My "Keep until I die" books
While growing up during the 1950,s and interested in target shooting, particularly with the .303 Lee Enfield, there are three books that have stayed with me over 50 years. Because this could be a long post, I'll make a post for each book.
The first is "The Lee-Enfield Rifle" by Major E.G.B. Reynolds. It was published in1962 by ARCO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc. Library of Congress Card Number 62-16462.
It can still be found on E-Bay, but popularity has driven up the prices. The last one I saw auctioned went for over $180.
Chapter 1. Prelude to the First Lee Enfield.
This covers the earlier muzzle loaded Enfields, their problems, the Snider-Enfield, the Boxer Cartridge, the Martini-Henry, the first solid cartridge case, Metford rifling, magazine development, the Lee magazine, and developments in France.
Chapter 2. The Parent of the Family - The Lee Metford
Description of the Lee Metford, sights, black powder cartridges, Cordite and smokeless cartridges, the Mark II, the 10 round magazine, and the Mark I carbine.
Chapter 3. The First Lee Enfield
The effects of Cordite, Enfield rifling, the Magazine Lee-Enfield Mark I, and a description of how the rifle works.
Chapter 4. Mostly Conversions and troubles in South Africa
Enfield rifling, Cavalry and Artillery Carbines, Lee Metford on the North-West Frontier, the Dum-Dum bullet, the Mark V cartridge, marksmanship of the Boers, Reports and Complaints from South Africa, long distance shooting, long range trial at Aldershot.
Chapter 5. Accomplishments of new Small Arms Committee
Emergency sighting corrections for South Africa, important discoveries, accuracy shooting test, methods of other countries to test accuracy, suggested new rifle for British forces, the 100 foot testing range
Now that I have outlined some of the information in the first five chapters, I am going to give the Chapter headings alone.
Dhapter 6. A shortened Rifle for Cavalry and Infantry
Chapter 7. The trial of the thousand rifles and adoption of the Short
Magazine Lee-Enfield
Chapter 8. Mostly trials and experiments
Chapter 9. Lord Kitchener Reports
Chapter 10. The MarkIII S.M.L.E. and Mark VII Cartridge are introduced;
and proven in battle.
Chapter 11. The Pattern 1914 Rifle
Chapter 12. A new Rifle, and a new type of bayonet
Chapter 13. Development and Introduction of the No. 4 Rifle
Chapter 14. The No. 4 Mark I* Rifle, and Problems of Wartime manufacture
Chapter 15. Weapons for the Jungle and the Sniper
Chapter 16. Manufacture and Factory History
Chapter 17. Mostly Post-war developments
Chapter 18. The Australian Story
Chapter 19. The Lee-Enfield in the .22-in. role
A very important part of this book for the collector, historian, or the person who wants to identify a Lee-Enfield is the Appendices
Appendix A Rifles and Carbines in the British Service 1893
Appendix B Rifles and Carbines in the British Service at the time of the
Boer War
Appendix C Rifles and Carbines in the British Service in 1910
Appendix D Rifle and Carbine Cartridges in the British Army at the time of
the Boer War
Appendix E Explanation of Symbols ( Markings on the rifle )
Appendix F British Proof Marks
The Appendicies give the measurements, weights, and details of the Lee-Enfield types. There are 40 pictures and illustrations in the book.
I found the information in this book to be of great value in the identification of various Lee-Enfield rifles, and Appendix E of particular interest in explaining what some of those weird and wonderful markings we find on some Lee-Enfields.
