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The rifle in question is either a SMLE Cond Mk II**, a Cond Mk II*** or a Mk I *** with a bridge charger guide fitted, all Royal Navy issue rifles of pre-1915 vintage.

Not all SMLE Mk I**, Cond Mk II** & II ***, were upgraded, at Enfield from 1912. Enfie!d supplied jigs, drills and gauges, for fitting charger bridges and the other modifications, to the 3 Naval...

Re. Late dated Mk I* Lee Metfords,
I don't believe any completed MK I* were assembled after 1896 at Enfield or Sparkbrook, however large amounts of spare parts were produced every year at Enfield,...

I have a 1892 dated LSA MLM Mk I * also with the identical 2 stamp, and I have seen several others, my rifle originated from South Africa or Zimbabwe, and I believe the No.2 denotes a (South African...

When the Lee Metford Mark I was introduced, both London Small Arms and Birmingham Small Arms were supplied with Butts free of charge, but with transports costs added, by RSAF Enfield, to help both...

Looking at your rifle again, and seeing that the re-struck serial number,has been barred out, I would say that 1891 on the receiver and barrel,is not a date but a new serial number, that has been...

No large stocks of finished rifles or carbines were kept at either Enfield or Sparkbrook, once they were finished they were crated up and sent into store at Weedon, your rifle has a January 1894...

A nice example of a very early production Sparkbrook made Metford. All early Enfield and Sparkbrook Lee Metford Mark I's had the serial number on the breech and receiver hidden below the woodwork,...

At Lithy's request, here is some additional information regarding MLM Carbine production,
Between 1897 and 1904, 5,466 barrels with body, or barrelled actions were produced as spare components,at...

Mass production of the Lee Metford Cavalry Carbine commenced during the 1894-95 fiscal year, a run of 50 trials carbines was produced during the 1892-93 fiscal year, and a further 100 during the...

If the barrel is original with the receiver, then it is a 1897 produced BSA L.E. I, the I* marking on the left wrist strap is consistent with LSA conversion to Charger Loading, probably in 1909. The...

SMLE Mk I, I* & III all had the lightening holes bored in the butts, Long Lee butts had the holes bored on conversion to SMLE Mk II, II* & IV. The lightening holes were ommited mid WW1 to speed...

Cost of the NZ carbines was as follows, first batch £2/4/11 1/2 each. Second batch, £2/9/9 each.
Cost of SMLE Mk I in 1904-05 was £3/18/5 each, and a Cond Mk II £3/5/2 1/4 each from Enfield and...

Serial No. 1292 should be on a 1902 dated receiver, as yours is a re-dated Lee Metford receiver,I believe that it has retained its original 1894 serial number, and was made up as a spare barrelled...

Enfield, began production, of components, for the new Short rifle, in march 1903, and the rest of the work year was spent, manufacturing enough components, for mass production for the following, work...

The cut-off on the left is from a Lee Metford Mk I or I*.

Cheers Roy, this is the first 1892 Sparkbrook MLM II, that I have seen.

Yes definitely re barreled in 1909.

Lee Enfield cavalry Carbines were not an obsolete pattern in India in 1922, as alterations to the Carbine were approved in April 1924, to enable Mk VII ammunition to be used with them.

13,500 LEC carbines were shipped to India in 1901, and the Indian Government hoped to complete the issue of magazine carbines to appropriate units by 1910 (strangely this included Artillery units)....

BSA inter-war production, Graham Priest, quotes in his book The Spirit of The Pike, "In panic the Ministry of Supply telephoned instructions for BSA to increase No. 1 Mk III production even though...

It is actually a London Small Arms, not BSA rifle.

It is a Sparkbrook manufactured Lee Metford Mk I/ I* or II cocking piece made prior to 1896.

The Pakistani's were using No.1 Mk III's that they inherited after 1947, and before they started making their own No. 4's, and some must have gone through the system at Wah, perhaps the P in a circle...

Check out the Pakistani No4 Mk 2 on the UK Knowledge library, certain components are marked with a Capital P in a circle. Perhaps this LSA was FTR'd at Wah.

1961 No.4 Mk2 (Mfg by Pakistani...