Lee-Enfield 1

Lee- Enfield

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk III (SMLE Mk III, aka Rifle, No. 1 Mk III)

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III Type Bolt-action rifle

Place of origin United Kingdom

Service history

In service 1895-1926 (MLE)1907–present (SMLE)

Used by See Users

Wars Second Boer WarFirst World WarSecond World WarVarious Colonial conflictsIrish War of IndependenceMalayan EmergencyKorean WarArab-Israeli WarNepalese Civil WarAfganistan conflict

Production history

Designer James Paris Lee, RSAF Enfield

Produced 1895-1907 (MLE)1907– (SMLE)

Number built 17,000,000+ [1]

Variants Short, Magazine Lee Enfield Mk. I, Mk. I*, Mk.III, Mk. III*, Rifle No. 4 Mk. 1, Mk. 1* (produced bySavage and Long Branch), Mk. 1(T) Sniper Rifle, Mk. 2, Rifle No 5 Mk. 1 (Jungle Carbine)

Specifications

Weight 4 kg (8.8 lb)

Length 1130 mm (44.5 in)

Barrel length 635 mm (25 in)

Cartridge .303 Mk VII SAA Ball

Action Bolt-action

Muzzle velocity 744 m/s (2441 ft/s)

Effective range 550 yd (503 m)[2]

Maximum range 3000 yd (2743 m) [2]

Feed system 10-round magazine, loaded with 5-round charger clips

Lee-Enfield 2

Sights Sliding ramp rear sights, Fixed-post front sights, "Dial" long-range volley sights; Telescopic sights on Snipermodels.

The Lee-Enfield bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle was the main firearm used by the military forces of theBritish Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century. It was the British Army's standard riflefrom its official adoption in 1895 until 1957.[3] [4]

A redesign of the Lee-Metford which had been adopted by the British Army in 1888, the Lee-Enfield superseded theearlier Martini-Henry, Martini-Enfield, and Lee-Metford rifles. It featured a ten-round box magazine which wasloaded with the .303 British cartridge manually from the top, either one round at a time or by means of five-roundchargers. The Lee-Enfield was the standard issue weapon to rifle companies of the British Army and otherCommonwealth nations in both the First and Second World Wars (these commonwealth nations included Canada,Australia, and South Africa, among others).[5] Although officially replaced in the UK with the L1A1 SLR in 1957, itremained in widespread British service until the early 1960s and the 7.62 mm L42 sniper variant remained in serviceuntil the 1990s. As a standard-issue infantry rifle, it is still found in service in the armed forces of someCommonwealth nations,[6] notably with the Indian Police, which makes it the longest-serving military bolt-actionrifle still in official service.[7] Total production of all Lee-Enfields is estimated at over 17 million rifles.[1]

The Lee-Enfield takes its name from the designer of the rifle's bolt system – James Paris Lee, and the factory inwhich it was designed – the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield. In Australia, New Zealand, and Canada the riflebecame known simply as the "303". So closely was the weapon associated with the British Empire that in the filmBreaker Morant, a group of prisoners is said to have been shot "under rule three-oh-three"[8]

Design and historyThe Lee-Enfield rifle was derived from the earlier Lee-Metford, a mechanically similar black powder rifle, whichcombined James Paris Lee's rear-locking bolt system with a barrel featuring rifling designed by William EllisMetford. The Lee action cocked the striker on the closing stroke of the bolt, making the initial opening much fasterand easier compared to the "cock on opening" of the Mauser design. The rear-mounted lugs place the operatinghandle much closer to the operator, over the trigger, making it quicker to operate than traditional designs like theMauser.[4] The rifle was also equipped with a detachable sheet-steel, 10-round, double-column magazine, a verymodern development in its day. Originally, the concept of a detachable magazine was opposed in some British Armycircles, as some feared that the private soldier might be likely to lose the magazine during field campaigns. Earlymodels of the Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield even used a short length of chain to secure the magazine to the rifle.[9]

The fast-operating Lee bolt-action and large magazine capacity enabled a well-trained rifleman to perform the "Madminute" firing 20 to 30 aimed rounds in 60 seconds, making the Lee-Enfield the fastest military bolt-action rifle ofthe day. The current world record for aimed bolt-action fire was set in 1914 by a musketry instructor in the BritishArmy—Sergeant Instructor Snoxall—who placed 38 rounds into a 12 inch wide target at 300 yards (270 m) in oneminute.[10] Some straight-pull bolt-action rifles were thought faster, but lacked the simplicity, reliability, andgenerous magazine capacity of the Lee-Enfield. First World War accounts tell of British troops repelling Germanattackers who subsequently reported that they had encountered machine guns, when in fact it was simply a group oftrained riflemen armed with SMLE Mk III rifles.[11]

Lee-Enfield 3

Standard Mk VII .303 inch cartridge forLee-Enfield rifle

The Lee-Enfield was adapted to fire the .303 British service cartridge,a rimmed, high-powered rifle round. Experiments with smokelesspowder in the existing Lee-Metford cartridge seemed at first to be asimple upgrade, but the greater heat and pressure generated by the newsmokeless powder wore away the shallow, rounded, Metford riflingafter approximately 6000 rounds.[3] Replacing this with a newsquare-shaped rifling system designed at the Royal Small ArmsFactory (RSAF) Enfield solved the problem, and the Lee-Enfield wasborn.[3]

Models/marks of Lee-Enfield Rifle and service periods

Model/Mark In Service

Magazine Lee-Enfield 1895–1926

Charger Loading Lee-Enfield 1906–1926

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk I 1904–1926

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk II 1906–1927

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield MkIII/III*

1907–Present

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk V 1922–1924 (trials only; 20,000 produced)

Rifle No. 1 Mk VI 1930–1933 (trials only; 1,025 produced)

Rifle No. 4 Mk I 1941–Present

Rifle No. 4 Mk I* 1942–Present

Rifle No 5 Mk I "Jungle Carbine" 1944–Present

Rifle No. 4 Mk 2 1949–Present

Rifle 7.62mm 2A 1964–Present

Rifle 7.62mm 2A1 1965–Present

Magazine Lee-EnfieldThe Lee-Enfield rifle was introduced in November 1895 as the .303 calibre, Rifle, Magazine, Lee-Enfield,[3] ormore commonly Magazine Lee-Enfield, or MLE (sometimes spoken as "emily" instead of M, L, E). The next year ashorter version was introduced as the Lee-Enfield Cavalry Carbine Mk I, or LEC, with a 21.2 inch (538 mm)barrel as opposed to the 30.2 inch (767 mm) one in the "long" version.[3] Both underwent a minor upgrade series in1899, becoming the Mk I*.[12] Many LECs (and LMCs in smaller numbers) were converted to special patterns,namely the New Zealand Carbine and the Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine, or NZ and RIC carbines,respectively.[13] Some of the MLEs (and MLMs) were converted to load from chargers, and designated ChargerLoading Lee-Enfields, or CLLEs.[14]

