What kind of Enfield is this?

Tyler

Tyler

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Well, I was tasked with doing a complete inventory of an Artillery Regiment's stores, and I came across one of these tucked away in the weapons vault along with a couple minty Snider-Enfields. They belong to the museum that is also in the building...

I had my cell phone handy, so I snapped a few pics. Sorry for the quality.

What struck me was the 5 round magazine, which was attached to the mag-well via a link of chain, and the front sight cap. The reciever was dated 1896, and she still had the dust-cover for the bolt. The parts were covered in cosmo, as was the bore... which appeared to be in good shape.

Is this a calvary/artillery carbine of some sort?
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I forget the make... but if I recall correctly it was a BSA.

Either way, you don't see this every day. Hope you guys enjoyed.

Tyler
 
Check on the Knox-form of the barrel (the flat directly above the chamber). If it has an "E" on it, it is definitely Enfield rifling. It SHOULD be Enfield rifling..... but, one never knows.

Most disappointing thing about it is that it isn't in MY vault!

BTW, that's an original 6-round mag. The chain is correct on Carbines and on older rifles as well. Spares were NOT issued and, as far as the Carbines are concered, they were issued to the Cavalry, and you really don't want to try remiving a mag from your rifle and reloading it and then replacing it and cycling a round.... at a full gallop!

Nice toy, though!
 
That is one nice old lady. Hey, if you have a chance, could you take a picture of the left side of the butt socket?

I will be refurbing a LEC soon, I wouldn't mind keeping in touch Tyler, I will need some mesurements (especially of the handguard)... if that is possible.

Lou
 
Lec

Yup, looks to be a LEC cavalry carbine, a nice one too! Sadly, somebody sanded the wood to clean it up. Make and model will be stamped into the metal of the left hand side of the butt socket. Likely a Mk.I*. Only Enfield made the military contract carbines.

I have penchant for these, I own five of them in different stages of restoration, including an early trails carbine.

Lou, if you are good at whittling, a passable wood set can be made from one taken from a sht LE.

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Carbines were carried in a leather scabbard, I am looking for one to add to my tack as I like to trail ride on my property. Fish and Game Act states that there is to be no hunting from a motorised vehicles, which rules out ATVs, but no mention of hunting from horse back! (I live in moose country).

Just have to be careful as to where the retort from the muzzle is in relation to the horse's ears, otherwise it can get a bit skittish

Tally Ho!
 
A 6 round mag! Never knew... What did they use for chargers back then?

I'd be glad to take lots of pics... but it's locked in a vault in Canada that I don't have access to, and I am currently in England. :p

If I see any weird odds and ends at the Imperial War Museum, I will keep you guys in mind.
 
If you are browsing about the IWM, check out this ugly old SMLE they have in a glass case. Poor old thing has been all engraved and has some gold inlay. Belonged to some guy named Lawrence, who my old Freidn Sgt. Angus Kellie (380 Siege Bty, 51 Div Arty, PEF) described as "A little sawed off character with a big nose, dressed half in Arab clothes and half in rags, telling Allenby how to run the war. To us, he was just some crazy Englishman, living out in the desert with the Arabs. When I got back to Scotland in 1921, that's when I found out that that was Lawrence of Arabia! I could have touched him, he was so close."

BTW, in a back room, they also have Maxim's VERY first automatic machine-gun. I identified this gun for them when I was there in '76, as they didn't know exactly what it was. No great feat on my part, mind you: there were only 3 made, 1 is in the USA, 1 at Hythe, so they had to have the third. They got it fromthe Science Museum when SM was clearing out most of their weapons (I guess weapons aren't scientific)..... but the SM had kept the documentation (from Maxim himself) which proved that THIS was the first-ever automatic machine-gun. If you need proof, you can see where Maxim removed the original feed-tray and plugged the screw-holes when he developed the belt-feed after his first experiments proved that the gun would work. Likely they have gun and documentation back in one place at last.

They also have a Zeppelin Maxim from a Zepp which was downed over London. My grandfather was with 54 Bn, CEF and my grandmother was Army herself. They were in the same hotel, in adjacent rooms, at the corner of the building, watching the thing get shot down.... but they didn't meet until almost 10 years after the War! Strange but true.

Me, I'm still trying to figure out how to get that damn V-2 into my camera case. I REALLY want one of those!
 
smellie said:
Check on the Knox-form of the barrel (the flat directly above the chamber). If it has an "E" on it, it is definitely Enfield rifling. It SHOULD be Enfield rifling..... but, one never knows.

Most disappointing thing about it is that it isn't in MY vault!

BTW, that's an original 6-round mag. The chain is correct on Carbines and on older rifles as well. Spares were NOT issued and, as far as the Carbines are concered, they were issued to the Cavalry, and you really don't want to try remiving a mag from your rifle and reloading it and then replacing it and cycling a round.... at a full gallop!

Nice toy, though!
Click to expand...

Spare mags were issued, but were kept in the soldier's kit. Only serjeants had the tool to expand the chain link and change the magazine.
 
Missing the cleaning rod, and the markings on the butt disc look Greek or something, but still a rare piece.

Heavily sanded down too as mentioned.
 
Clearing rods were removed from service right about the turn of the century (exact date eludes me right now) but the fact it is missing it is not surprising, and by that fact alone means the rifle is correct without it.
 
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