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The rifle has passed through five fundamental stages during its development. The first stage, the muzzle loading musket, the second the muzzle loading rifle, the third the breech loading rifle, the fourth the bolt action magazine rifle, the fifth the automatic or self-loading rifle. The early breech loading rifles failed because the breech sealing devices were unsatisfactory but, with the invention of the metal cartridge, this problem was solved and the way opened for the development of a whole range of bolt action and magazine fed rifles which could deliver very accurate and rapid fire.
British troops were first issued with muzzle loading rifles about the middle of the 18th Century. In 1756 the Royal American Regiment, afterwards the 60th Rifles, was raised and 16 rifles were obtained for this battalion in 1758, and later, officers began to carry rifles. By 1798 rifle regiments had been formed and were armed with rifles made either on the Continent or in America.
The first British rifle to be used was the Baker rifle. It was issued to the Rifle Brigade in 1800 and remained in use until 1838. It was a muzzle loading flintlock with a calibre of .615 inch and weighed 9½ lbs. It fired a 350 grain lead ball.
In 1838 the Brunswick percussion rifle, which had a calibre of .704 inch and weighed 9 lbs, was introduced. The ball weighed 530 grains. In 1851 the Minie rifle was adopted. It also had a percussion lock but weighed 10 lbs 9 ozs and fired a Caloundra-conoidol hollow based bullet of .702 inch calibre. The 1853 Enfield Rifle followed the Minie but showed no substantial change in design principles, except for the calibre, which was reduced to .577 inches.
The next notable achievement was the introduction of the Snider breech loading rifle. The calibre, bullet and ballistics were similar to those of its immediate predecessor, but the rate of fire was increased considerably due to the breech loading. The Snider cartridge was developed by Colonel Boxer and was known as the Boxer cartridge. The metal case acted as a breech seal, in the same manner as the modern solid drawn brass case and was extracted after firing. Existing Enfield rifles were converted to Snider actions in 1867.
In 1871 the Army adopted the Martini-Henry rifle, which had an improved breech action and a calibre of .450 inch. The ballistics were approximately the same as the Snider. The Martini action was the best single shot action ever made and is still used for .22 inch match rifles which require a very high degree of accuracy.
In 1887 the British Arms Committee recommended the adoption of the Lee bolt action magazine rifle with a reduced calibre. The thoroughness of this Committee's work is exemplified by the fact that Lee's action and magazine, with only one minor modification, proved completely adequate from the South African War until well after World War Two. The Lee Enfield magazine rifle Mk 1 (1895) was used during the Boer War and, as a result of this experience, it was shortened and modified in minor ways and issued in 1902 as the short magazine Lee Enfield Rifle No 1 (SMLE). It remained virtually unaltered for 40 years and had the fastest bolt action of any bolt action rifle of its type. Just prior to World War Two further modifications were made, mainly to the stocking and sighting arrangements and it became known as the No 4 Rifle; a shortened pattern, designated the No 5 Rifle, was produced and used for jungle warfare.
The modern concept of war called for a lighter and faster shooting weapon than the hand operated, bolt action rifles and these have given way to the semi-automatic or self loading rifle. The self loading rifle is not a new idea. Hiram Maxim made one in 1884 and the Americans and Russians introduced one into their Armies in about 1936: whilst Germany began in 1941. Attempts were made, during the first World War, to convert the No 1 Rifle to semi-automatic action. Some specimens still exist and, although rather clumsy, show the same fundamental characteristics as the modern types. After the second World War a self loading rifle was developed at Enfield known as the EM I which was quickly superseded by the later model the EM2. This was a gas operated light assault rifle of .280 inch calibre. It weighed 8 lbs and had a magazine capacity of 20 rounds. It also had a specially designed optical sight. This weapon was not manufactured for British service use because, with the formation of the NATO, the Belgium designed FN Rifle was selected as the standard rifle of the NATO forces. This rifle was produced by the Royal Ordnance Small Arms factories under the designation of the 7.62 mm LlAl Rifle and was in general use with the British Armed forces until 1987.
The present British Service Rifle is the 5.56 mm SA 80; it was introduced into general service in 1987. The SA 80 operates in the semi-automatic or automatic mode and is fitted with either a X4 optical sight or an iron sight dependent on the role of the user.
British Service
Rifles in the Collection
Percussion Lock and Early Breech Loading
Rifles in the Collection
Single Shot Breech Loading Rifles in
the Collection
Early Magazine Rifles in the Collection
Automatic and Self-Loading Rifles
in the Collection
Rifles of Special Design and Manufacture
in the Collection
German M88 Rifles and Carbines in
the Collection
Mausers Model 98 in the Collection
Mausers from Other Countries in the
Collection
Austrian Manufactured Rifles in the
Collection
Italian Service Rifles and Carbines
in the Collection
French Rifles and Carbines in the Collection
Russian and Japanese Rifles and Carbines
in the Collection
United States Rifles in the Collection
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Page produced by Peter Eldred - Last updated 3 August 2004