Lee-Enfield 4

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk IA shorter and lighter version of the original MLE—the famous Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield, or SMLE(sometimes spoken as "Smelly", rather than S, M, L, E)[7] —was introduced on 1 January 1904.[15] The barrel wasnow halfway in length between the original long rifle and the carbine, at 25.2 inches (640 mm).[15]

The SMLE's visual trademark was its blunt nose, with only the bayonet lug protruding a small fraction of an inchbeyond the nosecap. The new rifle also incorporated a charger loading system,[16] another innovation borrowed fromthe Mauser rifle;[17] notably the charger system is different from the fixed "bridge" that would become the standard.The shorter length was controversial at the time: many Rifle Association members and gunsmiths were concernedthat the shorter barrel would not be as accurate as the longer MLE barrels, that the recoil would be much greater, andthe sighting radius would be too short.[18]

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk III

Magazine Cut-Off on an SMLE Mk III rifle—thisfeature was deleted on the Mk III* rifle.

The iconic Lee-Enfield rifle, the SMLE Mk III, was introduced on 26January 1907,[7] along with a Pattern 1907 (P'07) Sword Bayonet andfeatured a simplified rear sight arrangement and a fixed, rather than abolt-head-mounted sliding, charger guide. The design of thehandguards and the magazine were also improved, and the chamberwas adapted to fire the new Mk VII High Velocity spitzer .303ammunition. Many early model rifles, of Magazine Lee Enfield(MLE), Magazine Lee Metford (MLM), and SMLE type, wereupgraded to the Mk III standard. These are designated Mk IV Cond.,with various asterisks denoting subtypes.[19]

During the First World War, the standard SMLE Mk III was found to be too complicated to manufacture (an SMLEMk III rifle cost the British Government £3/15/-)[20] , and demand was outstripping supply, so in late 1915 the MkIII* was introduced,[19] which incorporated several changes, the most prominent of which were the deletion of themagazine cut-off,[17] and the long range volley sights.[21] The windage adjustment capability of the rear sight wasalso dispensed with, and the cocking piece was changed from a round knob to a serrated slab.[21] Rifles with some orall of these features present are found, as the changes were implemented at different times in different factories andas stocks of existing parts were used.[22] The magazine cut-off was reinstated after the First World War ended,[21]

and not entirely dispensed with until 1942.

The inability of the principal manufacturers (RSAF Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms, and London Small Arms) tomeet military production demands led to the development of the "peddled scheme", which contracted out theproduction of whole rifles and rifle components to several shell companies.[23]

The SMLE Mk III* (redesignated Rifle No.1 Mk III* in 1926) saw extensive service throughout the Second WorldWar as well, especially in the North African, Italian, Pacific and Burmese theatres in the hands of British andCommonwealth forces. Australia and India retained and manufactured the SMLE Mk III* as their standard-issuerifle during the conflict[24] , and the rifle remained in Australian military service through the Korean War, until itwas replaced by the L1A1 SLR in the late 1950s. The Lithgow Small Arms Factory finally ceased production of theSMLE Mk III* in 1953.[19]

Lee-Enfield 5

Pattern 1914/US M1917The Pattern 1914 Enfield and M1917 Enfield rifles are frequently assumed to be part of the Lee-Enfield family dueto either the use of the word "Enfield" in connection with these rifles, their service history, their design at the RoyalSmall Arms Factory at Enfield Lock or, in the case of the P14, its calibre (.303). P14 and M1917 rifles are Mauser98 derivatives and not based on the Lee action, and are therefore not part of the Lee-Enfield family of rifles.[25]

Inter-War periodIn 1926 the British Army changed their nomenclature;[26] the SMLE became known as the Rifle No. 1 Mk III orIII*,[26] with the original MLE and LEC becoming obsolete along with the earlier SMLE models. Many Mk III andIII* rifles were converted to (.22 rimfire) calibre training rifles, and designated Rifle No. 2, of varying marks. (ThePattern 1914 became the Rifle No. 3.)[26]

The SMLE design was fairly expensive to manufacture because of the many forging and machining operationsrequired. In the 1920s several experiments were carried out to help with these problems, reducing the number ofcomplex parts. The SMLE Mk V (later Rifle No. 1 Mk V), used a new receiver-mounted aperture sighting system,which moved the rear sight from its former position on the barrel.[27] The increased gap resulted in an improvedsighting radius, improving sighting accuracy, and the aperture improved speed of sighting (making it also known as a"battle sight"). The magazine cutoff was also reintroduced, and an additional band was added near the muzzle foradditional strength during bayonet use.[27] Unfortunately, this design was found to be even more complicated andexpensive to manufacture than the Mk III,[27] and so was not developed or issued beyond a trial production of thisrifle numbered approximately 20,000 units,[27] produced between 1922 and 1924 at RSAF Enfield. The No. 1 Mk VIalso introduced a heavier "floating barrel" that was independent of the forearm, allowing the barrel to expand andcontract without contacting the forearm and changing the zero of the rifle. The receiver-mounted rear sights andmagazine cutoff were also present,[28] and production numbered 1025 units, produced between 1930 and 1933.[29]

Rifle No 4

Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I*, manufactured byLongbranch.

By the late 1930s the need for new rifles grew, and the Rifle, No. 4 MkI was first issued in 1939 but not officially adopted until 1941.[30] TheNo. 4 action was similar to the Mk VI,[31] but lighter, stronger, andmost importantly, easier to mass produce.[31] Unlike the SMLE, the No4 Lee-Enfield barrel protruded from the end of the forestock. The No.4 rifle was considerably heavier than the No. 1 Mk. III, largely due to

its heavier barrel,[31] and a new bayonet was designed to go with the rifle: a spike bayonet,[31] which was essentiallya steel rod with a sharp point, and was nicknamed "pigsticker" by soldiers. Towards the end of the Second WorldWar, a bladed bayonet was developed, originally intended for use with the Sten gun—but sharing the same mount asthe No. 4's spike bayonet—and subsequently the No. 7 and No. 9 blade bayonets were issued for use with the No. 4rifle as well.[32]

During the course of the Second World War, the No. 4 rifle was further simplified for mass-production with thecreation of the No. 4 Mk I* in 1942,[33] which saw the bolt release catch removed in favour of a more simplifiednotch on the bolt track of the rifle's receiver.[33] It was produced only in North America,[33] with Long BranchArsenal in Canada and Savage-Stevens Firearms in the USA producing the No. 4 Mk I* rifle from their respectivefactories.[33] On the other hand, the No.4 Mk I rifle was primarily produced in the United Kingdom.[34]

