My 1895 Long Lee-Metford MkII & 1896 Long Lee-Enfield MkI

[albayo]

Here are some pictures of the Long Lee-Metford, and the Long Lee-Enfield.
When I received the cut down Lee-Metford, it had a butt stock from a Long Lee-Enfield, with a 1897 date and the following markings.

1897
I
I​

The Metford MkII didn't have a safety but the MkII* did. This MkII was manufactured in 1895 and probably had an upgrade with a MkII* bolt with a safety. According to Skennertons book on Enfields, the British only manufactured 13,479 MkII* Metford long rifles. The British had a history of modifying existing rifles in their arsenals. The serial number matches the Metford rifle but the style of the numbers on the bolt dos not match. For my Metford I need the short top wood (hand guard). If someone has a top hand guard like my Long Lee-Enfield, I would really appreciate sending me a PM.

Butt stock markings of my 1896.

 

[RRCo.]

The L.E. I* is nothing short of superb. You should post these on the Lee Enfield forums where the cognoscenti will give them the admiration they deserve.

 

[TargetNorth]

I've got access to a beautiful 1896 Long Lee that I took a deer with this fall. Very very nice rifle, unfortunately was bubba'd by my great grandfather. He did a great job, and it is a fine hunting rifle, but would have been nice to have the original kit on it. Still matching numbers mind you.

Yours are a real nice pair!!

Hey, 1895... isn't that technically not a firearm?