Just when was the 'golden era'of Enfield target shooting?

[RJW NZ]

Real question, for the foreword in my upcoming book, cos I'm realizing I really can't figure it out, so opinions definitely wanted, 18xx - 1969, or 19xx - 1969?

What dates would define 'golden era of target shooting? as we generally understand it here on our forum?
Would/should it be more accurately called the 'golden age of commonwealth target shooting', or, 'the golden age of Enfield target shooting' to reflect those elements of what made up this great era?
Or is the defining element not the rifle but that general period in which shooting guns for sport wasn't demonized and was respected as a skillful accomplishment of use to self and country?

Would it be the Edwardian gentlemen at the Bisley range with his Fulton rifle being chaired off in triumph, perhaps 1895 to 1914?
If thats the case, what about the fabulous interwar years when so many aperture sights were invented and so rapidly refined, right across the commonwealth, from 1920-1935, and shot so well by the slouch hat wearing colonials ?
If thats the case, where does that leave the great results achieved by the No4 Enfield, battling into the late 60's against much more sophisticated rifles on the 1000 yard range, 1945-1969?

Ok, so I can see that the end of the era came at the end of the 60's, when would you say it began? With the advent of the smle in 1902? Or before that with the advent of the 303 cartridge at the height of the british empire in 18xx ? (I need a date here)

It seems the reality of a the golden era is spread out over a multi generational, multi faceted time, when the shape of the world at its beginning would be scarcely recognized by its end, but that the romantic face of it that we very first think of it is ... ? For me it would be shooters being chaired off at Bisley around the 1900's.

For the lee Enfield to have enjoyed a golden era lasting something like 80 years or three generations, in such a time of technical change is basically just extraordinary.

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[Simon P]

Probably when the .303 Lee Metford started to become available to civilian shooters circa 1890's.

[muffett.2008]

Good Question, where do you want to begin? there are a couple of reference books that could be of assistance, C.Howard Cromacks 96 Years of Progress, a history of the National Rifle Association of NSW, covering Australia and New Zealand against the common enemy, the Poms from 1860 to 1956,gives info on people, weapons, changes to rifles,equipment and targets, teams matches and so on.
The next is a new book just released, Bill Casey's Home on the Range, History of the QLD. Rifle Assn. 1861 to 2011. There are others, one on the Palma Matches between the dominions and America and the pommie references of course.
But to keep it in perspective you will have to select a time frame, your decision. The period from before 1901 and up to 1914 saw the highest rate of club membership and competition, lean years between the wars. 1946 on saw a massive increase in the movement, not slowing with the passing of the 303 in the '70's but dying in the arse in 1996 with the Repeal of the Rifle Club Regulations and tightened firearms laws.
Beginning tp pick up again in 2000 with an upsurge of interest in Service Rifle and a rebirth for the SMLE.
Enough from me, while I'm at it, that promised disc should be in the mail on monday, never had such a fight with computors, almost as if they don't want to part with what's on them. Goodluck.

[Paul S.]

I would say anytime from 1900 through the 1960s, but that is just a personal guess.

[RJW NZ]

I like that we're seeing such a revival and general re interest, every year there at least 10 more enfield websites.

[Surpmil]

In terms of the wealth of both society and the average shooting man, I'd say the golden age was the 1890s to 1914. After the war, the UK had gone from the world's greatest creditor to one of the debtors. Many men had seen all they wanted to of rifles, many, many more were simply dead or incapacitated, and the 30s were tight all round economically.

By the 30s the reaction against the "rifles and bayonets" mentality of the WWI generals, and their stubborn resistance to automatic weapons, meant that the baby of marksmanship and sniping got thrown out with the bathwater of "bayonets" and all that. In the late 30s as war became more and more obviously on the horizon, there was a bit of resurgence of interest in marksmanship and sniping, but in the military, automatic weapons were the "in thing".

The lesson wasn't really relearned until later in WWII I suspect, from the comments of Shore and others. Everyone was thinking about mortars, machine guns and the like. After WWII, more of the same as after WWI, perhaps counterbalanced then as well, by some who were introduced to shooting in the military and "took to it".

Lots of P14s and Mausers on the ranges in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Still mostly Lee Enfields I suspect, but not really the "golden age".

The only interloper to steal the Lee Enfield's thunder before WWI was the Ross.

That's my $.02 on it.

[RJW NZ]

Thats a really good insight, thanks.
I often wonder if our current resurgence is due to an increasing romantization of the of tools of war because of the increasing distance of it all.

[tbonesmith]

Here in Oz I think the "resurgence", as in England is based on the prohibition of modern military weapons for sporting shooting purposes/competitive shooting. If you want to shoot service here, you use a WW2 era or earlier bolt action. There is the availability of High Power, where you can use a vintage bolt gun or a modern bolt action (lots of Tikka T3's). Other than that it's full bore, which I like too, but it's pretty static precision shooting.
If I lived in the USA or NZ believe me my enfield collection would be smaller, and I'd be shooting service every week with a match grade AR15, with the .303's for the "Theme shoots".

[bigduke6]

Tbone hit the nail on the head regarding the " resurgence" due to bans etc, and I agree with Surpmil,s comments, not many coming back from a War wanting to go to the rifle range, but the date I would say was between the end of the Boer War 1902 up until 1914.

It was During the Boer War that the need for a shorter rifle was noted and also the marksman ship of the Boers was a big influence, A lot of lessons were learnt during this war, apart from sending men over a trench into on coming fire.

[muffett.2008]

Roger,
My research on my book led me to a very informative site, the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre. The section NSW Rifle Club List 1910, opens with a paragraph that puts your problem in perspective and adds to the timeframe 1900-1914.
The website link is Australian Light Horse Studies Centre worth checking, if just for interest sake.