Enfield Rifles

Enfield has a long history of firearms production for the British Empire. The Enfield name comes from the town Enfield, a small manufacturing hub outside of London. In 1853, the Pattern 1853 Enfield was produced as a .577-caliber muzzle-loading rifle. The Enfield rifle served the Empire across the world from the Crimean War to the New Zealand land wars and even in the American Civil War. The 1853 Enfield rifle was replaced by the Snyder Enfield, a metallic-cartridge firearm.

The Snider Enfield is still a popular weapon with reenactors and military enthusiasts. It’s praised for its accuracy and reliability and has served worldwide for the glory of the British Empire.

The most famed and highly produced Enfield is the short magazine Lee Enfield rifle, or SMLE. The Lee Enfield rifle served from 1895 to 1957 with numerous variants produced by the dozens of countries that issued the rifle. The SMLE is famed for its removable magazine, a rather novel design for a bolt-action rifle at the time. The rifle served well in combat around the world, including the second World War.

Quick Facts

• The SMLE was still in use by the Canadian Rangers until 2015
• Parker Hale produces numerous replica Pattern 1853 Lee-Enfield rifles that are considered well made and accurate in their reproductions
• The Pattern 1861 Enfield was mechanically the same as the 1853 Lee-Enfield, but featured a much shorter barrel
• British enfield 303 rounds are known to be great for hunting whitetail deer, elk, black bears, and moose.  

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