u t b y t h e S m a l l A r m s I n s p e c t i o n D e p t . a t E n f i e l d in 1 9 4 5 w i t h t h e o b j e c t of d e t e r m i n i n g , if p o s s i b l e , t h e effect o f t h e t e l e s c o p e o n t h e a n g l e of j u m p of t h e rifle. T w e n t y -six e q u i p m e n t s w h i c h h a d p a s s e d t h e i r n o r m a l a c c e p t a n c e t e s t s w e r e t a k e n a t r a n d o m f r o m r u n - o f - w o r k a n d w e r e fired a t 2 0 0 y d s . w i t h , a n d w i t h o u t , t e l e s c o p e s . W i t h o u t t e l e s c o p e s , t h e m e a n a n g l e of j u m p w a s p l u s 8 . 9 5 m i n u t e s , a n d v a r i e d f r o m p l u s 4 . 5 m i n u t e s t o 1 2 . 5 m i n u t e s . W i t h t e l e s c o p e s a s s e m b l e d

T h e N o . 4 rifle M a r k 1 ( T ) .

1 6

5 Cen te r -bea r ing m e t h o d of s tocking the N o . 4 rifle. A n even b e a r i n g shou ld be o b t a i n e d at (A), b e t w e e n the cen t e r a n d r e a r l ightening cuts . T h e bea r ing shou ld ex tend for a b o u t IV2", a n d its c en t e r shou ld be a b o u t 5 " f o r w a r d of the f ront end of the

receiver seat ing (E). T h e bea r ing is o b t a i n e d by bui ld ing up t h e fore -end at this po in t by a w o o d insert g lued in pos i t ion . F r o m the cen te r bea r ing fo rward (F). the ba r re l m u s t be ent i re ly free of the fore-end . A c l ea r ance of at least . 1 0 " shou ld be m a i n t a i n e d . T h e bear ings at (B), (C), and (D) a re the s a m e as in Fig. 2.

t h e j u m p v a r i e d f r o m m i n u s 2 m i n u t e s to p l u s 4 . 7 5 m i n u t e s , t h e m e a n f igu re fo r t h e 2 6 rifles b e i n g p l u s 2 . 2 7 m i n ­u t e s . T h e t e l e s c o p e s e e m e d t o h a v e a s t e a d y i n g effect , t h e rifles g i v i n g a m e a n d e c r e a s e in j u m p of jus t o v e r 6V2 m i n ­u t e s . W h e t h e r t h e t e l e s c o p e i m p r o v e d t h e a c c u r a c y of t h e rifle w a s n o t e s t a b ­l i shed as n o f u r t h e r t r i a l s t o o k p l a c e b u t . t h r o u g h o u t t h e w a r , t h e s n i p e r e q u i p m e n t i n v a r i a b l y p a s s e d i ts a c c u ­r a c y t e s t we l l w i t h i n t h e r e q u i r e d a c ­c e p t a n c e l imi t s .

In 1 9 5 2 , a n e w m e t h o d o f s t o c k i n g -u p t h e N o . 4 rifle e m a n a t e d f r o m I n d i a , a n d w a s s u g g e s t e d as a p o s s i b l e a l t e r n a t i v e fo r t h e s n i p e r e q u i p m e n t . I t w a s e a s y t o a c h i e v e a n d h a d b e e n f o u n d p a r t i c u l a r l y ef fec t ive in m a i n t e n a n c e of z e r o o v e r a l o n g p e r i o d . I t e m b o d i e d a n e w b e a r i n g b e t w e e n b a r r e l a n d f o r e -e n d a t a p o i n t a b o u t 5 " f o r w a r d of t h e r e i n f o r c e . T h e n o r m a l r e c e i v e r a n d r e ­

i n f o r c e b e a r i n g s w e r e m a i n t a i n e d b u t t h e m u z z l e b e a r i n g w a s d i s p e n s e d w i t h . T h e s t e p o n t h e m u z z l e e n d of t h e f o r e -e n d w a s floated o u t a n d t h e r e w a s n o c o n t a c t b e t w e e n b a r r e l a n d w o o d w o r k f o r w a r d of t h e n e w b e a r i n g . T h e n e w b e a r i n g , l a t e r t o b e c o m e k n o w n as t h e c e n t e r b e a r i n g , w a s o b t a i n e d b y a m e t a l s h i m . T h e s h i m h a d r e t a i n i n g p o i n t s w h i c h w e r e p r e s s e d i n t o t h e f o r e - e n d b e t w e e n t h e 2 l i g h t e n i n g c u t s . T h i s , a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r f o r m s of s t o c k i n g - u p , w e r e t e s t e d in c o m p a r a t i v e t r i a l s a t E n f i e l d , b u t n o n e s h o w e d a n y i m p r o v e ­m e n t o n t h e n o r m a l s n i p e r m e t h o d . I t w a s f o u n d diff icult t o r e t a i n t h e n e c e s ­s a r y b e a r i n g o n t h e m e t a l s h i m . B a r r e l v i b r a t i o n s d r o v e t h e s h i m r e t a i n i n g p o i n t s d e e p e r i n t o t h e w o o d , t h u s r e ­d u c i n g t h e h e i g h t o f t h e s h i m a n d t h e r i g i d i t y a n d p r e s s u r e o f t h e b e a r i n g . F u r t h e r e x p e r i m e n t s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t w i t h a w o o d b e a r i n g in p l a c e o f t h e

m e t a l s h i m a n d , a l t h o u g h r e s u l t s w e r e s a t i s f a c t o r y , t h e r e w a s n o de f in i t e i m ­p r o v e m e n t o v e r t h e n o r m a l s t o c k i n g - u p .

A l t h o u g h t h e c e n t e r - b e a r i n g m e t h o d w a s n e v e r a d o p t e d f o r t h e s n i p e r rifle, it h a s s i n c e b e e n a p p r o v e d b y t h e B r i t ­i sh N a t i o n a l Rif le A s s o c i a t i o n a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e m e t h o d of s t o c k i n g - u p t h e N o . 4 rifle u s e d b y its m e m b e r s in c o m p e t i t i v e t a r g e t s h o o t i n g . ( S e e F i g . 5 . ) I t h a s s t e a d i l y g r o w n in f a v o r a n d is p r o b a b l y t h e m o s t p o p u l a r f o r m of s t o c k i n g - u p u s e d n o w b y B i s l ey m a r k s ­m e n . W i t h e i t h e r f o r m of s t o c k i n g - u p , t h e N o . 4 rif le, g i v e n g o o d a m m u n i ­t i o n , is c a p a b l e o f c o n s i s t e n t g r o u p i n g i n s i d e 2 m i n u t e s o f a n g l e a t a n y r a n g e f r o m 2 0 0 t o 1 0 0 0 y d s . A m p l e p r o o f of t h i s is r e g u l a r l y p r o v i d e d a t t h e B i s l ey N a t i o n a l P r i z e M e e t i n g s . E v e n b e t t e r a c c u r a c y m a y b e f o r t h c o m i n g w h e n t h e c o n v e r s i o n t o t h e 7 . 6 2 m m . N A T O r o u n d is f inal ly e s t a b l i s h e d .

Surplus "Enfield" Warning

TH E f o l l o w i n g n o t i c e c a m e t o u s f r o m t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m L i a i s o n Of f i ce ,

A r m a m e n t R e s e a r c h , D e v e l o p m e n t a n d E n g i n e e r i n g C e n t e r , P i c a t i n n y A r s e n a l , N . J .

