The Howell automatic rifle was a semi-automatic conversion of the Lee–Enfield rifle. The gun was regarded as unwieldy; the gas piston was located on the right side of the gun, and the force of the recoiling bolt interfered with handling. The gun was described as "dramatic" when fired, though the weapon was ultimately deemed reliable. Similar conversions were the South African Rieder and Charlton of New Zealand origin, both of which had full automatic capability.