By the late 1930s the need for new rifles grew, and the Rifle, No. 4 Mk I was adopted in 1939, although widespread production did not start until 1941. The No. 4 was similar to the Mk VI, but lighter, stronger, and most importantly, easier to mass-produce. Unlike the SMLE, the No 4 Lee-Enfield barrel protruded some way from the end of the forestock, and a new bayonet was designed to go with the rifle. The result- a spike bayonet- was essentially a steel rod with a sharp point, and was unsurprisingly nicknamed “pigsticker” by the soldiers. Towards the end of WWII, however, a bladed bayonet was developed and issued for the No 4 rifle, using the same mounting system as the spike bayonet.
During the course of World War II, the No. 4 rifle was simplified more for mass-production with the creation of the No. 4 Mk I* which saw the removal of the bolt release catch and replaced with a more simplified notch on the track of the rifle’s action. It was produced only in North America with Long Branch Arsenal in Canada and Savage-Stevens Firearms in the USA producing the No. 4 Mk I* rifle from their respective factories.