In the years after the Second World War, the British produced the No. 4 Mk 2 (Arabic numerals replaced Roman numerals for official designations in 1944) rifle which saw the No. 4 rifle being refined and improved with the trigger being hung from the receiver and not from the trigger guard,[35] the No. 4 Mk 2 rifle being fitted with beech wood stocks and brass buttplates (during World War II, the British dispensed with brass buttplates for their No.4

Lee-Enfield 6

rifles in favour of steel ones to reduce production costs and to speed up rifle production). With the introduction of theNo. 4 Mk 2 rifle, the British refurbished all their existing stocks of No. 4 rifles and brought them up to the samestandards as the No. 4 Mk 2.[36] No. 4 Mk 1 rifles so upgraded were re-designated as the No. 4 Mk I/2 rifle, whilstNo. 4 Mk I* rifles that were brought up to Mk 2 standards were re-designated as the No. 4 Mk I/3 rifle.[33]

Rifle No 5 Mk I—The "Jungle Carbine"

Lee-Enfield No. 5 Mk 1 "Jungle Carbine"

Later in the war the need for a shorter, lighter rifle led to thedevelopment of the Rifle, No. 5 Mk I (the "Jungle Carbine").[37] Witha severely cut-down stock, a prominent flash hider, and a receivermachined to remove all unnecessary metal, the No. 5 was both shorterand 2 lb (0.9 kg) lighter. Despite a rubber butt-pad, the .303 round

produced too much recoil for the No. 5 to be suitable for general issue. Production of the No. 5 Mk I ceased in 1947due to an "inherent fault in the design",[38] often said to be a "wandering zero" and accuracy problems.[38] However,the No. 5 Mk I was popular with soldiers owing to its light weight, portability, and shorter overall length than astandard Lee-Enfield rifle.[39] The Jungle Carbine nickname was created as a marketing gimmick by US importers.The No. 5 was first issued to the British 6th Airborne Division and in use during their occupation of Denmark in1945.

An Australian experimental version of Jungle Carbine, designated Rifle, No. 6, Mk I[40] was also developed, usingan SMLE MK III* as a starting point (as opposed to the No. 4 Mk I used to develop the No. 5 Mk I Jungle Carbine).The No. 6 Mk I never entered full production, and examples today are extremely rare and valuable to collectors.[37]

A "Shortened and Lightened" version of the SMLE Mk III* rifle was also trialled by the Australian military,[41] anda very small number were manufactured at SAF Lithgow during the course of the Second World War.[41]

The term "Jungle Carbine" was popularised in the 1950s by the Santa Fe Arms Corporation, a U.S. importer ofsurplus rifles, used in the hopes of increasing sales of a rifle that had little U.S. market penetration. It was never anofficial military designation, but British and Commonwealth troops serving in the Burmese and Pacific theatresduring World War Two were known to unofficially refer to the No. 5 Mk I as a "Jungle Carbine"[37] . Both the No. 4and No. 5 rifles served in Korea (as did the No.1 Mk III* SMLE—mostly with Australian troops).[7]

Lee-Enfield 7

Lee-Enfield conversions

Sniper rifles

Canadian sniper Sergeant Harold Marshall carries aNo. 4 Mk. I (T).

British Soldier with Lee Enfield (modernreenactment)

During both World Wars and the Korean War, a number ofLee-Enfield rifles were modified for use as sniper rifles. TheAustralian Army modified 1,612[42] Lithgow SMLE No1 Mk III*rifles by adding a heavy target barrel, cheek-piece, and a WorldWar One era Pattern 1918 telescope, creating the SMLE No1 MkIII* (HT). (HT standing for "Heavy Barrel, Telescopic Sight),[7]

which saw service in the Second World War, Korea, and Malayaand was used for Sniper Training through to the late 1970s.[43]

During the Second World War, standard No. 4 rifles, selected fortheir accuracy during factory tests, were modified by the additionof a wooden cheek-piece, and telescopic sight mounts designed toaccept a No. 32 3.5x telescopic sight.[44] This particular sightprogressed through three marks with the Mk 1 introduced in 1942,the Mk 2 in 1943 and finally the Mk 3 in 1944. Many Mk.3s andMk.2/1s (Mk.2s Modified to Mk.3 standard) were later modifiedfor use with the 7.62 mm NATO L42A1 Sniper Rifle. They wereknown by the designation Telescope Straight, Sighting L1A1.

Holland and Holland, the famous British sporting gunmanufacturers, converted the majority of No 4 Mk I (T) sniperrifles, with the rest converted by BSA and, in Canada, LongBranch arsenal.[45] These rifles were extensively employed invarious conflicts until the late 1960s, and when the British militaryswitched over to the 7.62x51 NATO round in the 1950s, many ofthe No 4 Mk I (T) sniper rifles were converted to the new calibreand designated L42A1.[35] The L42A1 sniper rifle continued as theBritish Army's standard sniper weapon until the mid 1980s, beingreplaced by Accuracy International's L96.[46]

.22 training rifles

Numbers of SMLE rifles were converted to .22 calibre training rifles, in order to teach cadets and new recruits thevarious aspects of shooting, firearms safety, and marksmanship at a markedly reduced cost per round. Initially rifleswere converted from obsolete Magazine Lee-Metford and Magazine Lee-Enfield rifles[47] but from the First WorldWar onwards SMLE rifles were used instead. These were known as .22 Pattern 1914 Short Rifles during The FirstWorld War and Rifle, No 2 Mk IV from 1921 onwards.[48] They were generally single-shot affairs, although somewere later modified with special adaptors to enable magazine loading.[49] No. 2 Mk IV rifles are externally identicalto a .303 calibre SMLE Mk III* rifle, the only difference being the .22 calibre barrel, and bolthead and extractorwhich have been modified to fire .22 calibre rimfire cartridges.[50]

After the Second World War, the Rifle, No. 7, Rifle, No. 8 and Rifle, No. 9, all .22 rimfire trainers and/or targetrifles based on the Lee action, were adopted or in use with Cadet units and target shooters throughout theCommonwealth.[51]

Lee-Enfield 8

L59A1 Drill RifleThe L59A1 was a conversion of the No4 Rifle (all Marks) to a Drill Purpose rifle that was incapable of beingrestored to a firing configuration. It was introduced in service in the 1970s.

The L59A1 arose from British government concerns over the vulnerability of school Combined Cadet Forces' stocksof small arms to theft by revolutionaries and terrorists, in particular the Irish Republican Army following raids onCCF armories in the 1950s and 1960s. L59A1 Drill Rifles were rendered incapable of being fired, and of beingrestored to a fireable form, by extensive modifications that included the welding of the barrel to the receiver,modifications to the receiver that removed the supporting structures for the bolt's locking lugs and blocking theinstallation of an unaltered bolt, the removal of the firing pin's tip, the blocking of the firing pin's hole in the bolthead and the removal of most of the bolt body's locking lugs. A plug was welded in place in the chamber, and awindow was cut in the side of the barrel.