" 1 . In J u l y 1987 a U K M O D b a n w a s p l a c e d o n t h e firing o f ba l l r o u n d s f r o m .303 ( ca l . ) N o . 4 r if les in U K s e r v i c e a s a r e s u l t o f t w o e x p l o s i o n s w h i c h o c c u r r e d in t h e c h a m b e r a r e a o f t h e w e a p o n s a n d r e s u l t e d in b u r s t b a r r e l s . " 2 . U K M O D i n v e s t i g a t i o n s f o u n d t h a t t h e b a r r e l e x p l o s i o n s w e r e a s a r e s u l t of s e v e r e ' c r a z e c r a c k i n g ' o f t h e t w o b a r r e l s w h i c h w e r e o f i n d e ­t e r m i n a t e a g e a n d l ife. " 3 . U K M O D h a v e i n i t i a t e d a s t u d y i n t o w h y s o m e b a r r e l s su f fe r c r a z e

c r a c k i n g a n d o t h e r s d o n o t . b u t r e s u l t s o f t h i s a r e n o t e x p e c t e d t o b e c o m p l e t e fo r s o m e t i m e , a n d e v e n t h e n m i g h t n o t b e c o n c l u s i v e . " 4 . B e c a u s e , in p e a c e - t i m e , .303 N o . 4 rifles a r e o n l y u s e d in C a d e t u n i t s , it h a s b e e n d e c i d e d t h a t it is n o t c o s t -e f f e c t i v e t o c a r r y o u t d e t a i l e d e x a m ­i n a t i o n s o f all b a r r e l s , p a r t i c u l a r l y a s t h e c a d e t s a r e b e i n g i s s u e d w i t h t h e n e w L 9 8 A 1 C a d e t G P Rif le . T h e f ir ing b a n will t h e r e f o r e r e m a i n in f o r c e . " 5 . U s e r s o f t h e N o . 4 rifle w o r l d w i d e , w h e t h e r c i v i l i a n o r m i l i t a r y , a r e s t r o n g l y a d v i s e d t o h a v e t h e w e a p o n s c l o s e l y e x a m i n e d fo r s i g n s o f c r a z e c r a c k i n g a n d c o n d e m n e d a c c o r d i n g l y . T h e r e a f t e r , it is r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t a n y b a r r e l s w h i c h h a v e p a s s e d s u c h

i n s p e c t i o n s h o u l d b e e x a m i n e d r e g u ­l a r ly fo r s u c h s i g n s a n d c o n d e m n e d if n e c e s s a r y . " O w n e r s o f t h e .303 N o . 4 r if les s h o u l d

c e r t a i n l y h e e d t h e a d v i c e in t h e U K s a f e t y n o t i c e t o h a v e t h e m " c l o s e l y e x a m i n e d " b e f o r e f ir ing t h e m a g a i n . T h e e x a m i n a t i o n s h o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d , p r e f e r a b l y w i t h t h e a id o f a g o o d o p t i c a l b o r e - s c o p e , b y a n e x p e r i e n c e d g u n s m i t h w h o is f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e s i g n s o f e r o s i o n in g u n b a r r e l s . If t h e r e a r e a n y s i g n s o f r o u g h n e s s f r o m e r o s i o n in t h e b a r r e l i m m e d i a t e l y a h e a d o f t h e c h a m b e r , o r a n y o t h e r v i s ib l e d e f e c t s in t h e b a r r e l o r c h a m b e r w a l l s , t h e n t h e b a r r e l s h o u l d b e r e g a r d e d a s s u s p e c t a n d t h e rifle should not he fired un t i l it h a s b e e n p r o p e r l y fitted w i t h a n e w b a r r e l .

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Removing Lee-Enfield Stock / have obtained a spare buttstock to

replace the damaged one on my .303 No. 1 Mk III Lee-Enfield rifle. But even with a large screwdriver I can't turn out the through stock bolt. It moves a trifle so I know it is not frozen, but I dare not force it any farther lest I damage something. What do I do now?

Answer: Because of exper ience of but t -s tocks loosening in ea r ly t r ia ls , N o . 1 Lee-Enfield rifles for m a n y y e a r s w e r e p rov ided wi th a posi t ive lock for the s tock bol t .

Lee-Enfield .410 Shotgun / have purchased a gun advertised as an

Enfield .410 shotgun made for use by British officers in India. I find that it will not cham­ber a .410 shell. Can you tell me what caliber it is?

Answer : Enfield .410-bore sho tguns , o r m o r e proper ly " . 4 1 0 M u s k e t s " , were con­verted from Wor ld W a r I-vintage S M L E rifles that had been o the rwise d o w n g r a d e d from normal service ca tegor ies . T h e work was d o n e at the Indian Rifle Fac tory at Ishapore from the 1920s until at least the start of Wor ld W a r II. T h e convers ion con­sisted of smoo th -bor ing the r i f les ' bar re ls to .410 - . 412" d iamete r and filling the magaz ine well wi th a w o o d e n p lug , p inned in p lace and capped wi th a thin steel p ress ing to serve as a loading p la t fo rm.

S M L E .410 M u s k e t s were in tended for use by pol ice or by mil i tary guards in urban areas w h e r e firing a regular .303-in . Ball car t r idge migh t cause injury to innocent by­standers .

Car t r idges for the .410 M u s k e t w e r e

T h i s w a s accompl i shed by squa r ing the end of the s tock bol t and m a k i n g it long e n o u g h t o p r o t r u d e t h r o u g h the bu t t socke t in the receiver , w h e r e it was he ld aga ins t t u r n i n g by a keepe r p la t e fitting in the r e a r of the fore-end . In as sembly the bu t t s tock was ins ta l led first, t igh ten ing the s tock bol t t o a final pos i t ion wi th its e n d s q u a r e wi th the rece iver . T h e n t h e fore-end w a s instal led, a s q u a r e n o t c h in the k e e p e r p la te fitting o v e r the end of the s tock bo l t a n d secur ing it posi t ively aga ins t t u rn ing .

So t o t u r n the stock bo l t to r e m o v e the bu t t s tock of these N o . 1 rifles, y o u m u s t first r e m o v e the f o r e - e n d . — F . D E H .

m a d e from .303 Bri t ish car t r idges , left un-necked , which accoun t s for the s imilar i ty in r im and case b o d y d i m e n s i o n s b e t w e e n .410-bore shotshel ls and the correc t car t r idges . A n unnecked .303 Brit ish car t r idge is, h o w ­ever , app rox ima te ly 0 . 3 " shorter than even the shortest .410 shotshel l , wh ich accoun t s for the failure of factory .410 shotshe l l s to c h a m b e r . — E .H.H.

Lee Headspace / heard that the bolt head of a British

Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifle can he replaced by a longer or shorter one to correct improper headspace. Is this true?

Answer : You heard correct ly . Bolt heads of Lee-Enf ie ld N o . 4 and N o . 5 rifles are ava i lab le in four s izes that differ in length in 0 . 0 0 3 " increments . N o . 0 is the shortest bol t head , and No . 3 , the longest . T h e y are n u m b e r e d for ident i f icat ion.

It is m o r e e c o n o m i c a l to rep lace the bolt head than the ent i re bolt , and this is an ad­van tage of the two-p iece bol t des ign . — L . O .

S.M.L.E.

In reference to British service rifles, what does the abbreviation "S.M.L.E." mean?

A n s w e r : T h e abbrev ia t ion refers to the Rifle Shor t M a g a z i n e Lee-Enf ie ld .

T h e w o r d " S h o r t " indicates the rifle ap ­proved by Grea t Bri ta in in D e c e m b e r 1902, wh ich had an overal l length of 44 .5" . It was des igned to rep lace longer rifles as well as ca rb ines then used by Bri t ish t roops . T h e word " M a g a z i n e " is se l f -explanatory but was per t inent at the t ime of adopt ion as s ingle-shot rifles of Mar t in i type were in l imi ted use a long wi th magaz ine- fed rifles and ca rb ines .

T h e w o r d " L e e " refers to J a m e s Paris L e e , the inventor of the act ion. T h e word "Enf i e ld" indicates the type of rifling, which was s o m e w h a t deepe r than the Metford ri­fling of p rev ious Bri t ish service rifles. — M . D . W .

No. 4 Rifles While attending the 1964 Canadian Na­

tional Matches, I noted that some No. 4 holt-action rifles have 2 wood plugs in each side of the fore-end. These plugs are light-color wood, and are in that part of the fore-end which covers the sides of the action. What is their purpose?

Why do some of these rifles have bay­onet lugs on the barrels while others do not have them?

