The world famous Lee-Enfield rifles are highly prized by collectors of militaria. They take their name from the town of Enfield, now in North London (where a government arms works was established in 1804), and from James Paris Lee, the celebrated American gunsmith who invented the box magazine, which led to the development of bolt-action repeating rifles. The very first rifle to bear the Enfield name was the Enfield Rifle of 1853, with the prototype Lee-Enfield Magazine Rifle Mark I appearing late in 1895. A series of rifles known as the `Long Lees` appeared until the final Lee-Enfield carbine, the Australian Rifle Club Pattern, was approved in 1904.

The Long Lees were superseded in the early years of the 20th century by the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle - a lighter weapon with a reduced length of 44.5 inches. This rifle was almost continually adapted and improved, particularly during the explosion in weapon production caused by World War I. Collectors often turn their attention to the Pattern 1914 (No.3) Rifle as well - which although not strictly a Lee-Enfield - was nevertheless designed and built by engineers at the Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory. Such was the huge wartime demand for the P-14 that production moved to the US, with Winchester producing the rifle at their New Haven, Connecticut plant. Other US manufacturers included Remington and Eddystone - with total output exceeding 1.2 million rifles. The involvement of these different companies led to significant variations in the P-14 and three separate models were approved. Production and modification of the P-14 continued on through World War II and the rifle still found favour in various post-war conflicts and client wars.

Lee-Enfield No.4 Series rifles are the final group of weapons to have attracted the interest of collectors. The No.4 incorporates a heavier barrel than earlier weapons and uses stronger steel in the action body and bolt body. The Lee-Enfield No.5 rifle is essentially shorter and lighter version of the No.4, while the L8A1 through to the L8A5 are NATO conversions of the trusty No.4. These rifles have been produced in the UK, Canada, Pakistan, South Africa and at the Stevens Arms Co. plant in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. The story of Lee-Enfield rifles ends with the Drill Rifle L59A1, a non-firing conversion of the No.4, approved for use by military cadets on training exercises.