bolt action centre-fire rifle
Report a Mistake- Object Number 19620051-035
- Event 1899-1902 South African War
- Affiliation --
- Artist / Maker / Manufacturer London Small Arms Company
- Date Made 1896
- Place of Use Continent - North America, Country - Canada
- Category Tools and equipment for science and technology
- Sub-category Armament, firearm
- Department Arms and Technology
- Museum CWM
- Earliest 1896/01/01
- Latest 1896/12/31
- Brand Name / Model Mk I
- Inscription (on butt): THE RIFLE OF NO. 7708 PTE. F. WASDELL 2/RCR KILLED AT PAARDEBURG 27/2/1900
- Pattern Name Lee-Enfield
- Materials Steel, Wood
- Service Component Canadian Militia
- Unit 2ND ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT
- Measurements Height 13.0 cm, Length 125.3 cm, Width 8.5 cm
- Caption The Lee-Enfield .303 Mk. I Rifle
- Additional Information The Lee-Enfield .303 Mk. I was introduced into the British Army in 1895 and in Canada the year following. It replaced the Lee-Metford, which had been the standard issue firearm since 1889. The latter was a magazine-fed repeating rifle, but it fired cartridges using black powder which emitted smoke when fired that gave away the rifleman's position. In 1891, the British first produced cordite a propellant that burned cleanly without emitting smoke. It also generated more heat, however, which wore out the Lee-Metford's rifling system of seven shallow grooves. A new rifling system was developed at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, consisting of five deep grooves that could withstand the intense heat generated by the cordite. The result was the .303 Lee-Enfield Mk. I rifle, in all respects identical to the Lee-Metford except for the rifling. The new rifle, which the Canadian troops took with them to South Africa, weighed a rather heavy 4.3 kilograms (nine and a half pounds) and had a range of 1,645 metres. The magazine could hold ten rounds, but it lacked a clip or charger, which meant that when expended, it had to be reloaded a single round at a time. Improved versions of the durable Lee-Enfield went on to serve as the standard rifle of the British Empire/Commonwealth during the First and Second World Wars.
- Caption Rifle, Lee-Enfield Mk. I Bolt Action Magazine
- Additional Information A Canadian rifle. Private F. Wasdell of the Royal Canadian Regiment used this Lee-Enfield Mk. I rifle. He was killed at Paardeberg on 27 February 1900. Notice the bullet damage to the magazine and stock.