Answer: In s o m e N o . 4 rifles, the re is a slight l a te ra l c l ea rance be tween the re­ceiver and fore -end . W h e r e such c l ea rance is p resent , it is possible for the receiver to shift sufficiently to upset the bedd ing . T h e plugs are dowe l s c e m e n t e d into the fore-end , and they con tac t the receiver sides to p r even t l a te ra l shif t ing. T h e y were instal led by C a n a d i a n a r m o r e r s in m a n y N o . 4 rifles used in the 1964 C a n a d i a n N a t i o n a l M a t c h e s . T h e idea for the p lugs is that of W . O . I H . L . K e e c h , a v e t e r a n a r m o r e r of the C a n a d i a n A r m y .

The plugs (arrows) prevent the receiver from shift ing laterally.

N o . 4 rifles w i thou t b a y o n e t lugs a re ca l . 7 .62 m m . N A T O . T h e y were r eba r -reled t o this ca l ibe r by C a n a d i a n Arsena l s , L t d . N o . 4 rifles w i th b a y o n e t lugs are ca l . . 303 . T h e lugs t hus serve as a m e a n s of ident i fying ca l ibe r in C a n a d i a n rifles.

T h e b a r r e l s in ca l . 7 .62 m m . N A T O h a v e 4 g r o o v e s wi th r ight t w i s t . — L . O .

1 8

Magazine Defect / am using military surplus .303 Mk VII

Cartridges in my British No. 4 Lee-Enfield. However, this ammunition does not seem to feed reliably through the magazine, often jamming with the bullet nose against the back of the barrel. Is this the correct am­munition? If so what is the problem and how do I fix it? Would round-nose bullets work?

Answer : T h e ammun i t i on you are us ing is of the correct type for the N o . 4 rifle. T h e p rob lem is likely that the forward lips of the magaz ine are d a m a g e d or bent. Such a thing can happen if a magaz ine is d ropped or o therwise mishandled . Begin by compar ing the lips on your magaz ine with those on a magaz ine that feeds proper ly . If the lips on the defect ive m a g a z i n e appear bent too far d o w n w a r d , bend them up, sl ightly, us ing a pair of pl iers . D o this carefully, as only a small amoun t of bend ing is necessary . C h e c k often to see if the magaz ine feeds proper ly . W h e n it does , c lean up any burrs or n icks using stones or a small file. N o . 4 rifles were des igned to feed poin ted bul lets such as were loaded in M k VII ammuni t ion . R o u n d -nose bul lets should feed equal ly wel l , how­ever, p rov ided the m a g a z i n e is in good con­dition. — L.O.

Lee-Enfield Sight What is the purpose of the roller on the

open rear sight of the British No. 1, Mk III rifle?

Answer : T h e grooved roller, proper ly called the backsight, fine adjustment worm wheel, enabled the shooter to m a k e e levat ion adjus tments in increments smal le r than those inscribed on the e levat ion leaf (25-yd. incre­men t s on the left side, 100-yd. on the r ight) .

Fit ted in the r ight side of the e levat ion sl ide, the fine adjus tment w o r m whee l engages screw thread no tches on the right of the elevat ion leaf. T h e per iphery of the wheel is d iv ided into 10 longi tudinal seg-

The backsight fine adjustment worm wheel (arrow) is on the right side of the elevation slide. ments , or notches . Turn ing it one notch gives a 5-yd. adjustment for e levat ion. In this fashion turning the w o r m through five notches adjusts e levat ion by 25 yds . , or one graduat ion on the left side of the leaf. L ikewise , a comple te turn g ives a 50-yd, ad­jus tment . T h e wheel can be turned with the thumbnai l .

By press ing in the slide ca tch on the left side of the e levat ion sl ide, the fine adjust­ment is re leased and the slide m a y be m o v e d along the leaf with the t humb . This is d o n e for large changes in e levat ion. — L .O .

Modified No. 4 Rifle The marking "No. 4 Mk. I*" on the left

receiver wall of my British .303 No. 4 rifle has been lined through and above it has been marked "No. 4 Mk. 113." Does the changed marking mean that this rifle was modified and. if so. what is the modification?

Answer: Cons ide rab le t rouble w a s ex ­per ienced wi th N o . 4 rifles in keep ing the t r igger pull weight cons tant . T h e t r igger was p ivoted on the t r igger guard , and swel l ing and cont rac t ion of the fore-end acted on the guard. Th i s , in turn, c h a n g e d the relat ive po ­sition of the t r igger and sear , and caused a the weight of pull to vary .

T h e difficulty was o v e r c o m e by a t r igger modif ica t ion in t roduced in 1949. A bracket was brazed to the rece iver forward of the butt socket and the t r igger w a s p ivoted to this bracket instead of the t r igger guard . A n e w t r igger guard was fitted, and a n e w fore-end wi th a t ransverse re inforcing screw at the rear replaced the ear l ier fore-end.

N o . 4 rifles with the a b o v e modi f ica t ion were redes igna ted N o . 4 M k . 1/2. T h e m o d i ­fied N o . 4 M k . I* rifle b e c a m e the N o . 4 M k . 1/3, and the No . 4 M k . I (T) with te le­scopic s ight b e c a m e the N o . 4 M k . I /2(T) . N o . 4 rifles m a d e fo l lowing the in t roduc t ion of this c h a n g e have the t r igger b racke t in te-

No. 4 Mk. 1/3 rifle (at top) has the trigger pivoted to bracket on receiver. No. 4 Mk. I* rifle (below) has the trigger pivoted to the trigger guard.

gral with the receiver , and are des igna ted N o . 4 M k . II — L . O .

British Long Range Sight

/ just bought a .303 British Enfield Rifle and would like to know what the arm peep is for on the forearm and receiver. There hap­pens to be two of them.

A n s w e r : T h o s e t w o p ivoted a rms on the left s ide of you r Bri t ish mil i tary rifle are long range muske t ry s ights . T h e y are found on Lee-Enf ie ld rifles up to and inc lud ing the N o . 1, M k III, and on the .303 ca l iber . Pat ­tern 14 rifles that were m a d e in this count ry by R e m i n g t o n , W i n c h e s t e r and E d d y s t o n e .

At the t ime these s ights were des igned and put on the rifle they were in tended to permi t a p la toon of in fan t rymen to p lace m a s s e d rifle fire on objec t ives that were too far a w a y for individual ly a i m e d shots . Th i s function has since been taken ove r by c r e w -served w e a p o n s such as m a c h i n e g u n s , and long range muske t ry sights are obsole te . T h e Engl i sh s ights cons is t of an aper ture on the left rear end of the rece iver , c lose to the

shoo t e r ' s eye , and a foresight p ivoted on a meta l l ic p la te about half way forward on the left s ide of the stock. Both s ights fold d o w n w h e n not in use . W h e n it is desi red to use the long range sights the rear a rm con ta in ing the aper ture is folded up into a s tanding pos i ­t ion and the foresight is rota ted until the poin ter indicates the des i red range shown by g radua t ions on the pla te to which it is p ivo ted . These g radua t ions run from 1600 to 2 8 0 0 yds on s o m e m o d e l s and from 1600 to 2 6 0 0 yds . on o ther m o d e l s

If such long ranges were a t t empted with an ord inary rear s ight the s ight wou ld be h igh and the eye w o u l d be so far above the rece iver that the but ts tock wou ld be d o w n off the shoulder . T h e advan tage of the Bri t ish long range sights is that l ine of sight is l owered so as to avoid c ran ing the neck or b r ing ing the but t be low the shoulder at longer ranges .

A s indica ted in the a c c o m p a n y i n g il­lustra t ion, the rear aper ture r ema ins at a fixed he ight and changes in e levat ion are m a d e by m o v i n g the front sight. — J .S .H.