Production and manufacturers

Charlton Automatic RifleSmall numbers of Lee-Enfield rifles were built as, or converted to, experimental semi-automatic loading systems,such as the British Howell and South African Reider and the best-known of which was the Charlton AutomaticRifle, designed by a New Zealander, Philip Charlton in 1941 to act as a substitute for the Bren and Lewis gun lightmachine guns which were in chronically short supply at the time.[52] [53] During the Second World War, the majorityof New Zealand's land forces were deployed in North Africa. When Japan entered the war in 1941, New Zealandfound itself lacking the light machine guns that would be required for local defence should Japan choose to invade,and so the New Zealand Government funded the development of self-loading conversions for the Lee-Enfield rifle.The end result was the Charlton Automatic Rifle (based on the obsolete MLE),[54] which was issued to Home Guardunits in NZ from 1942. Over 1,500 conversions were made, including a handful by the Australian firm Electroluxusing Lithgow SMLE Mk III* rifles.[55]

The two Charlton designs differed markedly in external appearance (amongst other things, the New ZealandCharlton had a forward pistol grip and bipod, whilst the Australian one did not), but shared the same operatingmechanism.[56] Most of the Charlton Automatic Rifles were destroyed in a fire after the Second World War,[57] but afew examples survive in museums and private collections.

De Lisle Commando carbine

The initial wooden-stocked De Lisle with a fittedsuppressor.

The Commando units of the British military requested a silenced riflefor eliminating sentries, guard dogs, and other clandestine operationaluses during the Second World War. The resulting weapon, designed byW.G. De Lisle, was effectively an SMLE Mk III* receiver redesignedto take a .45 ACP cartridge and associated magazine, with the barrelshortened and replaced with an integral silencer.[20]

Conversion to 7.62x51mm NATODuring the 1960s, the British Government and the Ministry of Defence converted a number of Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles to 7.62x51mm NATO as part of a program to retain the Lee-Enfield as a reserve weapon.[58] The Lee-Enfield No. 4 series rifles that were converted to 7.62 mm NATO were re-designated as the L8 series of rifles[59] with the rifles being refitted with 7.62 mm NATO barrels, new bolt faces and extractor claws, new rear sights and new 10-round 7.62 mm NATO magazines that were produced by RSAF Enfield and Sterling Armaments to replace the

Lee-Enfield 9

old 10-round .303 British magazines.[60] The outward appearance of the L8 series rifles were no different from theoriginal No. 4 rifles, except for the new barrel and magazine.[61] The L8 series of rifles consisted of L8A1 rifles(converted No.4 Mk2 rifles), L8A2 rifles (converted No.4 Mk1/2 rifles), L8A3 rifles (converted No.4 Mk1/3 rifles),L8A4 rifles (converted No.4 Mk1 rifles), and L8A5 rifles (converted No.4 Mk1* rifles).The results of the trials that were conducted on the L8 series rifles were mixed, and the British Government and theMinistry of Defence decided not to convert their existing stocks of Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles to 7.62 mm NATO.Despite this, the British learned from the results of the L8 test program and used them in successfully convertingtheir stocks of No. 4 (T) sniper rifles to 7.62 mm NATO which led to the creation of the L42A1 series sniperrifles.[62]

Ishapore 2A/2A1At some point just after the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Ishapore Rifle Factory in India began producing a newtype of rifle known as the Rifle 7.62 mm 2A, which was based on the SMLE Mk III*[63] and was reworked to usethe 7.62 mm NATO round. Externally the rifle is very similar to the classic Mk III*, with the exception of themagazine, which is more "square" than the SMLE magazine, and usually carries twelve rounds instead of ten,[64]

although a number of 2A1s have been noted with 10-round magazines.Ishapore 2A/2A1 rifles are made with improved (EN) steel (to handle the increased pressures of the 7.62 mm NATOround)[65] and the extractor is redesigned to cope with the rimless round. From 1965–1975 (when production isbelieved to have been discontinued), the sights were changed from 2000 m to 800 m, and the rifle re-designatedRifle 7.62 mm 2A1.[66]

The Ishapore 2A and 2A1 rifles are often incorrectly described as ".308 conversions"- The 2A/2A1 rifles are notconversions of .303 calibre SMLE Mk III* rifles; rather, they are newly manufactured firearms and are nottechnically chambered for commercial .308 Winchester ammunition. However, many 2A/2A1 owners shoot suchammunition in their rifles with no problems, although it should be noted that .308 Winchester cartridges maygenerate higher pressures than 7.62 mm NATO, even though the rounds are otherwise interchangeable.[7]

Production and manufacturersIn total over 16 million Lee-Enfields had been produced in several factories on different continents when productionin Britain shut down in 1956, at ROF (Royal Ordnance Factory) Fazakerley. Contributing to the total was the RifleFactory Ishapore (RFI) at Ishapore in India, which continued to produce the SMLE in both .303 and 7.62 mm NATOuntil the 1980s, and is still manufacturing a sporting rifle based on the SMLE Mk III action, chambered for a .315calibre cartridge[67] the Birmingham Small Arms Company factory at Shirley near Birmingham, and SAF Lithgow inAustralia, who finally discontinued production of the SMLE Mk III* in 1950. During the First World War alone, 3.8million SMLE rifles were produced in the UK by RSAF Enfield, BSA, and LSA alone.[68]

Lee-Enfield 10

The wristguard markings on a 1918-dated ShortMagazine Lee-Enfield Mk III* rifle manufactured

by the London Small Arms Co. Ltd

From the late 1940s, legislation in New South Wales, Australia,heavily restricted .303 British calibre (and other "military calibre")rifles,[69] so large numbers of SMLEs were converted to "wildcat"calibres such as .303/25, .303/22, .303/270 and the popular 7.7x54round.[70] .303/25 calibre sporterised SMLEs are very common inAustralia today, although getting ammunition for them is very difficultand has been since the 1980s.[69] The restrictions placed on "militarycalibre" rifles in New South Wales were lifted in 1975, and manypeople who had converted their Lee-Enfields to the "wildcat" roundsconverted their rifles back to .303 British.[69] Post-Second World War,SAF Lithgow converted a number of SMLE rifles to commercialsporting rifles- notably the .22 Hornet model- under the "Slazenger"

brand.[71]

RFI in India and SAF Lithgow in Australia both produced single-shot conversions of the SMLE chambered for a.410 shotgun shell. The .410 conversions made by Ishapore were generally used as riot shotguns for crowd control inIndia, and were originally chambered for a 2" British .410 brass shotshell,[72] basically a blown out .303 Britishcartridge. As these cartridges have not been manufactured for decades, ammunition is available only throughhandloading. Many of these conversions have been reamed out to accept modern 2 1/2" and 3" .410 shotshells in theUnited States. As the pressure for even high velocity .410 ammunition are well below standard .303 British pressureranges these conversions, when done by a competent gunsmith, are quite safe to shoot. The SAF Lithgow/Slazenger.410 shotguns were, however, chambered for commercial .410 shells, as they were primarily intended for civiliansale, with over 7,000 eventually being manufactured.[73]

Numerous attempts were made to convert the various single-shot .410 shotgun models to a bolt-action repeatingmodel by removing the wooden magazine plug and replacing it with a standard 10-round SMLE magazine. None ofthese is known to have been successful[74] , though some owners have adapted 3-round magazines for Savage andStevens shotguns to function in a converted SMLE shotgun.

