Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I
Royal Small Arms Factory · Rifle · Discontinued · 1941
Also known as: Rifle No.4 Mk I, No.4 Lee-Enfield, SMLE No.4
Overview
The Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I is a British bolt-action rifle that served as the standard infantry weapon for British and Commonwealth forces during World War II and beyond. Officially adopted in 1941, it represented an evolution of the earlier SMLE design with simplified production methods, lighter weight, and improved aperture sights. The rifle features a distinctive cock-on-closing bolt action that allows trained soldiers to achieve rapid rates of fire up to 20-30 aimed rounds per minute. Chambered in .303 British, the No.4 fed from a 10-round detachable box magazine that could be loaded via 5-round stripper clips. Over 4 million No.4 rifles were manufactured during WWII at facilities in Britain, Canada, and the United States under the Lend-Lease program. The rifle remained the standard British service weapon until 1957, and saw extensive combat from WWII through the Korean War. Its reliability, accuracy, and firepower made it one of the most successful military bolt-action rifles ever produced.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4100 g (144.6 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4550 g (160.5 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1130 mm (44.49") |
| Barrel Length | 640 mm (25.20") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 27 N (6.1 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 744 m/s (2441 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3122 J (2303 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 503 m (550 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2743 m (3000 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 20 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Left Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 5 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .303 British · primary — also known as .303 British, 7.7x56mmR, .303 Enfield
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Half Cock Notch
- Features: Stripper Clip Loading, Cock On Closing Bolt, Aperture Rear Sight, Spike Bayonet Lug, Two Stage Trigger
Variants
- Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I* — Simplified Production
- Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I (T) — Sniper
- Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk 2 — Improved
- Lee-Enfield L8 — Nato Conversion
Service history
Operators
- British Armed Forces · adopted 1941 · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
- Canadian Armed Forces · adopted 1941 · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
- Australian Armed Forces · adopted 1941 · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
- New Zealand Armed Forces · adopted 1941 · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
- Indian Armed Forces · adopted 1941 · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
- South African Defence Force · adopted 1941 · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
- Netherlands Armed Forces · adopted 1941 · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
- Irish Army · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
- Nigerian Army · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
- Pakistani Armed Forces · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
- Canadian Rangers · adopted 1947 · as Rifle No.4 Mk I
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Malayan Emergency (1948-1960)
- Indo-Pakistani Wars (1947-1971)
Production
Estimated total produced: 4,000,000 · Production years: 1941-1957
Over 4 million No.4 rifles manufactured during WWII at factories in Britain (Fazakerley, Maltby), Canada (Long Branch, 910,000 units), and the USA (Savage-Stevens, 1.2 million units).
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: James Paris Lee
Discontinued: 1957
Notes
The No.4 Mk I differed from earlier Lee-Enfield models with a heavier barrel, simplified construction for wartime production, and aperture rear sights rather than open sights. The Mk I* variant introduced in 1942 further simplified the design by eliminating the bolt release catch. The No.4 Mk I (T) sniper variant fitted with a No.32 telescopic sight was one of the finest sniper rifles of WWII. Production occurred at Royal Ordnance Factories (Fazakerley, Maltby), Long Branch Arsenal in Canada (910,000 units), and Savage-Stevens in the USA (1.2 million units). In the 1960s, many were converted to 7.62x51mm NATO and redesignated L8. The Canadian Rangers continued using No.4 rifles until 2018, making it one of the longest-serving military rifles in history. Total Lee-Enfield production of all variants exceeded 17 million rifles between 1895 and 1957.
Background
Trained British soldiers could achieve the legendary 'mad minute' with the Lee-Enfield -- firing 30+ aimed rounds in 60 seconds thanks to the rifle's smooth cock-on-closing bolt and 10-round magazine. The Canadian Rangers continued using the No.4 until 2018, making the Lee-Enfield one of the longest-serving military rifles in history at over 75 years.