1 9

LEE-ENFIELD No. 4 RIFLE By EDWARD J. HOFFSCHMIDT

Parts Legend 1. S t r i k e r s c r e w 2 7 . S e a r h i n g e pin 2 . C o c k i n g p i e c e 2 8 . M a g a z i n e c a t c h 3 . B r e e c h b o l t ( s t r i p p e d ) 2 9 . S e a r s p r i n g 4 . M a i n s p r i n g 3 0 . S e a r 5. S t r i k e r 3 1 . Body, No. 4 Mk. 1 ( rece iver ) 6. B r e e c h b o l t h e a d 3 2 . T r igge r 7. Ex t r ac to r 3 3 . T r igge r p in 8. Ex t r ac to r s c r e w 3 4 . T r igge r g u a r d 9. Ex t rac to r s p r i n g 3 5 . M a g a z i n e

10. Bolt ( a s s e m b l e d ) 3 6 . F ron t g u a r d s c r e w 1 1 . Lock ing bolt s c r e w 3 7 . G u a r d s c r e w lock w a s h e r 12 . Lock ing bo l t s p r i n g 3 8 . F o r e - e n d 1 3 . Lock ing bolt 3 9 . H a n d g u a r d , f ront 14 . Sa f e ty c a t c h 4 0 . Swivel b a n d 1 5 . Rea r g u a r d s c r e w 4 1 . Swivel b a n d s c r e w 16 . M a g a z i n e c a t c h s c r e w 4 2 . S l i n g swivel 17 . E j ec to r s c r e w 4 3 . U p p e r b a n d s c r e w 18 . Mk. Ill r ea r s i g h t 4 4 . U p p e r b a n d 19 . S p a c e r 4 5 . H a n d g u a r d , r ea r 2 0 . Rea r s i g h t h i n g e p in 4 6 . F o r e s i g h t p r o t e c t o r s c r e w 2 1 . S i g h t d e t e n t p l u n g e r 4 7 . F o r e s i g h t p r o t e c t o r (Mk. II) 2 2 . D e t e n t s p r i n g 4 8 . S t o c k bo l t 2 3 . H i n g e pin lock pin 4 9 . S t o c k bo l t lock w a s h e r 2 4 . Bolt r e l e a s e s t o p 5 0 . B u t t p l a t e 2 5 . Bolt r e l e a s e 5 1 . B u t t p l a t e s c r e w (2) 2 6 . Bol t r e l e a s e s p r i n g 5 2 . Lower b a n d

F E W w e a p o n s i n h i s t o r y c a n m a t c h t h e l o n g a n d i l l u s t r i o u s s t o r y o f t h e

B r i t i s h b o l t - a c t i o n L e e - E n f i e l d r if les. T h e o r i g i n a l L e e - M e t f o r d r if le ,

a d o p t e d i n 1 8 8 8 , w a s b a s e d o n t h e d e ­s ign of a n A m e r i c a n g u n d e s i g n e r n a m e d J a m e s P a r i s L e e . T h e L e e - M e t f o r d w e n t t h r o u g h a b e w i l d e r i n g m a z e of m a r k s a n d m o d e l s u n t i l i t e m e r g e d in W o r l d W a r I a s t h e S M L E M k . I I I * .

Nomenclature changed A s a r e s u l t o f s e r v i c e in W o r l d W a r I

t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s o f t h e M k . I l l * w e r e r e c o g n i z e d a n d , in t h e 1 9 2 0 ' s , t h e S M L E M k . V I w a s d e s i g n e d t o r e p l a c e it . T h e B r i t i s h c h a n g e d t h e i r s y s t e m of rifle n o m e n c l a t u r e a n d t h e S M L E M k . V I b e c a m e k n o w n as Rif le N o . 4 M k . I .

T h e Rif le N o . 4 M k . I f e a t u r e s a n a p e r t u r e r e a r s i g h t , a h e a v i e r b a r r e l , a s i m p l i f i e d s t o c k , a n d a n i m p r o v e d b o l t - r e t a i n i n g s y s t e m . A s W o r l d W a r I I p r o g r e s s e d , t h e Rif le N o . 4 M k . I w a s f u r t h e r s i m p l i f i e d b y e l i m i n a t i n g t h e s e p a r a t e b o l t r e l e a s e . T h e s i m p l i f i e d g u n is k n o w n a s t h e Rif le N o . 4 M k . I * .

S i n c e E n g l a n d ' s s m a l l a r m s p r o d u c ­t i o n w a s g r e a t l y s t r a i n e d b y w a r t i m e d e m a n d s , t h e S t e v e n s A r m s C o . , d i ­v i s i o n o f S a v a g e A r m s C o r p . , C h i c o p e e F a l l s , M a s s . , m a n u f a c t u r e d t h e N o . 4 rifle u n d e r t h e L e n d L e a s e A c t . T h e s e rif les a r e t h e o n e s t h a t a r e f o u n d w i t h t h e m a r k i n g " U . S. p r o p e r t y " .

Variety of finishes L i k e o t h e r m i l i t a r y r i f les , t h e N o . 4

rif le wi l l b e f o u n d in a v a r i e t y o f finishes, r a n g i n g f r o m t h e u s u a l l y finely m a d e C a n a d i a n L o n g B r a n c h A r s e n a l g u n s t o t h e c r u d e r L e e - E n f i e l d s t u r n e d o u t in E n g l a n d r i g h t a f t e r D u n k i r k . A m o d i f i e d N o . 4 r if le , s h o r t e n e d a n d l i g h t e n e d f o r j u n g l e fighting, w a s d e s i g ­n a t e d Rif le N o . 5 M k . I. I t h a s e x a c t l y t h e s a m e m e c h a n i s m as t h e N o . 4 b u t is f a r h a n d i e r . T h e Rif le N o . 4 M k . I ( T ) , d e s i g n e d f o r s n i p i n g , w a s fitted w i t h a c h e e k p i e c e a n d t h e N o . 3 2 t e l e s c o p e s i g h t .

I n a n effor t t o i m p r o v e t h e t r i g g e r

2 0

a r r a n g e m e n t , t h e Rifles N o . 4 M k . 1 /2 a n d M k . 1/3 h a d t h e t r i g g e r p i v o t e d t o t h e b o d y ( r e c e i v e r ) i n s t e a d of t o t h e t r i gge r g u a r d .

F r o m a m i l i t a r y p o i n t of v i e w t h e L e e d e s i g n w a s s u p e r i o r t o m a n y of its b o l t - a c t i o n c o n t e m p o r a r i e s . It h a s a 10-sho t m a g a z i n e a n d a 2 0 % s h o r t e r bo l t s t r o k e t h a n t h e M a u s e r o r M a n n -l i che r , p l u s a b o u t 2 0 % less b o l t r o t a ­t i o n . T h e s e f e a t u r e s , c o m b i n e d w i t h a s m o o t h l y w o r k i n g b o l t , m a k e t h e L e e -Enf ie ld e x c e l l e n t fo r r a p i d - f i r e . F r o m

1 T h e r e a re 2 types of bolt re lease in N o . 4 rifles. T o ope ra t e the type in

the N o . 4 Mk. I rifle, the r ea r sight (18) is lifted first and then the bol t re lease (25) is depressed. Pul l the bol t all t he w a y back and re lease the bol t re lease . R o t a t e b reechbol t h e a d ( 6 ) u p in l ine wi th r ib

on bol t and pull it free of gun

3 T o r emove s t r iker (5) , unsc rew breech­bolt head and s t r iker screw ( 1 ) in

cocking piece ( 2 ) . U n s c r e w str iker wi th a simple tool m a d e for the purpose as shown (do not a t t emp t to r e m o v e s t r iker wi th p l i e r s ) . Th is tool engages in the no tches on str iker shou lder . S t r iker can on ly be re­

moved from front of bol t

5 T o r e m o v e but t s tock , c l a m p rifle in padded vise, open t r ap in bu t tp la te

(50), r emove felt wad , and unscrew stock bolt (48) with long screwdriver

a n o t h e r p o i n t of v i e w , t h e L e e - E n f i e l d h a s a f ew d r a w b a c k s . F i r s t , t h e r e a r l o c k i n g a r r a n g e m e n t is n o t q u i t e s o f a v o r a b l e fo r a c c u r a c y as t h e f r o n t l o c k i n g t y p e . S e c o n d , t h e 2 - p i e c e s t o c k a d v e r s e l y af fec ts a c c u r a c y . L a s t b u t n o t l e a s t t h e . 3 0 3 B r i t i s h c a r t r i d g e is r i m m e d , m a k i n g f e e d i n g c r i t i c a l a l ­t h o u g h it s impl i f i e s t h e h e a d s p a c e p r o b ­l e m . T h e s e s h o r t c o m i n g s , w h e t h e r r e a l o r i m a g i n a r y , c a n n o t d e t r a c t f r o m t h e L e e - E n f i e l d ' s e n v i a b l e r e p u t a t i o n for r e l i a b i l i t y a n d r a p i d i t y of fire.

