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
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