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Notes & Sources

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If you only have ONE book about your Lee-Enfield, it should be one of these three.  For less than $25 USD you’ll have answers to 98% of all the questions posted on most Enfield forums and gunboards.  Each book has detailed drawings of every part, from the original through all the later changes.  You’ll get a production history, serial number ranges, and information on marks, codes, ammunition, oilers and related gear, including bayonets.  These books are out of print but still available on Amazon.  Get them while you can.

British Enfield Rifles, Volume 1, SMLE (No.1) Rifles Mk I and Mk III

by Charles R. Stratton, North Cape Publications

British Enfield Rifles, Volume 2, Lee-Enfield No.4 and No.5 Rifles

by Charles R. Stratton, North Cape Publications

British Enfield Rifles, Volume 4, The Pattern 1914 and US Model of 1917 Rifles

by Charles R. Stratton, North Cape Publications

About notes and sources

Every page on this website has footnotes – a list of where we found the photograph, figure, statistic, factoid, information, as well as some notes and suggested reading. In order to save a few electrons (and much repetition):


Global Notes & Sources are books and reference materials we use every day and influence every page on this website.  The sources listed on this page are global sources.  We cite these books throughout the website.  If you don’t have at least one of them, you should.


Section Notes & Sources are more narrowly focused.  For example, a two-volume encyclopedia of gun tools is good to know about in the NESOI section, but not particularly relevant elsewhere.  Section Notes & Sources are found at the beginning of every section.


Page Notes & Sources are specific to the topic.  For example, the web page about The King’s African Rifles lists the additional sources we relied on to write that article, in addition to all other sources cited elsewhere. 


Last is not least.  Generally, the books listed below are in no particular order. The Stratton books (above), at $25 USD, are the biggest bank for the buck.  If $25 is too much money, Skennerton’s Small Arms Identification Series can usually be found for under $10 USD.  And if you have more than a couple of Lee-Enfields, grab one of the few remaining copies of The Lee-Enfield from Ian Skennerton while you still can. About $90 USD and worth several times that. http://www.skennerton.com/

Global notes & sources - firearms

The Lee-Enfield - A Century of Lee-Metford & Lee-Enfield Rifles & Carbines. (2007), Skennerton, Ian.

Skennerton's last big book on the Lee-Enfield, the updated successor to 'The Lee-Enfield Story'.

Out-of-print – but still available:

http://www.skennerton.com/rifles.html

List of Changes in British War Material relating to Edged Weapons, Firearms, Associated Ammunition & Accoutrements (1997)
British War Office publication; Skennerton, Ian, compiled/edited
Vol. I (1860-1866), 170 pp; Vol. II (1886-1900), 210 pp
Vol. III (1900-1910), 216 pp; Vol. IV (1910-1918), 192 pp
Vol. V (1918-1926), 210 pp.

India's Enfields
The Lee-Enfield Rifle in India 1905 - 2000
(2000), Edwards, Robert W. Consortium Press

The Lee-Enfield Story
(1993), Skennerton, Ian. Greenhill Books

P-17, The American Enfield
(1995) The Collector’s Field Guide Series, Volume Five Harrison, Jesse, The Arms Chest

British .22RF Training Rifles
(1993) Lewis, Dennis and Washburn, Robert, Excalibur Publications

The Lee Enfield Number 1 Rifles
(1992) Petrillo, Alan M., Excalibur Publications

.303 Rifle, No. 1, SMLE, Marks III and III*
Small Arms Identification Series No. 1 (1994) Skennerton, Ian, published by the author

.303 Rifle, No. 4, Marks I & I*, Marks 1/2, 1/3 & 2
Small Arms Identification Series No. 2 (1994) Skennerton, Ian, published by the author

.303 Rifle, No. 5 Mk I
Small Arms Identification Series No. 4 (1994) Skennerton, Ian, published by the author

.303 Magazine Lee-Metford and Magazine Lee-Enfield
Small Arms Identification Series No. 7 (1997) Skennerton, Ian, published by the author

.455 Pistol, Revolver No.1 Mk VI
Small Arms Identification Series No. 9 (1997) Skennerton, Ian, published by the author

.303 Pattern 1914 Rifle & Sniping Variants
Small Arms Identification Series No. 10 (1998) Skennerton, Ian, published by the author

British Empire Cadet & Training Rifles
Small Arms Identification Series No. 16 (2003) Skennerton, Ian, published by the author

Global notes & sources - bayonets

British & Commonwealth Bayonets (1986) Skennerton, Ian and Richardson, Robert

Bayonets from Jansen’s Notebook (1987) Jerry Janzen, Cedar Ridge Publications

Global notes & sources - codes & marks, unit markings

The Broad Arrow - British & Empire Factory Production, Proof, Inspection, Armourers, Unit & Issue Markings; (2001) Skennerton, Ian. 
http://www.skennerton.com/o-p-rare.htm

Handbook of Military Rifle Marks 1866-1950 (1998) Hoffman, Richard A. and Schott, Noel P., Mapleleaf Militaria Publications, St. Louis

Military Badges of the British Empire 1914-1918  (1982) Cox, Reginald H. W., Ernest Benn Ltd

Handbook of Identification Marks on Canadian Arms (1973) Manarey, R. Barrie, Century Press

Locations of British Cavalry, Infantry and Machine Gun Units, 1914-1924 (1977) Gould, Robert W., Heraldene Ltd.

Small Arms Unit Marks - Applied to Rifles Carbines Swords Bayonets Dirks Etc. By British and Canadian Ordnance Corps - Instructions for Armourers 1912 - with Amendments 1916 (1999) Law, Clive, editor.  Service Publications

A Compendium of British & German Regimental Markings (1975) Gordon & Fox, Chris (compiled & edited by) Hughes (Author)