2 T h e bolt re lease in the N o . 4 M k . I* rifle is far s imple r and e l imina tes 3

par t s . S imply open the bol t and ease it back until b reechbo l t head r ides ou t of its guide g roove into the mi l l ed -away po r t i on Vi" back f rom the end of the receiver r ing . Ro ta t e the b r e e c h b o l t h e a d u p w a r d and pull the bol t free of the gun . F l ip u p the

r ea r s ight if necessa ry

A T h e locking bol t (13) has a mul t ip le T" t h read to m o v e t h e safety ca t ch ( 1 4 ) in and out of e n g a g e m e n t . T o o p e r a t e p rope r ly , the pieces m u s t l ine u p w h e n t igh tened toge the r as s h o w n in insert . T o align the pieces , b e su re flat on safety ca tch is rough ly paral le l to flat on lock ing

bol t pin before engag ing t h r e a d s

6 T o r e m o v e m a g a z i n e fo l lower and spr ing , push r ea r of fo l lower d o w n

far e n o u g h for the front end t o c lear t a b ­l ike pro jec t ions o n t h e m a g a z i n e , t hen ease out fo l lower and spr ing •

U.S.-Made No. 4 Rifles / have a cal. .303 No. 4 British Service

rifle which is marked "U. S. Property" on the left side of the receiver. It also has the following marks "S No. 4 Mk I"". / have been told that this gun was made by Savage Arms Corp. Is there any truth in this?

Answer: Yes , y o u h a v e been co r rec t ly i n f o r m e d . D u r i n g W o r l d W a r I I , Savage A r m s C o r p . t u r n e d ou t a b o u t a mi l l ion and a q u a r t e r cal . .303 N o . 4 rifles. T h e

Marking on U. S . -made No. 4 rifle

first 2 0 0 . 0 0 0 were m a d e on a d i rec t o r d e r for t h e Bri t ish, a n d were not U . S. p r o p ­e r ty . T h e r e m a i n i n g mi l l ion or m o r e were m a d e on o r d e r s f r o m o u r g o v e r n m e n t , and fu rn i shed o n lease- lend . T h e s e h a v e the m a r k i n g s desc r ibed by you . as well as the f laming b o m b o r d n a n c e inspec t ion s t a m p .

T h e ea r l i e r guns p r o d u c e d had the or ig i ­nal Enfield l adde r - t ype ad jus t ab le rea r s ight , a n d the Enf ie ld- type bol t re lease at the b a c k of the b o l t h e a d r a c e w a y .

S o m e t i m e d u r i n g the p r o d u c t i o n of the g u n s for the U . S. a c c o u n t , the l adde r - type r ea r s ight was a b a n d o n e d in favor of a 2-he ight t ip -over p e e p s ight . A b o u t the m i d d l e of t ha t c o n t r a c t , o n e of the Savage eng inee r s sugges ted s impl i fy ing the bol t re lease by d o i n g a w a y wi th the bolt lock­ing sl ide at the r ea r of the b o l t h e a d race­way a n d . ins tead , c u t t i n g a c l e a r a n c e a b o u t Vi" b e h i n d the front r ece ive r r ing . If the b o l t h e a d was s t o p p e d at this poin t , it cou ld be ro t a t ed u p w a r d a n d the bol t re­m o v e d f rom the r i f l e .—J.S .H.

Six-Groove Nr. 4 Rifle / recently saw a .303, No. 4 Mk I* rifle

with a six-groove barrel. It had right-hand twist rifling. This rifle is marked "Long Branch 1950". Where was it made? Is this rifle more accurate than No. 4 rifles which have two- or five-groove barrels?

A n s w e r : T h e rifle is Canad ian , and was m a d e in 1950 at the L o n g Branch Arsena l .

A c c o r d i n g to veteran a rmorer , W O l H.L. Keech of the C a n a d i a n A r m y , there was a n u m b e r of s ix -groove rifles m a d e at Long Branch in the 1950s. Bren light mach ine gun barrels wi th six g r o o v e s were p roduced at the s a m e t ime as the No . 4 rifles, and us ing the s a m e type of rifling he lped s tand­ardize manufac tu re . T h e s ix-groove rifle barrel is des igna ted " C M k . 4" .

M a n y C a n a d i a n target shooters bel ieve that the s ix -g roove barre ls are slightly more accura te than f ive-groove or two-g roove .

A n u m b e r of .303 N o . 4 rifles with six-g roove barre ls was p roduced in the U .S . dur ing W o r l d W a r II by S tevens A r m s Div. , of Savage A r m s Corp . These rifles were m a d e for L e n d - L e a s e , and are marked "U.S . Property". — L .O .

2 1

TARGET ACCURACY WITH THE NO. 4 RIFLE By E. G. B. REYNOLDS

TH E British Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE), or No. 1 Rifle,

possesses a reputation for serviceability but not for target accuracy. During World War II, the No. 4 Rifle, its suc­cessor, soon established itself in both respects; its greater accuracy being due to a heavier barrel, stronger receiver, and better sights. It became popular after the war, when Bisley gunsmiths learned how to adjust it properly.

Correctly bedded, a No. 4 Rifle is capable of consistent grouping inside 2 minutes of angle at ranges from 200 to 1000 yds., and is far less likely to lose its zero than its predecessor. At 200 to 500 yds., where wind is less of a problem, large numbers of possible scores are regularly recorded at the Bis­ley National Matches. The bullseye at most ranges subtends slightly less than 2V2 minutes of angle.

To attain a high standard of con­sistent accuracy, the No. 4 Rifle must be bedded to one of 2 methods (called muzzle-bearing and center-bearing) found to give the best results. Fig. 1 shows the common points at which the No. 4 Rifle is bedded for the 2 methods:

1. At (a) between the sear lugs and receiver butt socket.

2. At (b) on receiver around front trigger-guard screw hole and along nar­row ledge on sides of magazine opening, extending for not less than 1V2" in rear of trigger-guard screw hole. Bearing should be even throughout, and fore-end should be clear on either side of barrel socket, i.e., immediately in rear of reinforce.

3. At (c), extending the full length of the reinforce, approximately one-third its width, and in the center. (Depth of trigger-guard screw collar should be such that guard is tightened against face of collar and also stock. It is better to dispense with collar than to have one that is too long.)

In addition to these bearings, the muzzle-bearing method has a bearing at (d) which extends the full length of the raised seating. With the barrel centered in the seating, maintain a clearance of not less than .02" between the barrel and either side of fore-end. A lift of 3 to 5 lbs. is required to raise barrel from seating. The barrel must otherwise

2 2

be free from influence of the fore-end. If lift is less than 3 lbs., lower reinforce bearing (c) and shorten trigger-guard screw collar if necessary. If lift is more than 5 lbs., lower receiver bearing (b) and shorten trigger-guard screw collar.

The center-bearing method, favored by Bisley marksmen, is easier to achieve. It requires a bearing at (e) between center and rear lightening cuts in fore-end, approximately 5" forward of re­ceiver. Build up fore-end at this point

with either IV2" metal shim or wood insert glued in position. Plastic wood may be used. From this bearing for­ward, maintain a clearance of about .1" between barrel and fore-end.

Also necessary for accurate shooting is a clean, definite pull-off, devoid of creep or drag. It should not be heavier than 5V2 lbs. nor lighter than 5 lbs. If less than 5 lbs. it is liable to release completely on the first pressure. Fig. 2 shows the relative positions of trigger

Fig. 1: Stock of No. 4 Rifle, showing points at which it is bedded.

b „

t X C .

e. / /\/ / / j /

V \

a—Jf First [ / Second 11 pressure / / pressure

Fig. 2: P o s i t i o n s of t r igger (a), s ea r (b), a n d b e n t (c).

