Demonstration of the Lee Enfield British Infantry Rifle | Suffolk Regiment

The Lee Enfield bolt action infantry rifle, used during both the First and Second World War by the British Army, is demonstrated by the Suffolk Regiment Living History Society.
Filmed during a Soldiers Through the Ages event at Castle Rising in West Norfolk, England. Also featuring demonstration of a Sten MkII sub-machine gun.
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[@MaxTSanches]

My grandfather a British WWII vet showed me how to fire the Lee Enfield. His method was to put the thumb and forefinger on the bold handle, and fire the trigger with the second finger. And always to count your rounds as you fired them. .

[@graemesydney38]

That method is not text book (drill manual) but was common practice especial if rate of fire was more important than accuracy.

[@mothmagic1]

The Americans took a hunting rifle, the Germans took a target rifle, the British took a battlefield rifle.

[@51WCDodge]

That you can take to the range, and hunt with! Strictly! the Rifle No1 Mk 111 was the standard rifle. The No4 had only come into being for manufactuer in 1939. Hence all the Middle East , Far East etc you will see No3.

[@CplBurdenR]

@@51WCDodge The No.4 didn't enter series production until 1941, the earlier production being trials versions in very small numbers. The SMLE saw use in all theatres inc North Africa, and right through Italy, although some No.4s were issued as replacements. A headache for armourers though, having both types side by side. Interestingly there was a No.3, and again saw service everywhere. But, that was the post-1926 designation for the P14 Rifle. "Rifle, No.3 Mk.I(T)" was the standard sniper rifle of the British Army until the adoption of the No.4 Mk.I(T)

[@51WCDodge]

@@CplBurdenR I have a Winchester P14, and, a Rifle No2. The 1500 troop trials SMLE were converted in 1907 to .22. By chance I picked one up. didn't know till I researched it , and was delighted when I found what I've got.

[@Treblaine]

The French brought an antique rifle 😁

[@rogueriderhood1862]

@@51WCDodge Not a No.3, that would be the P.14 rifle. You were correct when you said No.1 Mk.lll.

[@jameshunter7980]

didn't know of the Suffolk Regiment LHS...my dad served in the 1st battalion during WW2 (in Normandy)....interesting to see the uniform he would have worn in this video...thank you so much for this

[@simongee8928]

First time I've seen a Lee Enfiled fired correctly; eyes never off aim during operation of the bolt. 😊 Exactly how the LE was desiged to be used to give it's excellent rate of rapid fire.

[@graemesydney38]

0:25 The .303 actually kicks like a mule - too funny. ditto 3:18 Both are extremely poor demonstrations of operating a .303

[@johnbrigg1776]

Trained on both these weapons as a National Serviceman. Very dangerous to apply the safety catch with the thumb as it is possible to fire the rifle with the forefinger if you do. ALWAYS apply the safety catch with the forefinger and release it with the thumb. Likewise, if you bang the end of the magazine on the Sten you risk moving the first round and jamming the weapon. You only need to push the mag. home firmly until it clicks, the additional bang may look good in a Hollywood film but is probably the major reason the Sten had a reputation for jamming - operator error rather than a fault in the weapon!

[@johnlegge2556]

As I recall the Mad Minute was 10 in the Mag + 1 up the spout = 11 to start, then 2 x 5 1st reload, then 2 x 5 2nd reload = 31 Rounds on target at 300 Yards in 1 minute. There has to be an old but still with it Musketry Instructor Colour Sgt. or WO who recalls the scores required at 400, 500, 600 and more to qualify for crossed Rifles & Crown on your sleeve. Our Canadian Rangers routinely outshot anyone at 1,000 over tundra or permafrost. Polar Bear view humans as bipedal supper, so extreme accuracy at long range is an Artic Ranger necessity. .303 or 7.62 NATO? Ranger accuracy is the same. I suspect many Indian, Pakistani, Aussie, Kiwi, Gurkha & other Comonwealth outdoorsmen had and still have many who can demonstrate astonishing accuracy and speed at extreme range with these ancient but still superb examples of British Craftsmanship.

[@mauricestevenson5740]

I was pleased to see someone close the rifle after finishing shooting without fumbling as he held back the trigger to close the bolt in the UNCOCKED condition. The owner/operators of Mauser action rifles cannot get their heads around that simple step.

[@williamsoens9973]

Whilst the initial demonstrator correctly pointed out that you loaded it with a five round clip, he failed to mention that you would do this twice, loading a total of ten rounds, nine in the magazine and one "up the spout". I believe the LE #4 was the only bolt action rifle to allow this - all others could only hold five rounds.

[@raymondjarvis765]

Nope...the Enfield basically had a ten round magazine and could be loaded accordingly with stripper clips...some guys liked to load just nine..the number three is a prime example

[@historyclipz_blackknight]

@williamsoens9973 I think you'll find he did say 'you do this twice'

[@raybenstead2548]

Joined the RAF as a boy entrant in 1960 and the Lee Enfield .303 rifle issued to me on the firing range had WD 1914 impressed on the butt which made me wonder had it been used during WW1 or WW2 on the front line?

[@raybenstead2548]

@@Treblaine Sorry Treblaine, who mentioned anything about Afghanistan?

[@Treblaine]

@@raybenstead2548 I replied to the wrong comment, sorry.

[@raybenstead2548]

@@Treblaine No problems.

