Oilers

I used to collect the brass and plastic oilers for different Lee Enfield models. There are dozens of different makers, but most are only stamped with a broad arrow if they're brass. The plastic types often will have other stamps.

Now I'm down to only enough so that I have one that's appropriate for each of my ''keeper'' Lee Enfields.

As mentioned, it's a rabbit hole and there is little to no info available on most of the makers.

By the time the Korean War was over, it appears that there was a hodge podge of oilers issued and it wasn't unusual to find a plastic oiler in a No1 butt.
 
Yeah, I can remember when every rifle you purchased at the Army and Navy store had a pull through and oiler with it.

Otherwise they could be had for a nickle apiece.
 
Definitely a rabbit hole. Never really wanted any for my Lee Enfields until I bought some Lee Enfield stuff from a fellow and it had acouple of oilers. Now every rifle I rebuild has to have one , plus the original ones. Never thought I needed slings until I put one on. Now I have multiple manufacturers and colours.
 
bearhunter said:
I used to collect the brass and plastic oilers for different Lee Enfield models. There are dozens of different makers, but most are only stamped with a broad arrow if they're brass. The plastic types often will have other stamps.

Now I'm down to only enough so that I have one that's appropriate for each of my ''keeper'' Lee Enfields.

As mentioned, it's a rabbit hole and there is little to no info available on most of the makers.

By the time the Korean War was over, it appears that there was a hodge podge of oilers issued and it wasn't unusual to find a plastic oiler in a No1 butt.
Click to expand...

Always thought the Navy was a little weird.
 
R005t3r said:
Always thought the Navy was a little weird.
Click to expand...

The Army and Navy was just one of many selling firearms/ammo/accessories back in the day. Usually low to mid priced stuff as they were mostly dealers of surplus products, both commercial and military. Not everything of course and things have changed over the years. I don't know if there are any stores left.

They used to have stores all across Canada, until Canadian Tire and other such businesses got into the same game and priced them out of business, just like Marshall Wells.
 
Hi antique guy. In 1896 Canada got 40,000 Lee Enfields (long) with the early pattern of brass oil bottle with a circular external grasping knob.
Some of these early items were unit marked by local armourers as to unit and even rack number on the top of the knob. That would identify
the unit it was issued to and with a lot of luck maybe the rack number could be traced to a person. Marking of bottles was illiminated near 1900. Curious enough that oil bottles for the Ross were imported British brass patterns and normally the lids were ground down and a C broad arrow stamped. Why? - the Ross bottle channel was not as deep as the Lee Enfield and it removed any rack/unit mark put on by the Brits. If you ever find a spare Mk I bottle for the 1888 Lee Metford rifle let me know as my Mk I* is wanting. Also, it was rumoured that the WW2 black plastic bottles were the only ones put into LB sniper rifle transit chests. That is possible as blackened cartridges were also issued once. JOHN
 
This seems fun and exciting I had the idea while looking for a smaller one to use in a possibles pouch.

I have found so much variety it’s not funny and most are still pretty cheap.
 
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