The Mk II .303 cartridge using smokeless Cordite propellant was introduced some three years after the Magazine Lee-Metford or MLM entered service. The MLM was originally designed to fire the black powder Mk I .303 cartridge and used shallow Metford rifling to prevent fouling of the bore. Unfortunately, the use of the Mk II and later smokeless .303 cartridges led to rapid wear of the bore resulting in a usable life of only about 6000 rounds.
To overcome this problem, a deeper square shouldered rifling was developed at Enfield armoury which doubled the barrel life using smokeless cartridges. With the adoption of so-called Enfield rifling, a new rifle was approved in 1895 and was officially titled the Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle Mk I or MLE. Over its lifetime, the rifle was manufactured at the Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF) in Enfield and Sparkbrook (Birmingham) as well as commercially at the Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) and London Small Arms (LSA) factories.
Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle Mk I
The Mk I MLE was identical to the MLM Mk II* except for the the Enfield rifling and a slight adjustment of the front sight to accommodate the different spin drift of the bullets. It was fitted with a 10-round magazine and incorporated a safety catch on the cocking piece.
The MK I was fitted with the Pattern 1888 Mk I bayonet identical to that fitted to the MLM. This incorporated a hole through the end of the handle to accommodate the cleaning rod fitted to the rifles.
Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle Mk I*
The use of cleaning rods on .303 arms was abolished in 1899 resulting in the elimination of the hole for it in the bayonet boss and the small change to Mk I* standard. The Pattern 1888 bayonet was also modified to remove the hole for the cleaning rod in the end of the handle resulting in the Mk II bayonet.
Magazine Lee-Enfield Cavalry Carbine Mk I
The Magazine Lee-Enfield Cavalry Carbine Mk I or MLE CC was approved in 1896. It was 5 inches shorter than the MLE with a barrel length of 20.75 inches and had a magazine capacity reduced to 6 rounds.
Charger Loading Lee-Enfield Mk I
Following the introduction of the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield or SMLE Mk III in 1907, many of the existing stock of MLE rifles were converted to charger loading using a similar charger loading guide. This allowed the magazine to be loaded quickly using five-round stripper clips.
Charger Loading Lee-Enfield Mk I*
The only difference from the Mk I was the addition of protective wings for the front sight and the addition of a windage adjustment for the back sight.
My MLE Mk I*
I actually own two separate MLE Mk I* rifles both made by BSA and dated 1902. These conform to the Mk I* standard but, presumably, were never considered for conversion to charger loading.
Long Lee-Enfield Specifications
- Weight: 9 lb 8 oz
- Weight of Full magazine: 13 oz
- Weight of Bayonet: 15 oz
- Length of Rifle: 4 ft 1.5 in
- Length with Bayonet: 5 ft 1.45 in
- Length of Barrel: 30.2 in
- Calibre: .303 in
- Rifling: Enfield Segmental
- Bullet: 215 gr jacketed round nosed lead
- Muzzle Velocity: 2060 fps (.303 Mk II-IV)
- Front Sight: Barleycorn
- Rear Sight Bed: 200, 300, 400 & 500 yds
- Rear Sight Leaf: to 1800 yds
- Dial Sight: 1600 – 2800 yds
- No. of Grooves: 5
- Depths of Grooves: .0055 in
- Width of Lands: .0936 in
- Rifling Twist: Left-handed with 1 turn in 10 in