[@raymondjarvis765]

That was probably a number fourteen Enfield...issued pre WW1 and used basically by home guard in WW1 and 2....the Americans had an almost identical rifle in 3006 cal which they used in ww1

[@raymondjarvis765]

The number four mk 1 was used in WW2 not WW1....it is designed for less amount machining than the number three smle ( short magazine lee Enfield) for mass production reasons...rim lock should not happen in a properly adjusted mk 4

[@rogueriderhood1862]

Maybe the rounds weren't correctly arranged in the charger, if I remember rightly, it was three down and two up.

[@eamo106]

Great Video chaps. I fired many arms in Las Vegas , back to back. To be brutally honest, the Mauser was so slick for a nube like me, The MP40 was caramel smooth and stable. I preferred the German guns. The Russian rifles were the worst and sticky. The Thompson WWII was mediocre, rising , the AK 47 a horrible mess, rising up and hard to keep on point. Just my opinions, though the Lee Enfield I agree, would be a weapon that wasn't at all bad to go to war with. I still liked the Mauser action, what engineering ! I shot just one machine gun, MP40. No comment needed and the core of all MGs in our allied forces..

[@historyclipz_blackknight]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[@eamo106]

@@historyclipz_blackknight Between myself and 3 sons we spent an afternoon. For them just fun, one chose Russian, One British, One German, - me a Mix of all. It was $1500 but I saved up! Flying WWII planes in Orlando in and around Fantasy of Flight was much more. You have to do things like this with your kids once in a lifetime.

[@raymondjarvis765]

These weapons were probably used and worn... maintenances were usually sketchy at best

[@eamo106]

@@raymondjarvis765 You underestimate Americans and their devotion to Guns. Any business like this in Las Vegas would be out of business very soon.

[@alexbowman7582]

British troops in Afghanistan came under fire from well aimed shots usually from Lee Enfields historically left by British troops in the past.

[@Treblaine]

Britain wasn't in Afghanistan at any point they used any Lee-Enfield rifle. It was far more likely just a former rifle of indigenous army of the British Raj who were armed with Lee-Enfield type rifles. Many of which ended up on the black market. The Khyber region also was notorious for unlicensed copies of British firearms that were hand made, many of them Lee-Enfield clones.

[@alexbowman7582]

@@Treblaine the British Indian army had WW1 skirmishes with the Afghans. The RAF flew over and the British offered rewards for British pilots returned, later insisting the money would be paid only for intact pilots as the Afghan women would chop off their balls.

[@Treblaine]

@@alexbowman7582 That's not a source of Lee-Enfield rifles compared to the vast stockpiles in Pakistan after 1947.

[@icky_mack]

Many were "donated" from the CIA during the Russian invasion. Many long branch made rifles were found there since.

[@user-wd4ti8gn3o]

A bayonet is used in Musket, a Rifle has a sword the First regiment to used the service rifles was the Kings Royal Rifle Corp and The Rifle Birgade later the Royal Green Jackets, both KRRC, RB and the Buckinghamshire Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry prefer the SMLE then the Number 4 Lee Enfield

[@CplBurdenR]

The Rifles may refer to it as a Sword, but it's a sword bayonet by design. The first general issue rifles were the Pattern 1851 Minie and Pattern 1853 Enfield, both of which had triangular socket bayonets. (as did the breechloading conversions, and as did the Martini-Henry). Serjeants were issued sword bayonets such as the Yataghan. So, well, no. Rifles have bayonets. *The* Rifles refer to it as a sword.

[@archiemillington306]

YOUR FIERING BLANKS MATE

[@Ian-ny4pc]

Yes not so easy when you are firing live rounds this rifle has a bit of a kick .

[@jeffreycrawley1216]

"You're firing blanks mate!" There, fixed it for you and there's no need to shout.

[@Irishpewtuber]

Nice demo there guys. Were you using those gnarly Egyptian blanks? They'll let you down every time

[@historyclipz_blackknight]

Drop a line to the Suffolk Regiment LHS. Links in description ;)

[@graemesydney38]

Most were drill rounds (fluted sides, blanks are shorter (no projectile))

[@crankyinvestor]

great rifle unless the enemy can lay down 3x as many rounds as you can in the same 2 minutes

[@graemesydney38]

0:25 The .303 actually kicks like a mule - too funny. ditto 3:18 Both are extremely poor demonstrations of operating a .303

[@TrustMeiamaD.R.]

Accurate to 300yds? Mauser good to 900 m..😮😢

[@graemesydney38]

If you are firing at a range target over 300 meters both are equally deadly and accurate. Firing accurately at a man size target or bunker slit over 300 is inaccurate because the foresight blade is bigger than the target image.

[@TrustMeiamaD.R.]

@@graemesydney38 Wiki states the Mauser with optics is accurate to 1000 yards. Lee Enfield is 550 yds. My ex Army History teacher was horrified when he found out. He had taken us to the IWM for lectures .. only time I have held both weapons. The Mauser is big!

[@gordonwood1594]

I always thought the pig sticker bayonet was introduced after the war?

[@andrewcombe8907]

It was introduced during WW2. Cheaper than the sword bayonet, lighter so didn’t interrupt sight pattern and could be used to detect mines.

[@rogueriderhood1862]

Bayonets were considered by the Small Arms Committee between the wars, looking at length, handiness and efficiency. They eventually decided that a shorter, handier bayonet was just as efficient. They looked at potential enemies and decided that a Russian in winter uniform was probably the most resistant, and that the spike bayonet would work very efficiently on them. 'The Lee Enfield Rifle' by Major EGB Reynolds has some gruesome accounts of testing bayonets on dead sheep dressed in various uniforms and equipment.