<P> The Lee -- Enfield rifle was introduced in November 1895 as the . 303 calibre , Rifle , Magazine , Lee -- Enfield , or more commonly Magazine Lee -- Enfield , or MLE ( sometimes spoken as `` emily '' instead of M , L , E ) . The next year , a shorter version was introduced as the Lee -- Enfield Cavalry Carbine Mk I , or LEC , with a 21.2 - inch ( 540 mm ) barrel as opposed to the 30.2 - inch ( 770 mm ) one in the `` long '' version . Both underwent a minor upgrade series in 1899 ( the omission of the cleaning / clearing rod ) , becoming the Mk I * . Many LECs ( and LMCs in smaller numbers ) were converted to special patterns , namely the New Zealand Carbine and the Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine , or NZ and RIC carbines , respectively . Some of the MLEs ( and MLMs ) were converted to load from chargers , and designated Charger Loading Lee -- Enfields , or CLLEs . </P>
<P> The Lee -- Enfield rifle was introduced in November 1895 as the . 303 calibre , Rifle , Magazine , Lee -- Enfield , or more commonly Magazine Lee -- Enfield , or MLE ( sometimes spoken as `` emily '' instead of M , L , E ) . The next year , a shorter version was introduced as the Lee -- Enfield Cavalry Carbine Mk I , or LEC , with a 21.2 - inch ( 540 mm ) barrel as opposed to the 30.2 - inch ( 770 mm ) one in the `` long '' version . Both underwent a minor upgrade series in 1899 ( the omission of the cleaning / clearing rod ) , becoming the Mk I * . Many LECs ( and LMCs in smaller numbers ) were converted to special patterns , namely the New Zealand Carbine and the Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine , or NZ and RIC carbines , respectively . Some of the MLEs ( and MLMs ) were converted to load from chargers , and designated Charger Loading Lee -- Enfields , or CLLEs . </P>
when was the lee enfield rifle first used
when was the lee enfield rifle first used
November 1895
November 1895