List of manufacturersThe manufacturer's names found on the MLE, CLLE, and SMLE Mk I—Mk III* rifles and variants are:

Marking Manufacturer Country

Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield United Kingdom

Sparkbrook Royal Small Arms Factory Sparkbrook United Kingdom

BSA Co Birmingham Small Arms Co. Ltd United Kingdom

LSA Co London Small Arms Co. Ltd United Kingdom

Lithgow Lithgow Small Arms Factory Australia

GRI Ishapore Rifle Factory British India

RFI Ishapore Rifle Factory India(Post-Independence)

Note 1: "SSA" and "NRF" markings are sometimes encountered on First World War-dated SMLE Mk III* rifles. These stand for "Standard Small

Arms" and "National Rifle Factory", respectively. Rifles so marked were assembled using parts from various other manufacturers, as part of a

scheme during the First World War to boost rifle production in the UK. Only SMLE Mk III* rifles are known to have been assembled under this

program.

Lee-Enfield 11

Note 2: GRI stands for "Georgius Rex, Imperator" (Latin for "King George, Emperor (of India)", denoting a rifle made during the British Raj. RFI

stands for "Rifle Factory, Ishapore", denoting a rifle made after the Partition of India in 1947.

For the No. 4 Mk I, No. 4 Mk I* and No. 4 Mk 2 rifles:

Marking Manufacturer Country

ROF (F) Royal Ordnance Factory Fazakerley United Kingdom

ROF (M) Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby United Kingdom

B Birmingham Small Arms Co. Ltd United Kingdom

M47C Birmingham Small Arms Factory (Shirley) United Kingdom

Longbranch Longbranch Arsenal Canada

US PROPERTY [S] Savage Arms U.S.

POF Pakistan Ordnance Factories Pakistan

Note 1 : Second World War UK production rifles had manufacturer codes for security reasons. For example, BSA Shirley is denoted by M47C,

ROF(M) is often simply stamped "M", and BSA is simply stamped "B".

Note 2: Savage-made Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I* rifles are all stamped "US PROPERTY". They were supplied to the UK under the Lend-Lease

programme during the Second World War. No Savage Lee-Enfields were ever issued to the US military; the markings existed solely to maintain

the pretence that American equipment was being lent to the UK rather than permanently sold to them.[75]

Australian International Arms No. 4 Mk IV

AIA M10-B2 Match Rifle

The Brisbane-based Australian International Arms also manufacture a modernreproduction of the No. 4 Mk II rifle, which they market as the AIA No. 4 MkIV. The rifles are manufactured by parts outsourcing and are assembled andfinished in Australia, chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO and feed from standardM14 magazines. The No. 4 Mk IV is designed with the modern shooter in mind,and has the ability to mount a telescopic sight without drilling and tapping thereceiver.[76] AIA also offers the AIA M10-A1 rifle, a Jungle Carbine-styled version chambered in 7.62x39mmRussian, which uses AK-47 magazines[77] Late 2009 the supply of these firearms has been limited that some modelsare now unavailable in Australia( Oct 2009 the 7.62x39mm is unavailable ). Magazine supply/importation (M14 &AK 10 single stack mag) whilst perfectly legal within Australia, it has been spasmodically curtailed by AustralianFederal Customs Gun politics in Australia. It is possible to obtain a 15 round (the maximum allowed by law) M14magazine for the M10-B2 match rifles in particular, provided an import permit from the appropriate LicensingServices Division can be obtained in some States [78] .

Khyber Pass CopiesA number of British Service Rifles, predominantly the Martini-Henry and Martini-Enfield, but also the variousLee-Enfield rifles, have been produced by small manufacturers in the Khyber Pass region of the Pakistani/Afghaniborder.[79]

"Khyber Pass Copies", as they are known, tend to be copied exactly from a "master" rifle, which may itself be aKhyber Pass Copy, markings and all, which is why it's not uncommon to see Khyber Pass rifles with the "N" in"Enfield" reversed, amongst other things.[80]

The quality on such rifles varies from "as good as a factory-produced example" to "dangerously unsafe", tendingtowards the latter end of the scale. Khyber Pass Copy rifles cannot generally stand up to the pressures generated bymodern commercial ammunition,[80] and are generally considered unsafe to fire under any circumstances.[7]

Khyber Pass Copies can be recognised by a number of factors, notably:

Lee-Enfield 12

• Spelling errors in the markings; as noted the most common of which is a reversed "N" in "Enfield")• V.R. (Victoria Regina) cyphers dated after 1901; Queen Victoria died in 1901, so any rifles made after 1901

should be stamped "E.R" (Edwardius Rex—King Edward VII or King Edward VIII) or "G.R" (GeorgiusRex—King George V or King George VI).

• Generally inferior workmanship, including weak/soft metal, poorly finished wood, and badly struck markings.[80]

The Lee-Enfield in military/police use today

An Afghan mujahid carries a Lee-Enfield in August1985.

The Lee-Enfield family of rifles is the oldest bolt-action rifledesign still in official service;[7] Lee-Enfield rifles are used byreserve forces and police forces in many Commonwealthcountries, particularly Canada, where they are the main rifle issuedto the Canadian Rangers, and India, where the Lee-Enfield iswidely issued to reserve military units and police forces.[7] Indianpolice officers carrying SMLE Mk III* and Ishapore 2A1 rifleswere a familiar sight throughout railway stations in India after theBombay train bombings of 2006 and the November 2008 Mumbaiattacks. They are also still seen in the hands of Pakistani andBangladeshi second-line and police units. In the UK, thesingle-shot .22 calibre Rifle No. 8 is in regular use with UK CadetForces as a light target rifle.[81]

Many Afghan participants in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistanwere armed with Lee-Enfields (a common rifle in the Middle Eastand South Asia), and Lee-Enfield rifles are still manufactured inthe Khyber Pass region today, as bolt-action rifles remain effective weapons in desert and mountain environmentswhere long-range accuracy is more important than rate of fire.[7] Lee-Enfield rifles are still popular in the regiontoday, despite the presence and ready availability of more modern weapons like the SKS and the AK-47.[7]

The SMLE is still used in conflicts to this day.

Photos from the recent civil war in Nepal showed that the governmenttroops were being issued SMLE Mk III/III* rifles to fight the Maoistrebels, and that the Maoists were armed with SMLE rifles (amongstother weapons) as well.[82] Lee-Enfield rifles have also been seen inthe hands of both the Naxalites and the Indian police in the ongoingMaoist insurgency in rural India.

