The rifle, .303 Pattern 1914 (or P14) was a British service rifle of the First World War period. A bolt action weapon with an integral 5-round magazine, it was principally contract manufactured by companies in the United States. It served as a sniper rifle and second line and reserve issue until declared obsolete in 1947.
Production history: The primary contractor (Vickers) was unable to produce more than a handful of rifles, so the P14 became an afterthought.
The Short Magazine Lee–Enfield therefore remained the standard British rifle during the First World War and beyond.
A shortage of industrial capacity led the British government to contract with United States commercial arms manufacturers. Each factory produced slightly differing parts leading to interchangeability issues. In December 1916, a modification was made to enlarge the bolt lugs and the rifle became the Mark I*. The Pattern 1914 Mk I W is a Mk I of Winchester manufacture, while R would be Remington, or E for Eddystone.
The P14’s principal combat use during the First World War was as a sniper rifle. When the U.S. entered the First World War, the P14 was modified and standardized by the Ordnance Department, headquartered at Fort Lee, Virginia, went into production. Prior to and during the Second World War, over 670k Pattern 1914 Enfields were used after undergoing modification. The rifle was also used again as a sniper rifle in 2WW, the configuration being different from the First World War design.
Some Lee–Enfield sniper rifles were used during the Korean War.