Fig. 3: L o o s e n e d b a n d s c r e w c a n c a u s e f r o n t h a n d g u a r d ( a r r o w ) t o w o r k f o r w a r d a n d foul f ron t sight p r o t e c t o r .

(a), s e a r (b), a n d b e n t (c) o n t h e first a n d s e c o n d p r e s s u r e s . T o r e d u c e p u l l -off w e i g h t , i n c r e a s e , w i t h a n o i l s t o n e , t h e a n g l e m a d e w i t h t h e v e r t i c a l b y t h e f a c e of t h e b e n t . R e d u c e t h e a n g l e t o i n c r e a s e pul l -of f w e i g h t . If t h e s e a r is d r a w n off t h e b e n t b y t h e first p r e s ­s u r e , r e d u c e t h e h e i g h t of t h e l o w e r n i b (d) w i t h o i l s t o n e o r e m e r y c l o t h u n t i l s e a r a s s u m e s c o r r e c t p o s i t i o n a s s h o w n a t (c). T a k e c a r e t o m a i n t a i n i ts s h a p e . If t h e first p r e s s u r e is t o o s h o r t , r e d u c e t h e h e i g h t o f t h e u p p e r n i b (e).

Match quality rear sight

A m a t c h - q u a l i t y m i c r o m e t e r a p e r t u r e r e a r s igh t g i v i n g a t l e a s t V i - m i n u t e c l i c k a d j u s t m e n t s f o r e l e v a t i o n a n d w i n d a g e , a n d a n u n d e r c u t b l a d e f r o n t s i g h t of a b o u t . 0 6 " t o . 0 8 " w i d t h — t h e w i d e r b l a d e fo r o l d e r e y e s — a r e n e c e s s a r y f o r t a r g e t s h o o t i n g . B r i t i s h - m a d e t a r g e t r e a r s i g h t s a r e g r a d u a t e d in S . R . ( b ) , o r S e r v i c e Rif le C l a s s B , m i n u t e s of a n g l e w h i c h a r e n o t t r u e m i n u t e s . A n S . R . ( b ) m i n u t e g i v e s a m o v e m e n t o n t h e t a r g e t o f 1.2" p e r 1 0 0 y d s . of r a n g e w h e r e a s a t r u e m i n u t e g i v e s a m o v e m e n t o f 1 . 0 4 7 " . T h e d i f f e r e n c e is s m a l l , b u t is s ign i f i can t a t l o n g r a n g e s . F o r i n s t a n c e , a 1 0 - m i n u t e a l l o w a n c e a t 1 0 0 0 y d s . f o r a c r o s s w i n d b l o w i n g a t a b o u t 8 m i l e s p e r h o u r , w o u l d m o v e t h e M . P . I , ( m e a n p o i n t of i m p a c t ) a b o u t 8 3 /4 ft . ; a r e a r s i gh t g r a d u a t e d in S . R . ( b ) m i n u t e s w o u l d m o v e t h e M . P . I . 1 0 ft.

T h e f o l l o w i n g a r e a f ew s u g g e s t i o n s w h i c h s h o u l d h e l p m a i n t a i n a c c u r a c y :

1. T e s t s c r e w s r e g u l a r l y fo r t i g h t n e s s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e f r o n t t r i g g e r g u a r d s c r e w w h i c h p r o v i d e s t h e m a i n a n c h o r a g e of r e c e i v e r t o b a r r e l .

2 . K e e p u p p e r a n d l o w e r b a n d s c r e w s t i gh t . If t h e s e b e c o m e l o o s e a s s h o w n in F i g . 3 , t h e f r o n t h a n d g u a r d ( a r r o w ) m a y g r a d u a l l y w o r k f o r w a r d a n d f o u l t h e f r o n t s igh t p r o t e c t o r . T h i s e a s i l y o v e r l o o k e d c o n d i t i o n wi l l c a u s e d i s ­p l a c e m e n t of z e r o . G r o u p s wi l l s p r e a d b u t wi l l f o l l o w n o de f in i t e p a t t e r n .

3 . A l o o s e b u t t s t o c k m a y c a u s e t h e s h o t s t o s p r e a d l a t e r a l l y .

4 . A l o o s e c o c k i n g p i e c e wi l l c a u s e a n i r r e g u l a r pull-off .

5 . T h e effect o f f i r ing w i t h w e t c a r ­t r i d g e s o r w i t h a w e t c h a m b e r is c o n ­s i d e r a b l e , a n d is m u c h t h e s a m e a s fir­i n g w i t h o i l e d c a r t r i d g e s . W h e n a w e t c a r t r i d g e is fired, t h e e x p a n d i n g c a s e d o e s n o t g r i p t h e i n n e r w a l l s o f t h e c h a m b e r a n d t h e b a c k w a r d t h r u s t o n t h e b o l t h e a d is i n c r e a s e d . T h i s e x c e s s i v e p r e s s u r e o n t h e r e c e i v e r u p s e t s b a r r e l v i b r a t i o n s t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h e a n g l e of j u m p i n c r e a s e s a b o u t 3 t o 5 m i n u t e s a n d p o s s i b l y m o r e . T h i s is d u e t o t h e r e a r - l o c k i n g L e e - E n f i e l d a c t i o n . •

BSA-Enfield Rifle

/ have been corresponding with a hunter who wants to sell his BSA-Enfield sporting rifle. He claims that this rifle is chambered for the 7.9 mm Mauser cartridge, but I have never heard of an Enfield in this caliber. Do you think he is correct?

Answer : T h e hunter is correct . T h e B S A firm in Eng land p r o d u c e d Enfield spor t ing rifles in Ca l . 7.9 m m M a u s e r b e t w e e n the W o r l d W a r s . These were m a d e by using modif ied Pat tern 14 Enfield (not L e e - E n ­field) mil i tary rifle ac t ions and s tocks , and fitting them with new barrels . T h e 2 4 . 5 " barre ls were e q u i p p e d wi th spor t ing- type , open s ights .

T h e reason for c h a m b e r i n g this rifle to fire the 7.9 m m (8x57) M a u s e r car t r idge w a s that this round was universa l ly popu la r and

Lee-Enfield .22 Rifle / have a British Lee-Enfield rifle adapted

to the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. This rifle has the .303 magazine, but with the follower and spring missing. The left side of the magazine is marked ".22", and one of the markings on the receiver is "TV*". Is this rifle a single-shot or a repeater? Is it a ser­vice model? Please identify it.

Answer : You have the Brit ish No . 2, M k I V * rifle (earl ier des igna t ion .22-in. R .F . Short Rifle M a r k IV) wh ich w a s used by the Brit ish Serv ice for recruit t ra ining and low-cost target pract ice . It w a s a convers ion from the ca l . .303-in . S M L E (Shor t M a g a z i n e Lee-Enf ie ld) M k III and M k III* rifles, the convers ion cons is t ing of rebarre l -ing to .22, fitting a bol t head with an offset str iker, rep lac ing the firing pin wi th a shor ter

Lee-Enfield Stocks My British .303 Lee-Enfield rifle has a

buttstock which is too short for me. Is a longer stock for this rifle available, or would you suggest that I fit a thick recoil pad to ob­tain the proper length?

A n s w e r : But t s tocks for Lee-Enfie ld rifles were m a d e in four l eng ths , and ev i ­dent ly you have one of the shor ter ones .

Leng th of pull (d is tance from the cen te r of the but tpla te to the cen te r of the t r igger) is about 13 .25" wi th the s tandard- length L e e -Enfield but ts tock. But t s tocks 1/2" shor ter and 1/2" longer than s tandard are avai lable . These are marked " S " and " L " , respec t ive ly , on top of the but ts tock jus t forward of the but tplate . The re is a lso a Ban tam- leng th Lee-Enf ie ld but ts tock for soldiers of ex ­t remely small s tature. Ban tam length but t ­s tocks are m a r k e d " B " , and are one full inch

ob ta inab le in mos t parts of the wor ld . S o m e Bri t ish hunte rs were par t icular ly fond of this ca r t r idge , and used it ex tens ive ly in Africa on med ium-s i zed g a m e . A second reason for the 7.9 m m M a u s e r c h a m b e r i n g was that use of the .303 Brit ish car t r idges in India for spor t ing pu rpose s was prohib i ted .

