+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 25

Thread: Enfield VR 1900 L.E.C. 1*

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    OtagoNZEF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Last On
    02-15-2015 @ 05:12 AM
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    8
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    05:56 PM

    Enfield VR 1900 L.E.C. 1*

    Hello this is my first post so here goes.
    Some years age I bought an old 303 which I understood to be a cut down Long Tom Boer war rifle. After learning a bit on this site I would like to know more.
    VR Enfield 1900 L.E.C. I* # 1647 C with stock disc 12 A 04
    3
    396
    can anyone shed some light on this old girl
    cheers
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member jrhead75's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last On
    02-03-2021 @ 10:28 PM
    Location
    Washington State, USA
    Posts
    354
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:56 PM
    L.E.C. would indicate a purpose built cavalry carbine rather than a cut down rifle. Any chance of pics?

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    OtagoNZEF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Last On
    02-15-2015 @ 05:12 AM
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    8
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    05:56 PM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by jrhead75 View Post
    L.E.C. would indicate a purpose built cavalry carbine rather than a cut down rifle. Any chance of pics?






  6. #4
    Advisory Panel
    Jc5's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Last On
    02-23-2024 @ 12:54 PM
    Location
    West Coast, USA
    Posts
    203
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    05:56 PM
    What a shame that someone bubba'd this beauty! And disappointing that no one is making repro wood or nosecaps for these!

    Still, a fine old rifle that I'd be proud to own.

    Can someone save me a hunt through the bookshelf and remind me how the barrel diameter on the LEC compares to the SMLE? I know it's thinner than the MLE, but was it identical to the SMLE?

  7. #5
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    JerryB08's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Last On
    01-19-2014 @ 07:10 AM
    Location
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Posts
    82
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    05:56 PM
    I love it! beautiful rifle. Of course, if it's not originally supposed to look like that I would try to find what I needed to restore it as close back to factory as possible.

  8. #6
    Contributing Member
    bigduke6's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 09:09 PM
    Location
    North West England,UK
    Posts
    3,279
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:56 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by jc5icon View Post
    And disappointing that no one is making repro wood or nosecaps for these!
    They are being made but only small amounts, and the fore ends etc are made to order. ( I,m waiting for a drawing of the nose cap so I can get some machined)

  9. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to bigduke6 For This Useful Post:


  10. #7
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    OtagoNZEF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Last On
    02-15-2015 @ 05:12 AM
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    8
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    05:56 PM
    Thread Starter
    Thanks for the feed back so far. Looking at the option of rebuilding to original and have found a guy who has made the fore wood before. All 8 units went fast.
    What was the barrel length of the carbine? I think my barrel may have been cut down by an 1" or so. She still shoots well and feels good to shoot.
    Birmingham small arms have advertised a Lee Enfield magazine Carbine No4 Sporting Carbine with leaf flip up sights? ( Posted on this sight.) Which looks the same but for the stock disc ? your thoughts !

  11. #8
    Advisory Panel
    Jc5's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Last On
    02-23-2024 @ 12:54 PM
    Location
    West Coast, USA
    Posts
    203
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    05:56 PM
    Birmingham small arms have advertised a Lee Enfield magazine Carbine No4 Sporting Carbine with leaf flip up sights? ( Posted on this sight.) Which looks the same but for the stock disc ? your thoughts !
    That was something completely different. Yours was a military pattern, not a sporting pattern. Those express sights (even if you could find them) are not correct for this restoration, unless you just want to make a sporter out of it. I admire your plan to restore this thing. The cavalry carbines are just about coolest Enfields ever made, IMO. Hang tight until you find the wood and nosecap.
    .
    .
    Researching Lee Speeds and all commercial Lee Enfields. If you have data to share or questions, please send me a PM.

  12. #9
    Contributing Member
    bigduke6's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 09:09 PM
    Location
    North West England,UK
    Posts
    3,279
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:56 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by OtagoNZEF View Post
    I think my barrel may have been cut down by an 1" or so.
    Barrel looks fine, original OAL is 20.75"

  13. Thank You to bigduke6 For This Useful Post:


  14. #10
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    RJW NZ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Last On
    10-04-2014 @ 11:58 PM
    Location
    Auckland NZ
    Posts
    1,241
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:56 PM
    Does anyone have a pic of one of these in original format?
    There's a kiwi gent mentioned on the front page of enfield resource.com who can do wood to order, could be an option?
    Nice rifle, Otago NZEF, good to see you here on the forum, one of the greatest collections of Enfield brain cells on the planet. cheers rjw NZicon

    I found this site, interesting place, halfway down the page is some Irish carbine history history with pics of LEC's.

    Firearms of the Irish Police - Gentleman's Military Interest Club

    From writer Peter Mc
    The Lee Enfield RIC Carbines (part 1 of 2)

    Lee Enfield Mk1* carbines or Lee Metford cavalry carbines converted to Enfield rifling; 21 inch barrel, nose cap adapted to take the Pattern 88 knife bayonet. Small six-round magazines. 11,000 were supplied by the War Office as a free issue to the RIC between March 1904 and 1914.

    The new carbine was first issued to the Reserve Force at Dublin's Phoenix Park Depot in March 1904, before being distributed across the county forces. It replaced the Martini Henry carbine and at the same time replaced the existing long bayonet with the shorter knife pattern.
    By July 1904 the new rifle had been issued to counties Cavan and Carlow, and special training regarding the mechanism of the new rifles had been given to the RIC Musketry Instructors. In January 1905 Kings county had been supplied, and it was noted that Morris Tubes had been privately purchased by some of the men for practice. County Monaghan did not take possession of the carbines until April 1905.

    In September 1920 the RIC wrote to the Ministry of Munitions of War to communicate their desire to sell as scrap approximately 10,000 of these carbines, which were to be replaced with the modern SMLE rifle. They were shipped to the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock around November or December 1920, together with around 1.1 million rounds of MkVI ammunition (ref: National Archives file MUN 4/6028).

    The estimate for scrappage was 5d each, or £1 if sold (for LE carbines) or 10 shillings each (the Lee Metford carbines). I am led to believe that some of these carbines were taken into use by the South African Prison Service.

    A Lee Metford cavalry carbine converted to Enfield rifling

    21" brl with Enfield 5 groove rifling, military proofs at breech. Full walnut stock, nose cap with bayonet lug to accept the P88 knife bayonet. Butt with brass disk stamped 3.'04 R.I.C.1094. This specimen made up from a Lee Metford cavalry carbine which was re-barrelled. Vg o/a cond with high % finish, shooting grade bore. I have fired this weapon many times and it has a kick like a mule!
    Last edited by RJW NZ; 03-09-2012 at 05:57 PM.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Swede Gustaf 1900 Target Rifle w/Elit sights
    By emdarms in forum Mauser Rifles
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-04-2010, 01:36 AM
  2. German Gewehr 98 1900 Danzig
    By ltcboy in forum Commercial Auction and Sale "Gossip"
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 03-02-2010, 10:41 AM
  3. more South Texas border 1900-1920
    By Jeff L in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-26-2009, 09:39 PM
  4. South Texas border 1900-1920
    By Jeff L in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 10-26-2009, 12:31 PM
  5. 1924 ShtLE (Short Lee-Enfield) No.1 MkV Rifle (Mfg by RSAF Enfield)
    By Badger in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-07-2007, 12:12 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks