Following a trend that had begun with the British Army's Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE), which proved better suited to the trench warfare of World War I than the longer rifles of the era ...

This 'Short Magazine Lee Enfield' (SMLE) remained the service rifle of choice throughout the British Commonwealth for the next 60 years. Its magazine held 10 rounds and was accurate up to 2200 yards.

The journey begins in December 1902 when the British Army introduced a modified version of their standard Lee Enfield service rifle.