Lee Enfield Rifle and bayonet

Adopted in November 1939 to be more easily mass produced than SMLE Mark III as seen in the First World War case. Although the No. 4 was the regulation rifle for Britain between 1939 and 1957, mass production did not start till 1942. Approximately 3.6 million were made between 1940 and 1944 in Britain, Canada and the US. Altogether over 5 million No. 4 rifles were made during the war.

Australia and India continued to manufacture SMLE III and all Commonwealth armies used both patterns. Great War Casualty Clearing Posts dealt with few soldiers who had been wounded by bayonets. The conclusion was drawn that bayonets must have been rarely used. So tests were made in the 1920s to create the simplest and lightest weapon possible. As a result the bayonet No. 4 was adopted. It was a spike bayonet useless for the usual ancillary activities of chopping wood or making toast.