A n o t h e r c h a m b e r i n g for this rifle was 9.5 m m (9 .5x57) Mann l i che r -Schoenauer . Th i s round , a l so k n o w n by the Brit ish as the .375 R i m l e s s Ni t ro -Expres s , was popu la r in Africa for b ig g a m e hunt ing .

B S A spor t ing rifles with Pat tern 14 ac ­t ions were a l so offered in t w o high-perfor­m a n c e propr ie ta ry ca l ibers : .26 Belted R im­less Ni t ro -Express ( B S A ) , and .33 Bel ted R imles s Ni t ro -Express ( B S A ) . Rifles c h a m ­bered for these propr ie tary car t r idges fea­tures a new spor t ing s tock and an aper ture sight on the receiver b r idge . A folding-leaf type open rear sight on the barrel was a lso p rov ided . — L .O .

one , and r e m o v i n g the spr ing and fol lower from the .303 m a g a z i n e . T h e magaz ine box is a recep tac le for fired car t r idge cases , wh ich fall into it from the face of the bolt head as the bolt is m o v e d rearward . N o ejec­tor is p rov ided . T h e rifle is a s ingle-shot and canno t be readi ly c h a n g e d to a repeater be ­cause of the bolt head des ign and lack of an ejector .

A c c o r d i n g to the exce l len t book , T h e Lee-Enf ie ld Rifle, by British Major E .G .B . R e y n o l d s , this rifle was adop ted by the Bri t ish Serv ice in 1921 and was used for m a n y years . In 1950, the British Serv ice adop ted the Cal . .22, Rifle N o . 8, M k I, for t ra ining pu rposes , and dur ing the past several years , m a n y N o . 2, M k I V * rifles were sold at low cost in the U . S .

W h i l e the N o . 2, M k IV* is not a valu­able co l l ec to r ' s i tem, it is in terest ing and sui table for informal target shoo t ing . — L .O .

shor ter than s tandard . Lee-Enfie ld but­t s tocks of va ry ing lengths m a y be avai lable f rom surplus a rms dea lers w h o sell spare par ts . Y o u cou ld a lso fit a thick recoil pad, as you men t ion , or pu rchase a spor t ing but­ts tock from Reinhar t Fajen or E .C. B i shop & Sons , both located in W a r s a w , M o .

T h e service but ts tock can be easi ly r e m o v e d by us ing a long sc rewdr ive r to turn out the s tock bolt . T h e s tockbol t is acces ­sible after o p e n i n g the t rap in the but tpla te and r e m o v i n g the fiber w a d on top of the s tock bolt . T h e stock bolt of the Lee-Enfield N o . 1 rifle is square at the front and engages a keepe r plate in the fore-end. It is therefore necessa ry to r e m o v e the fore-end before the s tock bolt can be turned . Th i s is not neces ­sary wi th the No . 4 rifle.

If a recoil pad is fitted, use sc rews instead of adhes ive to fasten the pad to the s tock so that the pad can be r emoved if t ightening the s tock bolt should b e c o m e necessary . — L .O .

2 3

A Target Rifle For The British Army L39A1 satisfies both the ammunition and accuracy requirement By E. G. B. REYNOLDS

SI N C E t a r g e t s h o o t i n g b e c a m e a n a p ­p r o v e d s p o r t in t h e B r i t i s h A r m y

in 1 9 6 9 , t h e r e h a s b e e n a c o n s i d e r a b l e S e r v i c e i n t e r e s t in c o m p e t i t i v e s h o o t i n g .

T h e B r i t i s h S e r v i c e a r m , t h e 7 . 6 2 m m . S e l f - l o a d i n g Ri f le , b e i n g u n s u i t a b l e fo r s e r i o u s c o m p e t i t i v e s h o o t i n g u n d e r B r i t i s h N a t i o n a l Rif le A s s o c i a t i o n r u l e s , t h e r e a r o s e a r e q u i r e m e n t in t h e a r m e d f o r c e s f o r a n a c c u r a t e t a r g e t rifle f i r ing 7 . 6 2 m m . N A T O a m m u n i t i o n . T h i s r e ­q u i r e m e n t h a s n o w b e e n sa t i s f ied b y t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e L 3 9 A 1 , w h i c h is a c o n v e r s i o n f r o m t h e . 3 0 3 " N o . 4 Rif le . M a r k s V2 a n d 2 , t o 7 . 6 2 m m . T h e s e f o r m s of t h e N o . 4 w e r e c h o s e n f o r c o n v e r s i o n b e c a u s e t h e y h a v e t h e t r i g g e r m o u n t e d o n t h e b o d y ( r e c e i v e r ) a n d n o t o n t h e t r i g g e r - g u a r d , a s in e a r l i e r M a r k s of t h i s rifle. D u e l a r g e l y t o w o o d w o r k i n f l u e n c e , t h e t r i g g e r - g u a r d m o u n t i n g d o e s n o t e n s u r e a c o n s i s t e n t pull-off .

T h e c o n v e r s i o n c o n s i s t s o f f i t t ing a h e a v y 7 . 6 2 m m . b a r r e l m a n u f a c t u r e d

b y t h e E n f i e l d R o y a l S m a l l A r m s F a c ­t o r y , m o d i f y i n g t h e b o d y a n d e x t r a c t o r t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e 7 . 6 2 m m . c a r t r i d g e , a n d r e s t y l i n g t h e w o o d w o r k . F i t t e d w i t h c o m m e r c i a l p a t t e r n m a t c h s i g h t s t o s u i t t a r g e t s h o o t i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s , t h i s n e w m e m b e r o f t h e E n f i e l d f a m i l y of rifles is c a p a b l e o f a h i g h s t a n d a r d o f a c c u ­r a c y a n d c a n h o l d its o w n a g a i n s t t h e m u c h m o r e e x p e n s i v e p u r p o s e - b u i l t t a r ­g e t r if les n o w in u s e in B r i t i s h t a r g e t s h o o t i n g . A l r e a d y a p o o l o f 2 0 0 rif les is a v a i l a b l e f o r i s s u e f r ee o n l o a n t o u n i t s f r o m O r d n a n c e s t o r e .

T h e b a r r e l , w h i c h p r o t r u d e s f r o m t h e s t o c k f o r e - e n d f o r 15 i n c h e s , is n o t m a c h i n e d in t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l w a y , t h e r i f l ing b e i n g f o r m e d b y c o l d s w a g i n g o v e r a s u i t a b l e f o r m e r . T h e b o r e is n o t l a p p e d a f t e r m a n u f a c t u r e , b u t t h e a p ­p e a r a n c e is i d e n t i c a l t o a m a c h i n e d b a r r e l .

T h e f o r e - e n d is t h e N o . 4 Rif le f o r e -e n d s h o r t e n e d t o w i t h i n a b o u t h a l f a n i n c h of t h e l o w e r b a n d . T h e b u t t is t h e s a m e as t h a t o f t h e N o . 4 Rif le , e x c e p t t h a t a r e c e s s is m a c h i n e d u n d e r t h e k n u c k l e t o h o l d s p a r e f o r e s i g h t e l e m e n t s in a s u i t a b l e c o n t a i n e r . T h e h a n d g u a r d is a m o d i f i e d f o r m of t h a t o n t h e N o . 8 . 22 Rif le .

M a g a z i n e s w h i c h f u n c t i o n w i t h t h e 7 . 6 2 m m . c a r t r i d g e a r e a v a i l a b l e , b u t a s o n l y s ing le l o a d i n g is p e r m i t t e d u n d e r B r i t i s h N a t i o n a l Rif le A s s o c i a t i o n r u l e s , t h e o r i g i n a l . 3 0 3 m a g a z i n e s a r e r e t a i n e d in t h e s e t a r g e t rifles a n d p e r m i t o n l y s i n g l e r o u n d l o a d i n g .

