british army lee enfield no.4 and no.5 rifles
DESCRIPTION
This is a presentation delivered to a monthly meeting of the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association (HBSA) of Great Britain in London, UK. Website: www.hbsa-uk.org by Tony Edwards SMLE Mark III 1907, SMLE Mark III* 1916, SMLE Matk V 1922, Rifle No.1 Mark VI 1929, Rifle No.4 1933, troop trials, ROF Fazakerley, ROF Maltby, US Savage Arms, J Stevens Chicopee Falls, Canada Small Arms Ltd, Canadian Arsenals Ltd, No.4 Mark 1 1939, Rifle No.4 Mark 1*, Rifle No.4 Mark 2 1949, Rifle No.4 Mark 1/2 1949, Rifle No.4 Mark 1/3 1949, Rifle No.4(T), Rifle No.7 Mark 1 , Rifle C No.7 Mark 1, Rifle No.9 Mark 1, Rifle No.5 Mark 1, experimental Rifle No.6, proposed Rifle No.5 Mark 2, No.5 Take-down, 7.92mm Kurz Rifle No.5, Rifle .22" No8, 7.62 series rifles, L8A1, L8A2, L8A3, L8A4, L39A1, L42A1, L59A1 DP rifle by Tony EdwardsTRANSCRIPT
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The No.4 and No.5 Rifles
Tony Edwards
HBSAFebruary 2012
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SMLE Mark III
January 1907 Loc 13853
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SMLE Mark III*January 1916 LoC 17622
(Production commenced late 1915)Omitted:
Long Range sightsWindage adjustment
Magazine cut-offLug on firing pin collar
Swivel lug in front of magazine
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SMLE Mk.I & Conv. 91,118SMLE Mk.III 252,998SMLE Mk.III* 1,333,865
Rifle Stocks in 1924
Nomenclature changes May 1926
Rifle, SMLE Mk.III Rifle No.1 Mk.III
Rifle, SMLE Mk.III* Rifle No.1 Mk.III*
Rifle, Short, .22 RF Mk.IV Rifle No.2 Mk.IV*
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SMLE Mark V
Not announced in LoC
Approx 20,000 made between 1922-24
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Rifle No.1 Mark VIPrototype in 1923
Troop Trial rifles 1929-31
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No.1 Mark VI Plain furniture
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No.4 Troop trialsEnfield 1933
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No.4 Prototypeleft side detail showing
flat side body
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By 1935:
A pattern (No.1 Mk.VI) 6B Pattern (No.1 Mk.VI) 1,025B Pattern (No.4 Mk.I) 2,500C pattern (No.4 Mk.I) 56
Trials between:No.4 Mk.ILightened No.1 Mk.IIILightened P.’14 (Soley)
No.4 to be put in production in the event of war in Europe
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Production
In the U.K. two new ROFs were built
and
BSA capacity expanded with new factory at Small Heath, Birmingham
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R.O.F. Fazakerley
Near Liverpool
Came on line in June 1941 and at its height had
12,000 workers
70% women
Continued in production post war
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R.O.F. Maltby
Near Sheffield
Started production in May 1940
Acted as coordination centre for sub-contractors like peddled Scheme in WWI
Had less production capacity than Fazakerley
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In the United States:
Savage Arms
Three factories of J. Stevens at Chicopee Falls, Mass.
First rifle test fired on 25 July 1941
Many stamped “US PROPERTY”
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In Canada
Small Arms Ltd, later Canadian Arsenals Ltd
Canadian Government owned.
First 5 rifles 30 June 1941, 735 workers
By end of 1942, 5,500 workers
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The rifles….
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No.4 Mark IApproved 15 November 1939
Made at all factories.
Essentially the No.4 Mark I Troop Trials rifles with some minor changes.
Five groove, left hand twist
Trigger mounted on trigger guard
Spring loaded bolt release catch
Screw adjustable sight
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© Chris MacDonald 2012
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© Chris MacDonald 2012
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© Chris MacDonald 2012
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No.4 Mark I*Not announced in LoC
Only made in U.S. and Canadian factories
Simplified production
Bolt release now by slot in rail
Slab cocking piece
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© Chris MacDonald 2012
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No.4 Mark 2
Introduced 31 March 1949
Made at Fazakerley
Trigger mounted on receiver
Beech woodwork
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© Chris MacDonald 2012
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No.4 Mark 1/2
Introduced 31 March 1949
Made at Fazakerley, Enfield and BSA
Conversion of Mark 1 to Mark 2 standard
Trigger mounted on receiver
Sights updated
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No.4 Mark 1/3
Introduced 31 March 1949
Made at Fazakerley
Conversion of Mark 1* to Mark 2 standard
Trigger mounted on receiver
Sights updated
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© Chris MacDonald 2012
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Bodies
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Barrels:
Original Mark I was five groove, left hand twist
Also approved were:
Two groove Mark IIThree groove Not awarded Mark numberThree groove (A & P) Mark IIIFour groove Not awarded Mark numberSix groove C Mark IV
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Foresights:
Mark I Machined, full length blade
Mark I* Similar to Mark I but with slot in base
Mark II Similar to Mark I but longer platform
Mark III Similar to mark I* but longer platform
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Foresight protectors
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Rear sights
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Long Branch and Savage early Mark I sights
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No.4 with fibre glass furniture
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Simplified Rifle, Type 1 1942
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Simplified Rifle, Type 2 1942
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No.4T
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No.4T
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Camouflaged No.4T in Italy 1944
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Canadian alternative mount
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No.4 Spigot launcher
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The .22 inch No.4 based rifles……
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Rifle No.7 Mark 1Conversion by BSA
Has shortened bolt like No.8
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Rifle C No.7 Mark 1Made as a .22 inch rifle
Has rimfire bolthead like SMLE
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Rifle No.9 Mark 1Conversion by
Parker Hale for the Royal Navy
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The Rifle No.5 Mark I……
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No.5 Mark I
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Experimental Rifle No.6
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Mark IMark 2
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Proposed No.5 Mark 2
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No.5 Mark 2 Muzzle detail
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No.5 take-down for Paratroops
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No.5 Take-down butt dove-tail
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7.92mm Kurz No.5
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.22” No.5
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.22” No.8 Rifle
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The 7.62mm Era…..
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L8 seriesA1, A2, A3 and A4
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L39A1
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L42A1
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L59A1 DP Rifle
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Finally, the numbers……
No.4 Production
UK 1941-44 2,021,913Stevens - Savage 1,236,000Long Branch 905,731 (330,000 for UK)UK 1948-54 500,000 approx
TOTAL 4,663,644
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THE END