United Kingdom. The Lee-Enfield Rifle

Hardcover, scarlet red cloth cover, with dust jacket, the text on the spine in gold-coloured ink, entitled "The Lee-Enfield Rifle - Its history and development from first designs to the present day", by Major Edmund George Barton Reynolds, originally copyrighted by the author and published in 1960, this Second Edition published in the United States by Arco Publishing Company Inc, of New York in 1968, printed in Great Britain by Lowe & Brydon (Printers) Ltd. of London, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 62-16462, Arco Catalog Number 966. As stated on the dust jacket: "This book comprises a factual history of the famous Lee-Enfield rifle and its forebears. The family of the Lee-Enfield rifle first came into being towards the end of the nineteenth century and during the next sixty years was destined to fulfil a pre-eminent role with the British fighting Services throughout the world. It is a remarkable story that is unfolded. With meticulous care the author gives the full facts and figures of each change in design and every major and minor modification - some of which were made to meet the exigencies of the Services, some to meet the requirements of production, and some to keep pace with progress and competition - that was made throughout this period. Often quoting from official sources he gives the authentic details of methods of manufacture and inspection, and describes the requirements and conditions of technical trials and troop trials which inevitably played an important part in the conception of each new design. He freely discusses the teething troubles which beset each new member of the family and explains the manner of their correction. Finally, in addition to the rifle itself, he records in comprehensive detail the changing patterns of ammunition and bayonet, chronologically as they occurred. At every stage in the writing of this book Major Reynolds has enjoyed access to War Office and Ministry of Supply records. The result is a work of unchallengeable authority on the Lee-Enfield rifle at every stage of its history and development." It begins with a Foreword by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Cottesloe, T.S., V.D., followed by an Author's Note, an Acknowledgements, a Table of Contents and a List of Illustrations. The book is divided into nineteen chapters: I - Prelude to the First Lee-Enfield; II - The Parent of the Family: The Lee-Metford; III - The First Lee-Enfield; IV - Mostly Conversions, and troubles in South Africa; V - Accomplishments of new Small Arms Committee; VI - A shortened Rifle for Cavalry and Infantry; VII - The trial of the thousand rifles and adoption of the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield; VIII - Mostly trials and experiments; IX - Lord Kitchener Reports; X - The Mark III S.M.L.E. and Mark VII Cartridge are introduced; and proved in battle; XI - The Pattern 1914 Enfield Rifle; XII - A new Rifle, and a new type of bayonet; XIII - Development and Introduction of the No. 4 Rifle; XIV - The No. 4 Mark Rifle, and Problems of War-time manufacture; XV - Weapons for the Jungle and the Sniper; XVI - Manufacture and Factory History; XVII - Mostle Post-war developments; XVIII - The Australian Story; XIX - The Lee-Enfield in the .22-in. role. It concludes with six Appendices and a six page Index. The book contains 224 pages of text, printed in black ink, on an off-white paper stock, with thirty pages of black and white plates inserted at thirteen random intervals throughout, the plates printed in black ink on a coated white paper stock, the previous owner's name in blue ink on the inside cover endpaper, measuring 155 mm (w) x 240 mm (h) x 22 mm (d). It exhibits extensive foxing on the edges of the pages, with a few of the pages within affected, the dust jacket having been entirely clear-taped over and permanently affixed to the inside covers. Fine.

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