Price Check Lee Metford?

H Wally

H Wally

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A family member out east has a Long Lee that he's curious about. It looks identical to the gun pictured, as it has the shortened fore portion of the front stock, but is missing the dust cover. Any ideas on these guns? So far all he's found comes from the same website as the picture's from. No news on markings or pictures as the gun is in storage. Curious on value for a mechanically good, somewhat worn but shootable condition - say AVG condition.

Looks identical to this, note the shorter than usual wood between the nose cap and band vs a regular long lee:

G122-1.jpg

From the web page the photo was taken from:BRITISH Lee Metford Mk. II bolt-action sporting rifle # G122 (.303 British) mfg. by Birmingham Small Arms Co. in c. 1890. An undated commercial Long Lee in near Excellent overall condition with no military markings at all. Has fully blued finish with very bright and strong bore. Top of barrel marked JOHN RIGBY & Co., 72 ST. JAMES'S ST, LONDON (the famous sporting arms merchant and manufacturer still doing business at that address today). This rifle still retains its front and rear volley-sights and has magazine cut-off still attached. Right side of butt-socket stamped LEE-SPEED PATENTS / B. S. A. Co., left side of receiver states FOR CORDITE ONLY. Bolt is not matching receiver (as usual) but retains safety behind bolt-handle. Buttstock and handguards are walnut with some of the expected handling-marks and compressions. Not import-marked.
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Values

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Without a description and photos of the markings, a value on one of these Carbines is hard or almost impossible to place accurately.

It could be a British Artillery Carbine, Royal Irish Constabulary, New Zealand or even Royal North West Mounted Police. Your description is of a BSA Commercial firearm. Each vary in value.

If it is a Military Carbine, the date and model will be on the LEFT side of the butt socket. If it is a cut down or bubbaed Long Lee, then the date is on the RIGHT side of the butt socket.
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When you say "down east" if you mean Newfoundland AKA "The Rock"....after you pry the metal out of the wood and split the handguard to splinters due to the salt corrosion welding the wood and metal together......They usually go about 300.00 dollars at ton for scrap metal.
However if from elsewhere...pictures please
 
If it's identical to the one above, it would be a long lee of some variety shortened in the 1920's to meet service rifle specs of the day (i.e. to simulate the length of an SMLE). It's not a military pattern, but rather a range rifle pattern. not as valuable as an unshortened rifle.
 
skully said:
Hi HWally
I have a Lee Metford (or Enfield Commercial Rifle ) as they are sometimes called . It was owned by my grandfather who used it in the Methodist Guard , one of the military clubs of the day pre ww1. They were suposedly donated to military clubs by Robert Reid owner of the railway here , surplus of the Boer war . My grandfather went on to join The Blue Puttees . I have a pic of him holding the rifle with his shooting team after winning The Morrissey Cup in 1911 .
I may put it on the EE before long.
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:eek:
Please don't! (Unless you have to)
 
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