Total production of all Lee–Enfields is estimated at over 17 million rifles. As a standard-issue infantry rifle, it is still found in service in the armed forces of some Commonwealth nations, notably with the Bangladesh Police, which makes it the second longest-serving military bolt-action rifle still in official service, after the Mosin–Nagant (Mosin-Nagant receivers are used in the Finnish 7.62 Tkiv 85). Although officially replaced in the UK with the L1A1 SLR in 1957, it remained in widespread British service until the early/mid-1960s and the 7.62 mm L42A1 sniper variant remained in service until the 1990s. The Lee–Enfield was the standard issue weapon to rifle companies of the British Army, colonial armies (such as India and parts of Africa), and other Commonwealth nations in both the First and Second World Wars (such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada). 303 British cartridge manually from the top, either one round at a time or by means of five-round chargers. It featured a ten-round box magazine which was loaded with the. The WWI versions are often referred to as the 'SMLE', which is short for the common 'Short, Magazine, Lee–Enfield' variant.Ī redesign of the Lee–Metford (adopted by the British Army in 1888), the Lee–Enfield superseded the earlier Martini–Henry, Martini–Enfield, and Lee-Metford rifles. The Lee–Enfield is a bolt-action, magazine-fed repeating rifle that served as the main firearm of the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century, and was the British Army's standard rifle from its official adoption in 1895 until 1957. Fixed and adjustable aperture sights incorporated onto later variants Sliding ramp rear sights, fixed-post front sights, 'dial' long-range volley telescopic sights on sniper models.

Border Campaign (Irish Republican Army)ġ0-round magazine, loaded with 5-round charger clips.

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