Lee Metford MkI: Great Britain's First Magazine Rifle
This video delves into the history and development of Great Britain's first magazine rifle, the Lee Metford MkI. It details the transition from plans for a single-shot Martini rifle chambered in .402 caliber to the adoption of a magazine rifle due to the advent of smokeless powder. The video highlights the development of the .303 British cartridge and how it influenced rifle design, ultimately leading to the selection of a Lee rifle with a box magazine. It discusses the 1888 field trials, the formal adoption in 1889, and the rifle's retroactive renaming. The presenter showcases a rare example with an intact manual safety and Lewes pattern sights, noting these features were often removed or replaced in later service models.













