Lee Enfield #4 Mk1

As the Second World War loomed, a need to update the venerable Lee Enfield rifle in British service saw the design modernized into the new #4 Rifle, with a series of improvements on the same core principals.

The Lee Enfield rifle had originally entered service in 1889 as the Lee Metford, with a series of improvements ending at the Short Magazine Lee Enfield in 1907. This was a universal short rifle, chambering the .303 cartridge and feeding from a ten round detachable box magazine, fed by two five round chargers. The weapon had served throughout the Great War, and had survived the attempt to replace it with an entirely new system in 1913. The chief issues with the SMLE were its relatively weak action and the difficulty encountered during mass production. Thus a requirement was issued for a full upgrade of the rifle.

The History

The trials for an update to the SMLE began shortly after the Armistice of 1918, with the first SMLE MkV trials rifles entering use in 1922. This was essentially a standard MkIII rifle, but fitted with an aperture sight on the rear of the receiver, rather than a leaf sight on the barrel. A more radical redesign would come in 1926 as the MkVI, which retained the aperture sight but was also optimized for mass production with a redesigned receiver. Trials and updates would continue until November of 1939 when, with the world once again at war, the new No4 rifle was officially adopted for issue.

The rear sight of the rifle, with the 300 yard battle sight in position. This is the wartime emergency two position sight.

Due to the ongoing war situation, efforts to roll out the new rifles lagged behind, and the British Expeditionary Force in Europe was still entirely equipped with MkIII rifles when the Germans overran Western Europe in the summer of 1940, and indeed issue of the No4 did not commence until 1941, and even as production ramped up difficulties remained.

Production took place at two British government arsenals; at Maltby and Fazakerly, as well as Birmingham Small Arms (BSA). In addition rifles were manufactured in the simplified No4 Mk* pattern by Savage-Stevens in the United States as well as at Long Branch in Canada, the latter primarily equipping the Canadian Forces. Notably, the rifle was not produced by Ishapore in India or Lithgow in Australia, which instead opted to retain the older MkIII rifle.

The front sight. Also note the bayonet lugs on the barrel

The No4 Mk1 proved to be an excellent rifle, retaining the fast Lee action and combining it with a floated, heavy barrel for increased accuracy and an excellent aperture sight. Notably, as the war continued several milled components were replaced with stamped versions, and the complex millled rear ladder sight was replaced with a simple two position flip model.

The action of the No4. Note the charger guide and the cocking piece

The No4 series remained in service after the war, and was later adapted to the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge in small numbers, primarily for sniping use. The rifle remains in limited service to this day, notably in Canada with the Canadian Rangers, although that organization is in the process of retiring them due to spare parts stocks being depleted. Working in harsh conditions in the Canadian wilderness, the No4 is well respected for remaining reliable and accurate even after decades of use.

The Design

The No4 Mk1 is an evolution of the Lee Enfield rifle that had been originally adopted as the British Empire’s first repeating rifle near the end of the nineteenth century. The basic principals remain the same, namely the cock-on-close bolt action with its locking setup. The rifle also retains its trademark Lee double stack detachable box magazine, although the primary loading method remains via five round chargers. The safety is also the same, a switch on the left side of the receiver that can be actuated with the thumb, although the switch itself is longer to facilitate easier operation.

The left hand side of the rifle, showcasing the squared off receiver that distinguishes the No4 from earlier models, as well as the markings

The changes began around the receiver. This is more squared off than the earlier rifles, which both made for a simpler manufacture as well as increased strength. The charger guide is located in a dedicated bridge, and to the rear of that is the rear aperture sight. Originally this was a milled steel apparatus with a 300 yard battlesight and when flipped up revealed a smaller adjustable sight with a dial to move from 200 to 1500 yards. During the war a stamped version was produced, as was a simple two position flip sight set for 300 and 600 yards, although these were generally replaced during refurbishment after the war.

THe bolt of the No4

The front sight is a simple blade protected by a set of milled protectors, and the free floated heavy barrel protrudes past this, making the rifle easily recognizable from the earlier SMLE rifles. This leads to excellent accuracy when compated to the earlier rifles. The weapon also fitted a simple socket bayonet, essentially a short spike that was known to the British Tommies as a “Pig Sticker”.

This Example

The simple “Pig Sticker” spike bayonet fixed to the rifle

The example seen here was produced by Birmingham Small Arms (marked M47/C on the socket) in 1943, and has not undergone a Factory Thorough Repair (FTR) process. As a result of missing this refurbishment, it retains its wartime expedient rear sight as well as grey alloy buttplate as opposed to pre/post-war brass. It is in generally very good condition, with parts made by a number of different sub-contractors being readily apparent.

Opinions

The post-war Enegra rifle grenade laucher attached to the rifle

There can be no doubt in the author’s mind that the No4 is an improvement over the SMLE MkIII. The rifle has improved ergonomics (no small feat, with the MkIII also being excellent), greatly improved sights and generally better handling. The .303 British remains a capable but also pleasant shooting cartridge, and with the speed inherent in the Lee action makes for an extremely enjoyable rifle to use.

A British soldier with his No4 Mk1 on the streets of Caen in 1944
British Army