“Tag: SMLE”

While the British No. 5 Lee-Enfield “Jungle Carbines” are well-known guns, the Australian No. 1-based jungle rifles have languished in obscurity. They never went beyond the trials phase and are commonly faked. Here’s the real story on what are likely the rarest versions of the World War II Lee-Enfield.

While most think of the RAF when it comes to the Battle of Britain, the makeshift British Home Guard also played a key role in keeping the isles safe from German invaders. 

In recent years RTI has gained interest for its haul of old surplus rifles from Ethiopia. Among these aging arms are some of the most under-appreciated manufactures of the British Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield, being the No.1, Mk III* rifles produced by Ishapore in India.

For most of the 20th century, Lee-Enfield rifles were the backbone of the British army. The last British service Lee was the L42A1 sniping rifle. Built on the World War II No.4(T), the reliable and accurate L42A1 was retired in the early 1990s.

The most famous rifle of D-Day—or at least the most memorable rifle of “The Longest Day”—wasn’t actually there. Lord Lovat did carry his Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine in combat, however, and we can learn a lot about British and American guns used during World War II from his memoirs.

Watch this American Rifleman Television video segment "Over There! Part 7: No Finer Troops" to learn about U.S. soldiers of the 27th and 30th Infantry Divisions who fought on the Western Front under British command using British arms.

The British used Galilean optical sights during World War I to even the odds against German snipers, but how well did they work? A group of modern collectors, historians and snipers decided to find out for themselves.

What are Galilean sights? More importantly, how well did they work? A group of modern collectors, historians and snipers decided to find out for themselves.

The Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield, Mk III is one of the iconic bolt-action battle rifles of the 20th century. Here's how it comes apart.