In the late 1880's, when looking for a small-bore, smokeless magazine rifle, the British saw virtue in the Remington-Lee (Black Powder) bolt action design and its detachable magazine.

Having a military that knew how to fight using Bullet, Bayonet, and Butt, the British revamped the Lee's wimpy stock into a rather robust "two piece" design with provision to withstand recoiling parts.

The rear bolt lock-up, 'cock-on-closing' striker design, trigger linkage/guard design, and detachable (8 cartridge) 'single stack' magazine were pure to Lee design.

Early Lee-Metford rifles and carbines had their original magazine 'chain-linked' to a loop on the trigger-guard plate. This was so the empty magazine could be released and not lost, while inserting a  spare 'loaded' magazine.

The action had a magazine cut-off to allow operation of the rifle as a single-shot, with the magazine contents held in reserve.

The magazine was soon increased to 10 rounds, 'double stacked'. The idea of changing magazines was dropped. (Likely due to expense and poor interchangeability of magazines).

The British fired their Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield rifles (10 round) and carbines (5 round) as single-shots. The magazine 'cut-off' was utilized to hold the contents in reserve. Replenishing a 10 round magazine was a slow process.

By 1901, the virtue of 'charger-loading' was clear to the British Army and experimental 'Charger-Loading' short rifles were being produced for trial. This was the genesis of the Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield Mark-I.

By 1907 the design was much improved.

But, within six years, the .303" Short M.L-E Mark-III rifle was slated for replacement by the .276", Mauser inspired, Pattern 1913.
(We all know how that would turn out).

Shorter & handier, charger-Loading, better sights, a quick bolt-action with a great toleration for mud and abuse, showed the British Lee to be a better battle rifle than expected!

(Attached photos showing SMLE Mk-I with early charger-guide).

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