Lee Metford sporter value? Pics added

[hacer2]

Came across an old sporter lee metford with a barrel that seems commercially cut down but retaining the original rear sight and a shorter magazine. I know for sporter smle’s and no4 it’s in those prices but I don’t know older long lees actions


Thanks

 

[bearhunter]

Everyone should have at least one Long Lee.

If the bore is decent, IMHO $150 range is on the low side. If the bore and exterior are VG or better, more.

From your description it's one of those conversions that were popular in the mid twenties to WWII. If the barrel knox has an "E" stamped on it, its been rebarreled with "Enfield" type rifling. If not, it likely still has Metford style rifling, which will look like it has a worn throat and rounded lands/grooves.

I have a couple and I really like both of them. To bad my aging eyes don't do the excellent sights on them justice.

 

[smellie]

Shorter magazines can mean cut-down but also can mean Carbine.

Suggest you pick the Beast up and then regale us with a nice set of photos.

You never really know what you have until a full inspection has been performed. I picked one up a few years ago which was in a pile of wrecks; it turned out to be A.G. Parker serial number 0019, rebuilt on a LM-II action but with a genuine Parker barrel. Point is that it took a FULL investigation to sort it all out! I just saw "Parker", laid down my 40 bucks and got to hell OUTTA there!

 

[englishman_ca]

Long Lees once sportered really have no premium over a Sht.LE or No.4 Bubba as their collector value is gone (unless you collect long Lee sporters!). But difficult to say because we really dont know what it is at this point.

Lots of gunsmiths did professional conversions of military rifles to sporting. Some bespoke rifle builders also did custom work conversions. Ya just never know!
.

So yes, if it is a complete working rifle, to me it would be worth $140 sight unseen.

The short mag and shorter barrel have my attention. Worth a look.

You gotta go take pics for us to see.

Enfield barrels have five grooves, Metford have seven.

 

[hacer2]

Pics added

Barrel is a 5 groove

 

[woodchopper]

OMG..... that rear sight. Pure bubba work.

but $140.... still a not bad price if you are looking for a project.

 

[bearhunter]

It's definitely a cut down.

IMHO, you paid what it's worth. Actually may even have gotten a decent deal, if it shoots well. The barrel looks to have been replaced during a refurb. The rear sight is fugly but could be cleaned up and soldered on properly (not worth the effort) The front sight is also a soldered on replacement.

The magazine may or may not be original in its present form.

Look at it this way, the magazine will fetch $75-$100. The complete bolt another $50-$100. The trigger guard and trigger group components another $50. If I needed another parts rifle, I would have happily purchased that rifle for that price.

 

[englishman_ca]

Good price if you both happy. Useful rifle.

Not a cut down. What you have there is a mixture of models. Long Lee rifle (or carbine) receiver 1892-1903, mounting a Sht.LE barrel 1903-55.

Barrel has a nocks form flat at the breech end and is probably 24-1/4 inches long measuring bolt face to muzzle.

The rear sight leaf is graduated to 2000 yards, and has EC marked at the bottom right of the leaf, which denotes Enfield Carbine. 1896-02

The sight bed was originally soft soldered and screwed onto the carbine. But no screw holes to mount it on this smle barrel, so Bubba welded? Is that actually hard weld or is it blobs of solder holding it onto the barrel?

The magazine is a 6 rounder, from a carbine too. 1895-04

The fore stock is a modified cut and shaved smle Mk.III (patched sight protector inlets) 1907-55. Butt stock is customised with relief defining the pistol grip.

So itsa bitza. Lots of good parts.

That magazine is worth what you paid for the rifle.

Howzit shoot?

 

[hacer2]

Good price if you both happy. Useful rifle.

Not a cut down. What you have there is a mixture of models. Long Lee rifle (or carbine) receiver 1892-1904, mounting a Sht.LE barrel 1903-59

The rear sight leaf is graduated to 2000 yards, and has EC marked at the bottom right of the leaf, which denotes Enfield Carbine. 1896-02

The sight bed was originally soft soldered and screwed onto the carbine. But no screw holes to mount it on this smle barrel, so Bubba welded? Is that actually hard weld or is it blobs of solder holding it onto the barrel?

The magazine is a 6 rounder, from a carbine too. 1895-04

The fore stock is a modified cut and shaved smle Mk.III (patched sight protector inlets) 1907-59. Butt stock is customised with relief defining the pistol grip.

So itsa bitza. Lots of good parts.

That magazine is worth what you paid for the rifle.

Howzit shoot?

Thanks for the detailed breakdown sure felt as if somethings did not quite belong. Going to give it a good cleaning then give it a small range report in a couple weeks, there’s also a gun show in Fredericton nb in a few weeks may be a good trader option too. Only time will tell. But that rear sight is but ugly and welded

 

[bearhunter]

Thanks for the detailed breakdown sure felt as if somethings did not quite belong. Going to give it a good cleaning then give it a small range report in a couple weeks, there’s also a gun show in Fredericton nb in a few weeks may be a good trader option too. Only time will tell. But that rear sight is but ugly and welded

englishman knows his stuff.

 

[Guy28]

Hello CGN'ers,

I created a new thread named "Lee Enfield rifle - B.S.A. and M Co., dated 1896 - looking for information" in the "Milsurps" forum. Hope some of you will take a look because I see that you have knowledge on this rifle.

Link : https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1985671-Lee-Enfield-rifle-B-S-A-and-M-Co-dated-1896-looking-for-information


Cheers!