Bubba strikes again

kjohn

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SE Sask.
I just bought an 1893 Lee-Metford MkII. Unfortunately, Bubba got to it a long time ago. The barrel has "Alex Martin Glasgow" stamped on it, but it has been cut. The magazine seems to be correct. It has an odd spring set-up. The safety mechanism is gone. Here would be a pic of it before: http://enfieldrifles.profusehost.net/ri1a.htm

LeeMetfordax.jpg


What might this represent?

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/kjohn73/LeeMetfordb###x.jpg
 
Your point-to-point Broad Arrows are the Army's "Sale Mark". They are proof that the rifle, once Government property, has been legally sold out of military Service and is not a stolen rifle.

Alex Martin of Glasgow was indeed a gunsmith for the gentry. The shop made really excellent target sights and did sniper conversions for both World Wars, mostly the First, if I recall correctly. They also were agents for the Ross Rifle Company; a friend in Lahore owns an Alex-Martin-marked 1905 Ross sporter in .35 Winchester.

The fellow I shoot with is a grand-nephew of Alex Martin, visited the shop in 1947 or '48, told me of the long line of chaufeurred Daimlers, Rolls-Royces and Bentleys waiting outside the shop while the Great Ones had their needs catered to and the servants hauled in the bags of money. My friend was from a side of the family generally not mentioned, but he was allowed to visit the shop and was shown through the workrooms as well as the showroom and he has never forgotten it.

Further, Alex Martin was the inventor and patentee of the Martin Ribless shotgun, said to be a notable advance in sporting guns. They are very rare and hideously expensive.

I have a Lee-Metford Mark II myself, a commercial from BSA and it hae nae guid Scots thistles mark'd 'pon it. I rather think this could have been added in Glasgie.

I haven't seen your gun but perhaps you might have it looked at by somebody who really knows these old-timers. Martin's might have cut the barrel. Never know.

Have fun!
 
BTW, Lee-Metford Mark II didn't HAVE a safety to start with.
You used a combination of the magazine cutoff and the half-#### on your bolt. Safety catch (the 'wing' type on the cocking-piece) was introduced with the II* and continued on the Lee-Enfield Mark I and I*. Your rifle has no * that I can see, so never was fitted for a cocking-piece safety.

So she's completely original except, possibly for the civilian cut on the barrel, which could be the work of a VERY expensive guy.

I take it this poor, abused old girl just followed you home quite recently? That's fine; she knew she had somebody to take her in and love her at last.

Keep smilin'; she's good company and she doesn't eat a lot. I find that Metford barrels often shoot better than they look.
Problem is, after this many years the bore could be oversize. You well could find that you get acceptable accuracy out of cast bullets. MUCH cheaper to shoot than jacketed, and they obturate better at the lower velocities you might want to shoot the old girl at. A good Lee mould will set you back 30 bucks, a thousand gas-checks another 30 and then you'll need 16 pounds of wheelweights and a bottle of Lee's Liquid Alox. The gas checks you seat with a taper die; Lee has a nice one for $17, comes with a bullet tub and a bottle of Liquid Alox lube. And you go to a quick powder to mimic the old Cordite Mark I without the erosive business to put up with. Result is that you'll fill the MAGAZINE for 2 bucks instead of the CHAMBER.

Have at her!

Any irredentist Boers in the district, keep yer heads DOWN!

LOL!
 
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