Enfield 1901 Sht .22 training rifle questions

grant580

grant580

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Few days ago I aquired an Enfield .22 cal training rifle dated 1901 that needs a little work, but otherwise in good shape for it's age. I checked Skinnerton's excellent book on Enfields, but the book did not show any information on any .22 cal rifles dated 1901, only ones dated 1908 and 1912.
The only one that comes close to looking like mine in the book is the one dated 1912 and marked Enfield 1912 sht .22 II. The book states that this rifle was approved on 15th jan. 1912 and was for naval service only.
The book also stated that these 1912 rifles were made from the Mark 2 Lee Metford rifle. On the left side of the rifle I have it's marked sht 22 II, on the right side it's marked "Sparkbrook 1901 L E 1 *
So what I am wondering is why does my rifle have 1901 on it? There is no indication that it is, or was a Lee Metford. One would think that if they modified a rifle to become a Enfield 1912 sht .22 mk 2 model, or what ever, they would have overstamped, or eliminated the 1901 date?? Can anybody help me on this one?, I am relatively new to collecting Enfields. Thanks.

I tried to post some pictures of the rifle, but can't seem to attach them from my photobucket right now for some reason.
 
There are more knowledgeable people out there but I searched and found that The Royal Small Arms Factory in Sparkbrook began making Enfields in 1901. When yours was converted to .22 caliber may be told in some of the markings. But the actual rifle was British made.
 
It was made as a .303" MkI* Long Lee Enfield in 1901 at Sparkbrook and later converted to a Sht .22 MkII. The original marks were usually left intact when the conversion was done.
 
What messes a lot of people up are the wild variety of conversions that were being done about that time. This rifle was built as a LONG Lee-Enfield Mark I*, at Sparkbrook, in 1901. It was then converted to a SHORT LEE-ENFIELD MARK II. Mark II was the SHORT rifle in a .22" RIMFiRE CONFIGURATION.

So the poor thing was converted to a short rifle AND to a .22, all at the same time. Small wonder it needs a good home.

BTW, they can be accurate as all get-out.

Now, where'd I put me bottle o' rum?

"Rum's not drinking. Rum is.... survival." Treece (Robert Shaw's character) in THE DEEP.
 
Thanks for all the replies fellows, really appreciate it. So do you guys think that rifle is fairly valuable then? It's not in the greatest shape and I need a few parts for it (which I will post in the EE later this week), but the bore is surprisingly good, some pitting, but def. shootable.
 
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