General outline of the Lee-Enfield
The Lee-Enfield rifle is the longest serving rifle in the military. This type of rifle could trace its roots back to James Paris Lee’s design of rifle in 1888. The rifle was combined with the Metford barrel which is known for its velocity. After a little chambering, the designer enabled the Metford barrel to accommodate the .303 British bullets.

The first edition of Lee-Enfield rifles was referred to as the Magazine Rifle MkI, Lee-Metford or the Magazine Lee-Metford. It measured 49.5 inches which is very long for a rifle. Because of its length, this was also referred to as the Long Lees. The Long Lees didn’t last long since it has been proven to be inefficient against really hot temperature. If the temperature increases in Long Lees, throat erosion happens. This led to the development of Enfield rifling which is basically has sharper edges and deeper cuts while keeping the original size of the rifling. This development was implemented in 1895 and became the Lee-Enfield Rifle MkI. A shorter version of the Long Lees was made at the same time which measured to 39.9 inches. This shorter version is a cavalry carbine and was aptly named as the Lee-Enfield Cavalry Carbine.

The first Lee-Enfield has problems with accuracy and it didn’t have any charger loading capabilities. Changes were made in the rifle which has resulted to the shorter version of Lee-Enfield rifle which was measured at 44.5 inches. The shorter version was introduced in 1902. Subsequent versions or Marks were developed until the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mark III (SMLE MkIII) was introduced which basically fixed every flaw of the previous versions. This version is a blunt-nosed rifle with a smarter charging system.

The Mark III also saw modifications as soon as it was introduced in 1907. During WWI, Mark IIIs were very difficult to manufacture and the time of production is considerably longer. The Mark III has to be stripped with complicated features for faster and easier production. The Mark III* was introduced without the magazine cut-off, wind adjustment feature and long range sights. After WWI the magazine cut-off was again incorporated but was to be removed again in WWII. The Mark III and the modified Mark III is still in production until today and its military use extended until WWII. This setting was continuously used by the military until 1957. Because of its simplicity and efficiency of design, this type of rifle is still being manufactured until today for civilians for sporting use. It is estimated that more than 17 million Lee-Enfield rifles have been manufactured which easily beats some of the world’s most popular guns.

The longevity of military use of the Lee-Enfield is due to its rear locking and “cock-on-closing” feature. This system is easier to handle and it can fire up to 15 rounds a minute – faster compared to most its other rifle counterparts. The improved rifle can also withstand any weather conditions that dirty .303 bullets can be used without any problem. Its legacy continues until today as it provides the much needed firepower and accuracy in any given condition. The photo to the left is perfect example of an original manual.

So this No4 was made in Massachusetts, then given to the British, shipped to the Pacific, fought the Japanese and was then rebuilt, shipped to England and finally made its way home. This whole trip took about 50 years.

No1 MkIII which was produced in 1941. This is the Classic Enfield that we all know which served in WWI and WWII. Photos depicted below are of the No4 Rifle produced by Savage Arms in Chicopee Mass and 'Loaned' to the British under the 'Lend Lease' agreement, so technically it was still owned by the US Government thus marked 'US Property'.

On the side of the No4 receiver you can see it is marked 'FTR' which means [Factory Thorough Rebuild] Look on the top of the Receiver you can see the 'Star' stamped which means it was rebuilt at their Arsenal in Indonesia. After that it was shipped back to England and put in storage until it was bought in the 1990's by Century Arms in Vermont and brought back to the United States. So this No4 was made in Massachusetts, then given 'loaned' to the British, shipped to the Pacific, fought the Japanese and was then rebuilt, star added, then shipped to England and finally made its way back home. This whole full circle trip took about 50 years. Note the Lee-Enfield to the right from the book written by Ian Skennerton, the 'star' and the real deal on the left with the 'star'.

Some Lee-Enfield Manufacturers

RoyalSmall Arms Factory - Enfield Lock, England
Birmingham Small Arms - Birmingham, England
Standard Small Arms - Birmingham, England
National Rifle Factory - Birmingham, England
London Small Arms Company - London, England
Rifle Factory Ishapore - Ishapore, Bengal, India
Royal Ordnance Factory - Fazakerley, England
Royal Ordnance Factory - Matlby, England
Savage Arms Ltd. - Chicopee Falls, Mass, USA
Long Branch Small Arms Ltd. - Long Branch, Ontario, Canada
Lithgow Small Arms Factory - Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia

Cleaning the Lee-Enfield
Lee-Enfield rifles can withstand the test of time and would only need clean-up before it could be used for test firing. This is especially true in surplus Lee-Enfield rifles that were manufactured specifically for the military.

There are three things that any enthusiast should consider in cleaning Lee-Enfields: the cosmoline, metal and wood.

What is Cosmoline
The cosmoline is basically a sticky black substance that can be found in most Lee-Enfields. This is applied to protect the parts of the rifles from too much friction which would cause malfunction or destruction of different parts of the rifle. During manufacturing, the rifle is practically dipped in the cosmoline to evenly distribute the substance. This method was observed decades ago and if it is going to be used today, considerable clean-up has to be done to ensure that the cosmoline have been removed. They may have seeped into the wood and they will continue to seep into the material if they are not removed.

Removing the cosmoline is relatively easy. Soaking different parts (especially wood) in hot water would do the trick. It is even possible to remove the cosmoline by simply pouring hot water to the rifle. With hot water, brushing off the cosmoline would be very easy.

The Metal
Cleaning the metal portion of the Lee-Enfield maybe the easiest since it might require little to no clean-up. Hot water and steel brush would immediately remove the undesirable elements in the metal portion of the rifle. The steel brush would be very effective in cleaning the insides of the Lee-Enfield. If you’re planning to use metal gloss, be sure to use them on the outside parts of the metal area of the rifle. Using them on the inside might jeopardize the operation especially on the barrel wherein it’s already designed to move flawlessly without the gloss.

The Wood
Wood clean-up largely depends on your personal preferences. When the cosmoline have been removed, they can be cleaned further depending on the end goal of the owner. If the owner wanted to have an antique looking wood, a simple oil soap applied through the rag should do the trick. On the other hand, if the owner wants to have a brand new looking wood, varnish or acetone has to be applied to the wood. Remember that the use of varnish is a destructive process as it can’t be undone. The original finish could be easily removed after hot water is applied.

Oil Application
The clean-up process is never complete without oil application. Proper application of oil will ensure the stability and optimum performance of the rifle. Here are some tips on oil application for Lee-Enfield rifles:

Never use any type of oil – use only the recognized gun oil in your area. Other oils may have harmful chemicals that may cause backfiring.
Apply only to the necessary areas – excessive application might affect different parts of your rifle as it will slowly seep into the wood.