''Never again'' Lee Metford Carbine project

Well just like i've learned never to say never when it comes to Lee Enfield's i should also know by now never to say i won't restore another one....

This found it's way to me and i could not resist the challenge, especially when i have almost all the bits for it. (more on this later...maybe...)

It's a 1894 Lee Metford Carbine MK I
Yes it's been abused and from a distance looks rough... but it has potential considering how ''rarer'' they are... especially with it's D loop still attached. The metal is in good condition.
Attachment 120506Attachment 120507Attachment 120508

Now the first things i am wondering from the get go (and i know it has been discussed lately but nothing was specific) is does anybody and who (if any) makes carbine clearing rods ?

And the second thing is does anybody has seen or have a vague idea what the numbers ''123'' on the right side of the butt socket could mean ? (i'm guessing unit or rack number but since they were usually on the brass disc, this confuses me...)
Attachment 120509

Does it have a Ross front post?

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Originally Posted by CanadianLanBoy

Does it have a Ross front post?

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Yes it does
But under it still has the flat spot where the Metford front sight was brazed on.

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Originally Posted by tatou

Yes it does
But under it still has the flat spot where the Metford front sight was brazed on.

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That's mad haha.

I'm currently restoring a LEC MK1 from a sporter. Luckily, none of the original parts except for the wood was ****ed with, of course this includes the forend hardware. Luckily, Ross Rifle Restoration offers a stock set for these rifles, as I'm nowhere near skilled enough to fabricate one myself.

Good luck with your rifle.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CanadianLanBoy

That's mad haha.

I'm currently restoring a LEC MK1 from a sporter. Luckily, none of the original parts except for the wood was ****ed with, of course this includes the forend hardware. Luckily, Ross Rifle Restoration offers a stock set for these rifles, as I'm nowhere near skilled enough to fabricate one myself.

Good luck with your rifle.

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Mad is the word :p .... my guess is someone installed that front sight to mate with a rear peep sight (see the two hole at the back of the receiver)
If this one had been a regular LEC i would probably have passed it to the next guy lol.
I'm glad at least yours escaped bubba. (the metal at least)

I'm fortunate enough to have a front sight left over from a project that went south a few years back.... seems i was destined to fix this one instead.
I de-sporterized another LEC a couple of years back... (before RRR made his stocks) and had to splice a front tip and fabricate a handguard by hand.
Not this time haha...i inquired for a stock set myself. Although, being a LMC i will still have to do some work myself. Here it is.
Attachment 120510

Well Tatou, if anyone can restore that carbine, it's you! The work you've previously posted shows us that carbine is in the best of hands.

If you find a source for repro clearing rods, let me know; I'm in need of two.

Best of luck, and looking forward to the results!

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Originally Posted by smle addict

Well Tatou, if anyone can restore that carbine, it's you! The work you've previously posted shows us that carbine is in the best of hands.

If you find a source for repro clearing rods, let me know; I'm in need of two.

Best of luck, and looking forward to the results!

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Thank you :beerchug:
Been super busy on home renos all summer... i'm now just starting to get ''back in the game'' slowly.
I'm still working on the P13, the RIC and now this one.
Damn....I was hoping YOU knew someone hahaha.
Oh well, someone else might know.... worse case i'll try asking someone i know to have a go at it.
Stay close ''smle addict'' i might bother you for a few measurements on the positioning of the sling bar. ;)

No problem; the carbines are in an easily accessible spot in the gunsafe, should you need some measurements.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CanadianLanBoy

That's mad haha.

I'm currently restoring a LEC MK1 from a sporter. Luckily, none of the original parts except for the wood was ****ed with, of course this includes the forend hardware. Luckily, Ross Rifle Restoration offers a stock set for these rifles, as I'm nowhere near skilled enough to fabricate one myself.

Good luck with your rifle.

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Hello, would upi be able to provide a contact or link to Ross Rifle Restoration please as I also have a sporter carbine to restore. Cheers. Martin.

Tatou,
Well it could be, it was issued to the 123rd Cavalry Regiment, which would explain such a pronounced 123 stamp and the D ring, albeit the rifle is stamped 1894!

The 3rd Infantry, Kentucky National Guard, which served in WW2 as a part of the 38th Division, was re-organized in 1919 as the 53rd and 54th Machine Gun Squadron, in April, 1929, they redesignated the 123rd Cavalry.

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Originally Posted by martins8589

Hello, would upi be able to provide a contact or link to Ross Rifle Restoration please as I also have a sporter carbine to restore. Cheers. Martin.

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Lee Enfield Stocks

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Originally Posted by Gil Boyd

Well it could be, it was issued to the 123rd Cavalry Regiment, which would explain such a pronounced 123 stamp and the D ring, albeit the rifle is stamped 1894!

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Although technically not impossible i am wondering why a USA unit from Kentucky would be issued obsolete British carbines in 1929 ?

The more i look at ''The broad arrow'' by Skennerton the more i'm leaning towards the numbers being a rack number...
Most if not all of the units or issue markings in the book are letters or a combination of letters and numbers... none listed are simply numbers.
That being said the interrogation still stands.... if it's a rack number than why stamp it there and not on the brass disc or the butt stock, where it is suppose to be....:confused:

Minor update on the project (very minor)
Still trying to figure out what are the markings (123) on the right butt socket.
But i might have found someone that is willing to have a go at a cleaning rod repro. :dancingbanana:
And finally i'm waiting on the go ahead for a repro stock set.

Here's what i had already to fix the carbine.
A few of those, i can thank the late englisman_ca for.
One of my first post (if not the very first) a long time ago...was asking for help in locating a front sight. He graciously offered to scratch build me one.
A bit after that he refinished me the bolt, dust cover and mag.
That project never materialized but i kept the parts all these years
So those will now be going on the LMC
Attachment 120883

It's good to hear those parts will live on as a sort of legacy/tribute to Englisman_CA.

I imagine once you secure that stock set, that carbine will be together in no-time!

Keep us updated with pics and post.

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Originally Posted by smle addict

It's good to hear those parts will live on as a sort of legacy/tribute to Englisman_CA.

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I was thinking of doing just that... but was afraid it would sound too cheesy.
But he had his hands on many parts that will go into it... not to mention the knowledge he passed along.

Indeed this one should go fairly quick since it is basically just a re -assembly.
I do plan in taking the time in fitting the stock set carefully though... maybe add my own little touch to it too.

Gday mate,
There's a guy down here in NZ who makes really good repo clearing rods
For those carbine's email me.
Coup's

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Originally Posted by Nzcoup1

Gday mate,
There's a guy down here in NZ who makes really good repo clearing rods
For those carbine's email me.
Coup's

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Hey Coup, thanks i'll jump right on it. :beerchug:

A couple of weeks ago i received my stock set and band spring for the LMC
I am impress by what i see so far.
Should be an ''easy'' de sporterization this time... the easy life, no scratch built part this time.
I'll probably post updates in ''the restorer's corner'' when i start on it.

Top carbine in the pic is a LEC i fixed some time ago.
Middle is the LMC in need of love.

Attachment 124765Attachment 124766

That's a good looking set of wood. That carbine will certainly look good when you're done with it.

Nice work on the upper carbine!