british army lee enfield no.4 and no.5 rifles

The No.4 and No.5 Rifles

Tony Edwards

HBSAFebruary 2012

SMLE Mark III

January 1907 Loc 13853

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

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*

SMLE Mark V

Not announced in LoC

Approx 20,000 made between 1922-24

Rifle No.1 Mark VIPrototype in 1923

Troop Trial rifles 1929-31

No.1 Mark VI Plain furniture

No.4 Troop trialsEnfield 1933

No.4 Prototypeleft side detail showing

flat side body

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

Production

In the U.K. two new ROFs were built

and

BSA capacity expanded with new factory at Small Heath, Birmingham

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

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

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”

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

The rifles….

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

© Chris MacDonald 2012

© Chris MacDonald 2012

© Chris MacDonald 2012

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

© Chris MacDonald 2012

No.4 Mark 2

Introduced 31 March 1949

Made at Fazakerley

Trigger mounted on receiver

Beech woodwork

© Chris MacDonald 2012

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

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

© Chris MacDonald 2012

Bodies

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

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

Foresight protectors

Rear sights

Long Branch and Savage early Mark I sights

No.4 with fibre glass furniture

Simplified Rifle, Type 1 1942

Simplified Rifle, Type 2 1942

No.4T

No.4T

Camouflaged No.4T in Italy 1944

Canadian alternative mount

No.4 Spigot launcher

The .22 inch No.4 based rifles……

Rifle No.7 Mark 1Conversion by BSA

Has shortened bolt like No.8

Rifle C No.7 Mark 1Made as a .22 inch rifle

Has rimfire bolthead like SMLE

Rifle No.9 Mark 1Conversion by

Parker Hale for the Royal Navy

The Rifle No.5 Mark I……

No.5 Mark I

Experimental Rifle No.6

Mark IMark 2

Proposed No.5 Mark 2

No.5 Mark 2 Muzzle detail

No.5 take-down for Paratroops

No.5 Take-down butt dove-tail

7.92mm Kurz No.5

.22” No.5

.22” No.8 Rifle

The 7.62mm Era…..

L8 seriesA1, A2, A3 and A4

L39A1

L42A1

L59A1 DP Rifle

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

THE END