The Lee-Enfield in civilian use

Lee-Enfields are very popular as hunting rifles and target shootingrifles. Many surplus Lee-Enfield rifles were sold in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and SouthAfrica after the Second World War, and a fair number have been 'sporterised', having had the front furniture reducedor removed and a scope fitted so that they resemble a bolt-action sporting rifle.[7] Top-notch accuracy is difficult toachieve with the Lee-Enfield design,[31] as it was intended to be a battle rifle and not a sharpshooter's weapon,[31]

and thus the Enfield is nowadays overshadowed by derivatives of Paul Mauser's design as a target shooting arm.They did, however, continue to be used at Bisley up into the 1970s with some success, and continue to performextremely well at Military Service Rifle Competitions throughout the world.[7]

Many people still hunt with as-issued Lee-Enfield rifles, with commercial .303 British ammunition proving especially effective on medium-sized game.[7] Soft-point .303 ammunition is widely available for hunting purposes,

Lee-Enfield 13

though the Mark 7 military cartridge design often proves adequate because its tail-heavy design makes the bullet yawviolently and deform after hitting the target.[83] [84]

The Lee-Enfield rifle is a popular gun for historic rifle enthusiasts and those who find the 10-round magazine,loading by charger clips, and the rapid bolt-action useful for Practical Rifle events. Since formation in 1998, theorganisations such as the Lee Enfield Rifle Association have greatly assisted in not just preserving rifles in shootingcondition (many Lee-Enfields are being deactivated and sold as "wall-hangers" to collectors who do not hold aFirearms Licence in countries where they are required), but holding events and competitions wholly accurate interms of the various courses of fire and targets of the period. Lee-Enfields are also popular with competitors inservice rifle competitions in many British Commonwealth countries—notably Australia, which boasts a very activeMilitary Service Rifle shooting community.[7]

The extensive use of the Lee-Enfield rifle for service rifle shooting competitions in nations like Great Britain andAustralia is also due to other factors like the gun laws of both Great Britain and Australia which strictly regulate,limit, and prohibit the private ownership of functioning ex-military and military-style semi-automatic centrefire riflesby nearly all licensed firearm owners in both Great Britain[85] and Australia.[86] (For more information see Gunpolitics in the United Kingdom and Gun politics in Australia.)

Users•  Australia[87] [88]

•  Canada[89] [88]

•  France (Foreign Legion, Free French Forces)[90] [91]

•  India[92]

•  Italy (post-World War II Italian Army and Navy) [93]•  Iraq[94]

•  Ireland[95]

•  Malaysia[96]

•  Nepal[97]

•  New Zealand[98]

•  Ottoman Empire[99]

•  Pakistan[100]

•  South Africa[101]

•  United Kingdom & Colonies[102] [103]

•  United States (Used by units of the American Expeditionary Force attached to British and Australian unitsduring the First World War)[104] [105]

See also• Enfauser

References• § 11715, List of Changes in British War Material ("LoC"), H.M. Stationer's Office (HMSO), periodical• Enright, John (February 1998). Centrefires in Australia- 1948 and On. Australian Shooter's Journal.• Griffiths, Clarrie (February 1998). 1948? Yes, I Remember.... Australian Shooter's Journal.• Hogg, Ian V. (1978). The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Firearms. ISBN 9780894790317.• Skennerton, Ian (2007). The Lee-Enfield. Gold Coast QLD (Australia): Arms & Militaria Press. ISBN 0

949749-82-6.

Lee-Enfield 14

• Skennerton, Ian (2004, 19). Small Arms Identification Series No. 19: Australian S.M.L.E. Variations. Gold CoastQLD (Australia): Arms & Militaria Press. ISBN 0949749 49 4.

• Skennerton, Ian (2004, 18). Small Arms Identification Series No. 18: 7.62mm L42A1 Sniper, L39A1, 2A &Lee-Enfield Conversions. Labrador, QLD: Arms & Militaria Press. ISBN 0 94974948 6 0.,

• Skennerton, Ian (2001). Small Arms Identification Series No. 12: Special Service Lee-Enfields (Commando &Auto Models). Gold Coast QLD (Australia): Arms & Militaria Press. ISBN 0949749 29 X.

• Skennerton, Ian (1997). Small Arms Identification Series No. 7:.303 Magazine Lee-Metford and MagazineLee-Enfield. Gold Coast QLD (Australia): Arms & Militaria Press. ISBN 0949749 25 7.

• Skennerton, Ian (1994, 4). Small Arms Identification Series No. 4: .303 Rifle, No. 5 Mk I. Gold Coast QLD(Australia): Arms & Militaria Press. ISBN 0949749 21 4.

• Skennerton, Ian (1994, 2). Small Arms Identification Series No. 2: .303 Rifle, No. 4, Marks I & I*, Marks 1/2, 1/3& 2. Gold Coast QLD (Australia): Arms & Militaria Press. ISBN 0949749 20 6.

• Skennerton, Ian (1994, 1). Small Arms Identification Series No. 1: .303 Rifle, No. 1, S.M.L.E. Marks III and III*.Gold Coast QLD (Australia): Arms & Militaria Press. ISBN 0-949749-19-2.

• Skennerton, Ian (1993). The Lee-Enfield Story. Gold Coast QLD (Australia): Arms & Militaria Press.ISBN 1-85367-138-X.

• Smith, W.H.B. (1979). 1943 Basic Manual of Military Small Arms (Facsimile Edition). Harrisburg PA (USA):Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-1699-6.

• War Office (1929 (1999 reprint)). Textbook of Small Arms 1929. London (UK), Dural (NSW): H.M.S.O/RickLanders.

• Wilson, Royce (September 2007). SMLE: The Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk III. Australian Shooter Magazine.• Wilson, Royce (May 2006). Jungle Fever- The Lee-Enfield .303 Rifle. Australian Shooter Magazine.• Wilson, Royce (August 2007). Straight up with a twist- the Martini-Enfield .303 Rifle. Australian Shooter

Magazine.• Skennerton, Ian (2001). Small Arms Identification Series No. 14:.303 Lewis Machine Gun. Gold Coast QLD

(Australia): Arms & Militaria Press. ISBN 0949749 42 7.

