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Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2 Rifle Review

The Lee-Enfield is a bolt-action rifle that was used as the standard service rifle for the British Empire military and other Commonwealth nations in the first half of the 20th century. It was produced by several different manufacturers, including the Royal Small Arms Factory, Birmingham Small Arms Company, London Small Arms Co. Ltd, Lithgow Small Arms Factory, and Rifle Factory Ishapore.

The first flintlock versions date back to the late 1800s, with bolt-action models used as early as the colonial wars. They were developed from the early Lee-Metford black powder rifles. During the First World War, the British heavily used the Enfield models, known as the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifles or simply SMLE which saw some updates in different makes over the years.

The Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2 represents the last infantry pattern in the Lee-Enfield rifle series. Compared to the older models of Enfield, the Mk. 2 incorporated a mechanical change to its trigger mechanism. The original design, which connected the trigger directly to the wood of the stock, caused performance issues due to warping from the accelerated kiln drying process. In response, a post-war modification attached the trigger to the receiver, not the wood. By 1949, this adjustment defined the Rifle Number 4 Mark 2. Another visual difference between the MK. 1 and Mk 2. is the sheet metal tab found on the stock of the Mk. 1s used for the screw reinforcement, which the Mark II lacks. This visual difference makes it easy to tell between the two models without checking the markings.

Since this was a post-war modification, none of the MK2 models have seen any real combat in WW2, leaving some nicely preserved models out on the market today. Structurally, the rifles have not changed much throughout production. The Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2 has a short throw bolt with rear-mounted lugs and a knob located near the trigger. It uses a detachable sheet-steel, 10-round, double-column magazine and can achieve fire rates of up to 30 rounds per minute or more with a trained user. The safety lever is on the receiver's left side. The MK 2. models came with iron sights consisting of a rear receiver aperture battle sight and a front fixed-post sight. Rifles had a designated bayonet to go with it which was often named a ‘pigsticker’ by the soldiers. After the War, many Mk. 2 models were refurbished by ROF Fazakerley and BSA Shirley for further use. Many models were in service up until the late 1960s. Over time, the Enfield rifles developed into various models like the No. 5 Mk I (Jungle Carbine), No. 8., L38A1, BA 93 etc.

Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2, chambered for .303 British

Figure 1: Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2, chambered for .303 British (Source: https://www.agsheritagearms.co.uk/rifles/lee-enfiled-no-4-mk-2-raf-contract/)

Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2 Calibers

The rifle can be chambered for the following calibers:

• .303 British

The receiver of Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2., chambered for .303 British

Figure 2: The receiver of Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2., chambered for .303 British (Source: https://content.osgnetworks.tv/rifleshooter/content/photos/Irish-Lee-Enfield-Mk2-1.jpg)

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2

The necessary condition for rifles to have one-piece scope mounts interchangeable is that the mounting surfaces of these rifles match in every dimension.

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2

For two-piece scope mounts to be interchangeable, the mounting surfaces of the rifles must match in every dimension except the action length which can vary. This is because the distance between the two pieces of the mount is not fixed.

Unfortunately, we were unable to find rifles that share the mounting surface with the Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2 as the rifle features a specific mounting surface. If you own this rifle and can share information regarding interchangeability, please contact us at [email protected]

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Best Scope Mounts for Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2

Detachable Scope Mounts for Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2

If you are looking to install a cope on your Enfield No. 4 Mk. 2 you might consider purchasing this lateral slide-on mount manufactured by the German company EAW. It is made of high-quality steel and comes with a 30-year warranty. The mounting solution is designed to be mounted on the side of the rifle instead of on the top of the receiver.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: [email protected]