Close-up showing Lee Enfield carbine's bolt actionThe Magazine Lee-Enfield (MLE) rifle was introduced in 1895 to take the new cordite .303 ammunition. It remained in official service until 1957 and it is estimated that more than 17 million were made. The Lee action cocked when the bolt was locked, enabling it to fire up to 30 aimed shots a minute. This made it faster, simpler, and more reliable (though less powerful) than the contemporary Mauser rifle, which cocked upon opening the bolt.

The shorter carbine version of the MLE was issued in 1896 and was used extensively by mounted troops in the South African War (1898–1902). This particular Mk I 1898 carbine may have been issued to the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers who were involved in the relief of Kimberley in 1900. It was then captured by Judge Hugo, a Boer member of Danie Theron’s bicycle reconnaissance unit, who personalised it, and whittled down the stock (the tool marks can still be seen) to make it even lighter. Hugo was later injured in a skirmish at Wagenaarskraal, Northern Cape in 1902, whereupon the British reclaimed the gun.

During the conflict, the Boers were eager to get their hands on enemy weapons as they did not have any official issue ones of their own. Mauser rifles were bought in bulk from Germany but these had to be purchased privately and were not cheap. Most Boer fighters used their own hunting rifles and shotguns, or old Martini Henrys left over from the first Boer War in 1881.

Close-up showing the stock of the Lee Enfield carbine at the Pitt Rivers Museum