T h e p r i n c i p a l r e q u i r e m e n t s in s t o c k ­i n g u p a r e t h a t t h e f o r e - e n d s h o u l d s e a t firmly in t h e f o l l o w i n g p l a c e s :

1. O n t h e b o d y ( r e c e i v e r ) a t i ts r e a r e n d , b e t w e e n t h e s e a r l u g s a n d t h e f a c e o f t h e b u t t s o c k e t .

2 . O n t h e b o d y a t i ts f r o n t e n d a r o u n d t h e f r o n t t r i g g e r - g u a r d s c r e w . T h e s e a t i n g s h o u l d e x t e n d u n i f o r m l y r e a r w a r d o n e a c h s i d e o f t h e m a g a ­z i n e o p e n i n g .

3 . T h e ful l l e n g t h of t h e b a r r e l r e i n ­f o r c e . T h e b e a r i n g s h o u l d b e c e n ­t r a l , a n d t h e s i d e s of t h e f o r e - e n d c l e a r o f t h e b a r r e l . A m i n i m u m c l e a r a n c e of 0 . 0 4 5 i n c h s h o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d a r o u n d t h e b a r r e l a t t h e f r o n t e n d o f t h e f o r e - e n d a n d h a n d g u a r d . F r o m t h e r e i n f o r c e f o r w a r d , t h e b a r r e l s h o u l d b e c l e a r o f t h e w o o d w o r k .

T h e r e a r e f o u r s izes o f b o l t - h e a d s a v a i l a b l e , m a r k e d 0 , 1, 2 , a n d 3 ( t h e l o n g e s t ) , f o r e n s u r i n g c o r r e c t h e a d s p a c e .

Specifications, L39A1 Rifle

Cal iber „ _ 7.62 mm. NATO Length (with normal butt) . . .46.5 inches Weight _ 9.75 lbs. Length of barrel 27.5 inches Number of rifling grooves 4 Depth of grooves , 0.004 inch Width of grooves _ 0.170-0.175 inch Twist of rifling Right hand, one

turn in 12 inches

T h e n e w L 3 9 A 1 t h u s fills in a s i m p l i ­fied w a y t h e s a m e r o l e as t h e n e w E n f i e l d E n v o y ( s e e " B N R A P i c k s N e w E n f i e l d F o r P a l m a " , T H E A M E R I C A N R I F L E M A N , A p r . , 1 9 7 0 , p . 8 ) . T h e E n ­

v o y , a l s o p r o d u c e d b y t h e E n f i e l d R o y a l S m a l l A r m s F a c t o r y , d i f fers in b e i n g fitted w i t h a 7 . 6 2 m m . m a g a z i n e f o r full 7 . 6 2 m m . o p e r a t i o n , a s p e c i a l b u t t -s t o c k d i m e n s i o n e d a c c o r d i n g t o c u r r e n t p r e f e r e n c e s fo r m a t c h s h o o t i n g , a n d m a t c h s i g h t s a l r e a d y i n s t a l l e d . T h e E n ­v o y w a s u s e d b y t h e t h r e e t e a m s ( B r i t ­i sh , C a n a d i a n , a n d U . S.) in l a s t y e a r ' s P a l m a M a t c h , f i red a t B i s l ey w i t h e x ­c e l l e n t s c o r e s . •

18L1

7 . 6 2 m m . L39A1 rifle a d o p t e d for t a r g e t s h o o t i n g by t h e Br i t i sh Army.

L39A1 rifle is c o n v e r t e d from . 3 0 3 No. 4 Mks. Vz a n d 2 , by rebar -re l ing for 7 . 6 2 m m . NATO, s h o r t e n i n g fore -end a n d h a n d g u a r d , a n d i n s t a l l i n g c o m m e r c i a l m a t c h - t y p e s i g h t s .

2 4

.303 BRITISH The .303 British car t r idge was adop ted by Great

Britain in 1888. In the countr ies of the former British Empire , the .303 British car t r idge achieved populari ty comparable to that of the .30-06 in the United States. Originally loaded with a compressed blackpowder charge and a 215-grain jacketed r o u n d -nose bullet, the car t r idge was conver ted in 1892 to a smokeless load using the famous British cordi te propellant . T h e round-nose 215-grain bullet was replaced by a 174-grain pointed bullet in the general-purpose military r o u n d about 1914, and tbis load cont inued in use until the car t r idge became obsolete with the adopt ion of the 7 .62mm N A T O car t r idge by British forces in the 1960's. A great variety of special-purpose military loads was also used, includ­ing one containing a pointed boattail bullet and single-base smokeless powder similar to the Du Pont IMR types. This car t r idge, called the Mark VII IZ , was in tended especially for machine guns , in which

the boattail bullet provided improved long-range effectiveness, and the single-base powder p roduced less erosion than did the British cordi te in the mach inegun barrels .

The working chamber p ressure of the .303 British car t r idge is about 45,000 c.u.p., in equivalent U.S. units, and it the re fore p roduces m o r e energy than the con t empora ry .30-40 Krag which is limited to abou t 40,000 c.u.p. Jacke ted bullets for the .303 British should be of .311 to .312 of an inch in d iameter .

The m a x i m u m produc t average chamber pressure for the .303 British car t r idge , as loaded for spor t ing use by U.S. manufac tu re r s , should not exceed 48,200 c.u.p.

Max. Case Length: 2.222" Trim-To Length: 2.212" Max. Overall Length: 3.075" Primer Size: Large Rifle Bullet Dia.: 311"

RIFLE LOADS FOR THE .303 BRITISH

LOAD BULLET POWDER VELOCITY PRESSURE CASE PRIMER CARTRIDGE BARREL NUMBER WEIGHT BRAND SHAPE TYPE WEIGHT BRAND TYPE FPS CUP BRAND BRAND TYPE OAL LENGTH SOURCE

1 100 SPR RNN SP 44.0 IMR 3031 2933 CIL CCI 200 25 SPR

2 150 SPR PTD SP 31.0 HER RE7 2400 41,200 WIN WIN WLR 2.935 24 HER

3 150 HDY SPP SP 44.0 IMR 3031 2787 44,900 REM WIN WLR 2.840 26 NRA

4 150 HDY SPP SP 41.8 HOD BLC2 2600 REM FED 210 3.035 25'A HDY

5 150 45.5 ACC 2230 2620 REM CCI 200 24 ACC

6 150 SRA PTD SP 48.5 IMR 4320 2808 43.830 REM WIN WLR 2.945 26 NRA

7 150 HDY SPP SP 45.6 HOD H380 2600 REM FED 210 3.035 25VS HDY

8 150 SPR PTD SP 45.0 HER RE12 2700 42,900 WIN WIN WLR 2.935 24 HER

9 150 HDY SPP SP 50.0 WIN 760 2600 REM FED 210 3.035 25V5 HDY

10 150 SPR PTD SP 50.0 IMR 4350 2584 CIL CCI 200 25 SPR

11 174 HDY RNN SP 43.1 HOD H380 2400 REM FED 210 2.975 25V4 HDY

12 174 HDY RNN SP 47.2 WIN 760 2400 REM FED 210 2.975 25VS HDY

13 174 HDY RNN SP 46.5 IMR 4350 2400 REM FED 210 2.975 25VS HDY

14 180 SPR RNN SP 30.0 HER RE7 2050 39,600 WIN WIN WLR 2.940 24 HER

15 180 SRA PTD SP 42.0 IMR 3031 2533 44.220 REM WIN WLR 3.075 26 NRA

16 180 40.0 ACC 2230 2300 REM CCI 200 24 ACC

17 180 SPR RNN SP 40.0 HER RE12 2340 42.600 WIN WIN WLR 2.940 24 HER

18 180 SPR RNN SP 47.0 IMR 4831 2421 CIL CCI 200 25 SPR

19 180 46.0 ACC 3100 2350 REM CCI 200 24 ACC

Abbreviations: ACC - Accurate Arms Co.; CIL - Canadian Industries, Ltd.; HDY - Hornady Manufacturing Co.; HER - Hercules Inc.; HOD - Hodgdon Powder Co.; IMR - IMR Powder Co.; PTD - Pointed; RNN - Round nose; SP - Soft point; SPP - Spire Point; SPR - Speer; SRA - Sierra Bullets