External links• The Lee-Enfield [106]

• Enfield Rifle Research [107]

• Lee-Enfield Rifle Association [108]

• Lee-Enfield Training Rifles [109]

• The Lee-Metford [110]

• Demonstration of rapid aimed fire at Bisley [111]

• Demonstration of rapid fire - 10 aimed shots in 9 seconds [112]

• Rieder Automatic Rifle Attachment [113]

Lee-Enfield 15

References[1] Skennerton (1993), pp.153, 230[2] "Rifle, Short Magazine Lee Enfield". The Lee-Enfield Rifle Website.[3] Skennerton (2007), p.90[4] Hogg (1978), p.215[5] Skennerton (2007), p.587[6] Skennerton (2007), p.264[7] Wilson (2007)[8] Say Who Made Her So: Breaker Morant and British Empire Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Film and Television Studies

Volume 38.2 (2008) E-ISSN: 1548-9922 Print ISSN: 0360-3695 DOI: 10.1353/flm.0.0042 James J. KirschkeVillanova University[9] Skennerton (2007), p.60[10] Skennerton, Ian. "Arms and Militaria, Bulletin Board" (http:/ / www. skennerton. com/ bb. html). . Retrieved 28 January 2009.[11] Skennerton (2007), p.159[12] Skennerton (2007), p.91[13] Skennerton (2007), pp.453–454[14] Skennerton (1997), p.8[15] Skennerton (1994, 1), p.5[16] LOC § 11715[17] Skennerton (2007), p.132[18] Skennerton (2007), p.126[19] Skennerton (1994, 1), p.9[20] Skennerton (2001), p.7[21] Skennerton (2007), p.161[22] Skennerton (1994, 1), p.7[23] Skennerton (2007), pp.171–172[24] Skennerton (2007), p.338[25] War Office (1929), pp.7-8[26] Skennerton (1994, 1), p.8[27] Skennerton (2007), p.187[28] Skennerton (2007), p.189[29] Skennerton (2007), p.194[30] Skennerton (1994, 2), p.5[31] Smith (1979), p.21[32] Skennerton (2007), p.406[33] Skennerton (1994, 2), p.9[34] Skennerton (2007), p.230[35] Skennerton (1994, 2), p.7[36] Skennerton (1994, 2), p.6[37] Wilson (2006)[38] Skennerton (1994, 4), p.8[39] Skennerton (1994, 4), p.7[40] Skennerton (2007), p.349[41] Skennerton (2007), p.347[42] Skennerton (2007), p.345[43] Skennerton (2004, 19), p.36[44] Skennerton (2007), p.227[45] Skennerton (2007), p.228[46] ""Enfield Enforcer"" (http:/ / www. amstevens. fsnet. co. uk/ Inforeq. htm). Amstevens.fsnet.co.uk. . Retrieved 28 January 2009.[47] Skennerton (2007), pp.481–483[48] Skennerton (2007), pp.484–489[49] Skennerton (2007), pp.484,488[50] Skennerton (2007), p.489[51] Skennerton (2007), pp.504–509[52] Skennerton (2001), p.33[53] Skennerton (2007), p.203[54] Skennerton (2001), p.37[55] Skennerton (2007), pp.37–38[56] Skennerton (2007), p.505

Lee-Enfield 16

[57] Skennerton (2007), p.205[58] http:/ / anonymous-generaltopics. blogspot. com/ 2009/ 02/ lee-enfield. html[59] Skennerton (2007), p.255[60] Skennerton (2007), p.256-259[61] Skennerton (2007), pp.255–260[62] Skennerton (2007), pp.260–264[63] Skennerton (2007), p.515[64] Skennerton (2007), p.370[65] Skennerton (2004, 18), p.5[66] Skennerton (2004, 18), p.14[67] ".315" Sporting Rifle" (http:/ / ofbindia. gov. in/ products/ data/ weapons/ wsc/ 5. htm). Indian Ordnance Factories. . Retrieved 28 January

2009.[68] Skennerton (2007), p.171[69] Enright (1998)[70] Skennerton (2007), p.351[71] Skennerton (2007), p.549[72] Skennerton (2007), p.367[73] Skennerton (2007), p.379[74] Griffiths (1998)[75] Skennerton (2007), Chapter 15[76] "Improved Enfield Rifles" (http:/ / www. lawranceordnance. com/ lawrance-ordnance/ rifles-aia. html). Australian International Arms

Rifles/Lawrance Ordnance. . Retrieved 28 January 2009.[77] Skennerton (2007), p.553[78] Firearms Act, SCHEDULE 2, Part (8)(b) (http:/ / www. austlii. edu. au/ au/ legis/ vic/ consol_act/ fa1996102/ sch2. html), accessed 11th

January, 2010[79] Skennerton (2007), p.368[80] Skennerton (1993), p.334[81] "Lee-Enfield Rifle No.8 for the British Forces" (http:/ / www. rifleman. org. uk/ Enfield_Rifle_No. 8. html). UK N.R.A Historic Arms

Resource Centre. . Retrieved 30 January 2009.[82] "Nepalese army begins arms storage" (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 1/ hi/ world/ south_asia/ 6540949. stm). BBC. 10 April 2007. . Retrieved 28

January 2009.[83] "The Box O' Truth #37 - The Deadly .303 British" (http:/ / www. theboxotruth. com/ docs/ bot37. htm). The Box O' Truth. . Retrieved 28

January 2009.[84] War Office (1929), p.364[85] "Firearms Law" (http:/ / www. sportingshooter. co. uk/ guns-and-shooting/ useful-stuff/ firearms-law). Sporting Shooter Magazine (UK). .

Retrieved 31 January 2009.[86] "SSAA—National Firearms Licensing Guide" (http:/ / www. ssaa. org. au/ newssaa/ securitylegislation/ lawindex. htm). Sporting Shooters'

Association of Australia. . Retrieved 31 January 2009.[87] Skennerton (2007), p.345[88] Hogg, Ian (2002). Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-00-712760-X.[89] Skennerton (2007), p.587[90] Jordon, David (2005). The History of the French Foreign Legion: From 1831 to Present Day. The Lyons Press. p. 159. ISBN 1592287689.[91] Sumner, Ian (1998). The French Army 1939-45. Osprey Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 1855327074.[92] Skennerton (2007), Chapter 11[93] http:/ / www. euroarms. net/ EFD/ index. htm[94] Skennerton (2007), p.587[95] Skennerton (2007), p.587[96] Skennerton (2007)[97] Skennerton (2007), Chapter 11[98] Skennerton (2007), p.587[99] http:/ / www. turkmauser. com/ Enfield/[100] Skennerton (2007), Chapter 11[101] Skennerton (2007), p.587[102] Skennerton (2007)[103] Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4.[104] "Weapons of the 107th: Lee-Enfield Mk.III" (http:/ / www. oryansroughnecks. org/ weapons. html). . Retrieved 11 September 2009.[105] Shurtleff, Leonard G. (2003). "Doughboy's Rifle: (It wasn't necessarily a Springfield)" (http:/ / www. worldwar1. com/ dbc/ dbrifle. htm).

