I recently acquired a .303 rifle that I am having difficulty identifying due to conflicting evidence amongst its parts. I think it may be a Lee Medford Cavalry Carbine from the 1890s
The barrel is 20.75 inches long, and the bolt, has a bolt cover, a flattened handle, a cocking piece somewhat flattened on the bottom, and a full length groove for the forward locking piece of the bolt. To remove the bolt the forward locking piece must be moved to the rear. I believe that the barrel is grooved in the Metford pattern. It has a magazine cutoff. The magazine holds 6 cartridges.
The markings on the barrel and breech are a crown, V.R. 1st proof and 2nd proof, indicating I believe that it was made during the reign of Queen Victoria. The barrel and breech also have the number 88 with an E underneath (I believe this indicates it was made in the Enfield factory and inspected by Inspector #88). The serial number 7378A is stamped on the right side of the breech and barrel. There are no markings on the metal wrist straps, however, the left wrist strap appears to show some evidence filing or fine grinding. The rear ladder sight is marked 100, 200, 300 and 400 on the left side, marked 5 to 20 on the ladder and has the markings EFD, crown 09E, and EC on the base of the ladder .
The stock has a brass buttplate with flip up for a cleaning rod and a brass ring on the right side. The hand grip area on this stock is checkered and the wood forestock is checkered and tapered, similar to the Lee Sporting Rifles that were sold commercially. There is no upper wood forestock.
If this is its original condition I will leave it this way, if not I am considering whether or not to restore this rifle to its original state; is this advisable or worthwhile? Therefore am trying to discover what this rifle looked like originally. If so, I need information on what is not original and needs to be replaced and how to obtain these parts.
The barrel is 20.75 inches long, and the bolt, has a bolt cover, a flattened handle, a cocking piece somewhat flattened on the bottom, and a full length groove for the forward locking piece of the bolt. To remove the bolt the forward locking piece must be moved to the rear. I believe that the barrel is grooved in the Metford pattern. It has a magazine cutoff. The magazine holds 6 cartridges.
The markings on the barrel and breech are a crown, V.R. 1st proof and 2nd proof, indicating I believe that it was made during the reign of Queen Victoria. The barrel and breech also have the number 88 with an E underneath (I believe this indicates it was made in the Enfield factory and inspected by Inspector #88). The serial number 7378A is stamped on the right side of the breech and barrel. There are no markings on the metal wrist straps, however, the left wrist strap appears to show some evidence filing or fine grinding. The rear ladder sight is marked 100, 200, 300 and 400 on the left side, marked 5 to 20 on the ladder and has the markings EFD, crown 09E, and EC on the base of the ladder .
The stock has a brass buttplate with flip up for a cleaning rod and a brass ring on the right side. The hand grip area on this stock is checkered and the wood forestock is checkered and tapered, similar to the Lee Sporting Rifles that were sold commercially. There is no upper wood forestock.
If this is its original condition I will leave it this way, if not I am considering whether or not to restore this rifle to its original state; is this advisable or worthwhile? Therefore am trying to discover what this rifle looked like originally. If so, I need information on what is not original and needs to be replaced and how to obtain these parts.
