A Brief Guide to Lee-Enfield Rifles


The world famous Lee-Enfield rifles are highly prized by collectors of militaria. They take their name from the town of Enfield, now in North London (where a government arms works was established in 1804), and from James Paris Lee, the celebrated American gunsmith who invented the box magazine, which led to the development of bolt-action repeating rifles. The very first rifle to bear the Enfield name was the Enfield Rifle of 1853, with the prototype Lee-Enfield Magazine Rifle Mark I appearing late in 1895. A series of rifles known as the 'Long Lees' appeared until the final Lee-Enfield carbine, the Australian Rifle Club Pattern, was approved in 1904.

The Long Lees were superseded in the early years of the 20th century by the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle - a lighter weapon with a reduced length of 44.5 inches. This rifle was almost continually adapted and improved, particularly during the explosion in weapon production caused by World War I. Collectors often turn their attention to the Pattern 1914 (No.3) Rifle as well - which although not strictly a Lee-Enfield - was nevertheless designed and built by engineers at the Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory. Such was the huge wartime demand for the P-14 that production moved to the US, with Winchester producing the rifle at their New Haven, Connecticut plant. Other US manufacturers included Remington and Eddystone - with total output exceeding 1.2 million rifles. The involvement of these different companies led to significant variations in the P-14 and three separate models were approved. Production and modification of the P-14 continued on through World War II and the rifle still found favour in various post-war conflicts and client wars.

Lee-Enfield No.4 Series rifles are the final group of weapons to have attracted the interest of collectors. The No.4 incorporates a heavier barrel than earlier weapons and uses stronger steel in the action body and bolt body. The Lee-Enfield No.5 rifle is essentially shorter and lighter version of the No.4, while the L8A1 through to the L8A5 are NATO conversions of the trusty No.4. These rifles have been produced in the UK, Canada, Pakistan, South Africa and at the Stevens Arms Co. plant in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. The story of Lee-Enfield rifles ends with the Drill Rifle L59A1, a non-firing conversion of the No.4, approved for use by military cadets on training exercises.

Domestic Nazi militaria


The sheer wealth of varied and historically fascinating material available to collectors of Nazi militaria offers a strong clue to a principal attraction of this interesting and absorbing hobby. The martial nature of the Nazi regime meant that everyday items and objects were more likely to be marked with military markings and regalia. Items as diverse as cigarette lighters, breadbags, petrol cans, detachable bicycle handlebars, shaving tins, soap dishes, military issue underwear and civilian backpacks were all marked with Nazi insignia and signs. The domestic curios of the Reich are fascinating to collect and rarely retail at above $50 - $75. The determined militaria collector could virtually recreate the entire contents of an average wartime German household with items bearing Nazi markings and insignia.

Another hallmark of the Nazi regime was the commissioning of new medals and decorations to mark outstanding acts of civic service. Awards could be bestowed for acts as genuinely heroic as civilian firefighting or as mundane as giving birth to a healthy Aryan child. The Fire Brigade Cross is a dramatic piece of medal making – with a cross of flames leaping out from a centrally mounted swastika. The medal came in separate silver and gold issues – with the latter being the rarer of the two. The Mother’s Cross is a fairly chunky example of Nazi medal making and was awarded in three separate categories – bronze, silver and gold depending upon the number of children the woman had supplied. Prices for a bronze medal are about $60 for a nice example.

A popular item that was often issued to reward civilian merit was the decorative stick pin. These attractive and increasingly collectable items were issued to people as diverse as lifeguards – the design shows a man carrying a rescued child – and pharmacists. The Nazis were also fond of recognising sporting achievement with medals, pins and badges bearing military regalia. Many of these smaller items can still be acquired for around $50 or so – maybe less. Civilian proficiency in rifle and pistol shooting was also rewarded with a series of decorative awards with Nazi markings. Typically, these awards also came in bronze, silver and gold divisions.