Doughboy Center: The Story of the American Expeditionary Forces. The Great War Society. . Retrieved 11 September 2009.[106] http:/ / enfieldrifles. profusehost. net/

Lee-Enfield 17

[107] http:/ / www. webpages. uidaho. edu/ ~stratton/ en-page. html[108] http:/ / www. leeenfieldrifleassociation. org. uk/[109] http:/ / www. rifleman. org. uk/ Enfield_small-bore_training_rifles. html[110] http:/ / www. militaryrifles. com/ Britain/ Metford. htm[111] http:/ / uk. youtube. com/ watch?v=7LmYQhEfuxM& NR=1[112] http:/ / www. youtube. com/ watch?v=8x3lOZ4yX6Y& feature=related[113] http:/ / www. rieder. 741. com

Article Sources and Contributors 18

Article Sources and ContributorsLee- Enfield  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=362796204  Contributors: 1000 Sangheilis and Darknuts, 1B6, A. Carty, Abraham, B.S., Acc3ss, Ahmadhashmi88, Akirn,Alansohn, Aldis90, AliveFreeHappy, Andrewa, Antandrus, Antique Military Rifles, Aodhdubh, Asams10, Asdnhk, Ashley Pomeroy, Axeman, Bacchus87, Big boy Bad boy, Blackshod,Bobblewik, BonesBrigade, BroadArrow, Brucarmac, Brumburger, Bukvoed, BusterD, CCHS, Ccfjg, Chappo, Chris Ducat, Chuckstar, Cla68, Clawson, Clocker, ColourBurst, Commander Zulu,CommonsDelinker, Comrade Smith, D, D.E. Watters, DOHC Holiday, DanMP5, Date delinker, DavidOaks, DeadEyeArrow, Deathbunny, Delldot, Deon Steyn, Dino, Dominick1283, Dougree,Dpaajones, Dudtz, EagleOne, Earthtree, El C, Expertfp1, Extra999, Fabartus, Fnlayson, FrancisTyers, GPS73, Gaius Cornelius, Gatoclass, Gene Nygaard, Geniac, Geoff B, Gershwinrb,Gimboid13, Godlessmoron, Gothbag, GraemeLeggett, Grant65, Ground Zero, Groundsquirrel13, Gsl, HLGallon, Hairy Dude, Heavenlyblue, Hmains, Htra0497, Hu12, Hugo999, Ian Dunster,Iantnm, Indy muaddib, J Milburn, Jayjg, Jeff 8, Jeff3000, Jim Sweeney, JirkaV, Jll, JoSePh, Joe N, Josh Woolstenhulme, Joshbaumgartner, Jossi, Kahonas, Kartano, Kate, Kbdank71,Kbthompson, Ken Gallager, Kevin Forsyth, Kevin Murray, Killerman2, King nothing, Kitzke, Kjallakr, Koalorka, Kross, LWF, Leithp, LiDaobing, Lightmouse, LinDrug, Linmhall, LordWarlock, Lst27, M Van Houten, MJW91, Macgyver-bd 896, Maclyn611, Madkayaker, Maphisto86, Mattbr, MatthewVanitas, Mattini, Maury Markowitz, Meplat, Michael Dorosh, MikeMcGregor (Can), Mikeg.Shields, Minrifle, Mintguy, MoRsE, Moriori, Mwanner, Myles58, Nabokov, Nburden, Neilc, Nemo5576, NewEnglandYankee, Nick-in-South-Africa, Nkcampbell,Nukes4Tots, Num1dgen, Oberiko, Ocker3, Olliecampbell, Omboc, Ominae, Orca1 9904, Oxymoron83, Palnatoke, PandoraX, Patton123, Persian Poet Gal, Phil Wardle, PlasmaKirby, Plutonius,Porges, Psy guy, Pyrotec, ROG5728, Ranger Steve, Rcbutcher, Rettetast, Rfcbeach137, Rich Farmbrough, Riddley, Rjwilmsi, Rls, Rohanml, Rumiton, Runningonbrains, Ryosumpaku, SMarshall, S@bre, SQL, Saga City, Scoo, Scope creep, Sesu Prime, Sherurcij, Sietse Snel, Skeezix1000, Slant6guy, Slatersteven, Solicitr, Sonjaaa, Spikedd, Stevemethot5, Strangways, Surgo,Surv1v4l1st, TGC55, TOMNORTHWALES, Ta bu shi da yu, Tapir Terrific, Tarquin, Tatrgel, Tevildo, The Thing That Should Not Be, The ed17, Thernlund, Timothy Muggli, Tobi, Tomharrison, TomTheHand, Tonyob, Tragino, Tresiden, Treyt021, Troft, Tsemii, Twinxor, Utcursch, Ve3, Veinor, Veritas Panther, Vgautham 91, Victor, Vikasapte, Vladimirteh, Wallaceburghistory,WebHamster, WegianWarrior, Wes!, Whoosis, Willoughby Tim, Winged Brick, Woody, WotWeiller, Yadayadayaday, Yaf, YellowAssessmentMonkey, YellowMonkey, Zocky, 630 anonymousedits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:SMLE Mk III.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:SMLE_Mk_III.jpg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Commander Zulu, 2 anonymous editsFile:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:Zscout370Image:.303ammunition.jpeg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:.303ammunition.jpeg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User Moriori on en.wikipediaImage:SMLEAction.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:SMLEAction.jpg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Original uploader was Commander Zulu at en.wikipediaImage:Lee-Enfield Rifle.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Lee-Enfield_Rifle.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.5  Contributors: User:ArthurrhImage:Jungle Carbine.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Jungle_Carbine.jpg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Nemo5576File:Sergeant H.A. Marshall of the Sniper Section, The Calgary Highlanders.jpg  Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Sergeant_H.A._Marshall_of_the_Sniper_Section,_The_Calgary_Highlanders.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Ken Bell, 1st CanadianArmyFile:British Soldier & Lee Enfield.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:British_Soldier_&_Lee_Enfield.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0  Contributors:MattsipImage:Evers De Lisle carbine.PNG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Evers_De_Lisle_carbine.PNG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0  Contributors:User:EversImage:LSA SMLE Band Markings smaller.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:LSA_SMLE_Band_Markings_smaller.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:Original uploader was Commander Zulu at en.wikipediaFile:AIA M10-B2 7.62 Match Rifle.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:AIA_M10-B2_7.62_Match_Rifle.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:KartanoImage:Kunar August85 with Enfield.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kunar_August85_with_Enfield.png  License: Attribution  Contributors: Erwin FranzenImage:014 PLA Fighters.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:014_PLA_Fighters.JPG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:user:jalpeyrieFile:Flag of Australia.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Australia.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Ian FieggenFile:Flag of Canada.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Canada.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:E Pluribus Anthony, User:MzajacFile:Flag of France.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_France.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:SKopp, User:SKopp, User:SKopp, User:SKopp,User:SKopp, User:SKoppFile:Flag of India.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_India.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:SKoppFile:Flag of Italy.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Italy.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: see belowFile:Flag of Iraq 1924.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Iraq_1924.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Burts, J. 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