Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I(T)
Royal Small Arms Factory · Sniper Rifle · Out Of Production · 1942
Also known as: No.4 Mk I(T), Lee-Enfield Sniper, Rifle No.4 Mk I(T), L42A1
Overview
The Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I(T) was the standard British sniper rifle of World War II, selected from production No.4 rifles for exceptional accuracy and fitted with the No.32 Mk I telescopic sight. The 'T' designation stood for 'Telescopic' and each rifle was individually hand-fitted at Holland & Holland's London workshop or other specialist gunsmiths. The rifle's smooth and fast bolt action, combined with a 10-round detachable magazine, gave British snipers a significant rate-of-fire advantage over their bolt-action counterparts in other armies.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4110 g (145.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4400 g (155.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1129 mm (44.45") |
| Barrel Length | 640 mm (25.20") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 20 N (4.5 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 744 m/s (2441 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3126 J (2306 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 730 m (798 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1829 m (2000 yd) |
| 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 7.7x56mmR, .303 Mk VII, 7.7mm British
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: No32 Mk1 3-5x Scope, Wooden Cheek Piece, Hand Selected Action, Detachable Magazine, Fast Bolt Action, Iron Sights Retained
Variants
- No.4 Mk I*(T) — Simplified Production
- L42A1 — Post War Conversion
Base model
Service history
Operators
- British Army · adopted 1942 · as No.4 Mk I(T)
- Canadian Armed Forces · adopted 1943 · as No.4 Mk I*(T)
- Australian Army
- New Zealand Army
Conflicts
- World War II (1942-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Malayan Emergency (1948-1960)
- Falklands War (1982)
Production
Estimated total produced: 26,442 · Production years: 1942-1945
Approximately 23,246 No.4 Mk I(T) rifles converted by Holland & Holland, plus additional conversions in Canada. The L42A1 post-war conversion saw approximately 1,080 rifles re-barreled to 7.62 NATO and served until 1992.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
The No.4 Mk I(T) rifles were converted from standard issue rifles at Holland & Holland in London, with each rifle individually bedded and test-fired to ensure accuracy. The No.32 telescope was a 3.5x magnification sight with a bullet drop compensator graduated to 1,000 yards. A distinctive wooden cheek rest was screwed to the butt to provide proper eye relief with the scope. Many No.4 Mk I(T) rifles remained in British service well into the 1960s and 1970s after being re-barreled in 7.62 NATO as the L42A1. The Lee-Enfield's fast bolt throw and 10-round magazine capacity allowed trained snipers to engage multiple targets much more rapidly than competitors using 5-round internal magazines.
Background
The conversion of No.4 rifles to sniper configuration was entrusted to Holland & Holland, one of London's most prestigious sporting gun makers. Their craftsmen individually bedded each action to its stock and hand-fitted the scope mounts, bringing the same attention to detail used on their famous double rifles costing hundreds of pounds to a military weapon. The No.4 Mk I(T) remained in frontline British service longer than any other WWII sniper rifle, with L42A1 conversions serving through the Falklands War in 1982.