Picked up this beauty at the local gunshow. 1897 Sparkbrook MLE, refurbished at RSARF Sparkbrook in 1904, and subsequent Royal Navy use with N stamp on wrist and Portsmouth armoury stamps on barrel. It has really nice bore with strong shiny rifling, and I find it hard to believe that it had much service on a Royal Navy ship in the Great War, what with the corrosive salty environment. Maybe it stayed in stores in Potsmouth? It has the dial sights and cutoff, but no dust cover. The mag looks original and the two loops are intact. Matching serial numbers on the receiver, barrel, bolt and rear sight. I think this will make a nice shootable restoration.
My apologies for the mediocre pictures.
As a bonus the buttstock contained a pull-through of a type I've not seen before. It looks like a pencil fuse, but I'm no expert. Does anyone know whether this is a real weight or something else?
Nice catch. I would have like to go to the Calgary show this year since there's always something neat to get. My wife says we're going next year... As for the "Pencil fuse" I doubt it but it sure is shaped that way. Probably just made after the fact... Give us a look when you restore it? You could do that here on this thread to completion.
The Calgary gunshow was interesting this year in the number of milsurps for sale. There were far more than in any previous show I've been to (at least for the last 10 years). And the buyers were getting old milsurps largely.
I thought so too but I think it's just the picture.
Those rifles...one of the few I always like the looks of. When I was young, the sights were perfect. When the rifle came up the sights were on. Now they're too fine for me.
And another picture. British Royal Marines with their Le Metfords in China - 1900.
Miss G. L. Smith (London Missionary Society), 1900
The Boxer Rebellion had a tremendous impact on Beijing. When the Eight Allied Nations quelled the uprising, the last door to the innermost workings of the Qing dynasty was kicked in and change was suddenly thrust upon the old conservative capital.
The British Legation was the safest compound during the siege. Located centrally in the besieged area and a fair distance from the city wall it was difficult for enemy fire to reach the premises. That was why a good part of the diplomatic society chose to settle here in the summer of 1900. In this map it can be seen where nuns, children and citizens of countries that had lost their legations like the Austrians made their temporary homes inside the legation. The map is typical of the kind of souvenir paraphernalia that was produced after the siege. [1]
In the Legations at Peking the month of July was productive of some fierce fighting and heavy casualties. A strong attack was made on the Japanese in the Fu and a Krupp gun was brought into action; a combined sortie under the Italian Officer was made. Unfortunately the party lost their way and lost 3 men killed, and the officer and 1 man wounded. The next day in spite of a desperate resistance the Japanese under Colonel Shiba were driven further back. The Chinese had been making approaches to the City Wall and created a tower to command the American barricade which it was necessary to clear away; a sortie commanded by Captain Myers USMC with Sergeant Murphy, Corporal Gregory and 26 Royal Marines and 15 US Marines and 15 Russians was made, the British and Americans attacking on the left, the Russians on the right.
The Chinese were surprised and driven from their barricade with loss; this barricade was strengthened and held. On 5th July the British Legation was subjected to a bombardment from smooth bore 14 and 7 pdrs to the northward, fortunately receiving little damage. The Japanese were however being severely pressed in the Fu, whilst the Austrian and Italian men, shaken by the loss of their officers, were proving rather unreliable.
An old British gun was found in the Legation Street and proved capable of firing Russian ammunition; it was mounted on an Italian carriage and proved very useful. On 10th July, Captain Wray was sent over to command the British and Italians who were holding the left portion of the entrenchments in the Fu.
On the 13th the Chinese sprang a mine under the French Legation, and the French and Austrians were driven back to an inner line which they held tenaciously. The Chinese who had effected an entrance into the Club near the German Legation were thrown out by the Germans. A mine also was dug under the British Legation, but they were evidently diverted by the British countermining.
On 14th July, Corporal Preston RMLI gained the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for the following gallant act: After the enemy had been driven from their barricade on the Imperial Carriage Park Wall, near the West Hanlin by shell fire, this NCO climbed on the wall some 12 feet high, with the intention of capturing a banner left on the barricade by the enemy. Finding that he could not reach it, he called for his rifle to be given to him, and pushing down part of the barricade kept the enemy - some fifty in number - at bay, while an American gunner named Mitchell was enabled to lay hold of the flag.
Corporal Preston, then jumped down and assisted Mitchell in drawing the flag over with difficulty, as the enemy had laid hold of the other end. He was struck on the head at the same time by a brick which partially stunned him.
On 15th May the enemy succeeded in making a strong attack on the north-west corner of the Fu and had battered down the barricade, which however was rebuilt during the night. At 7 am on the 16th Captain Strouts RMLI with Colonel Shiba and Doctor Morrison was making his rounds when crossing a dangerous place Captain Strouts was mortally wounded in the thigh and died soon after, a victim to shock and fatigue; an irreparable loss to the besieged. From this date to the date of the departure of the relieving column from Tientsin, with the exception of sniping the guards had to meet no real attacks, but on 19th July the Chinese began a barricade and sniping near Fort Halliday (an improvised caponier in front of the main gate). Firing recommenced vigorously on 5th August and again on the 8th and 9th, and attacks defeated by the Allied machine guns were made. At 6 am on the 14th the shells of the relieving force were seen to be bursting over the eastern gate of the Tartar City, and that afternoon General Gaselee and his staff appeared, having come via the Chinese City through the Water Gate in the Tartar City Wall to the south of the Legations. The besieged at once assumed the offensive, the Russians and Americans advanced to the Chien Men Gate and let in the lst Sikhs and Hong-Kong Artillery. The British Marines and Volunteers under Captain Poole occupied the Carriage Park, the Japanese and Italians cleared the Chinese out of the Fu, whilst the Germans drove back the enemy to the Hata Men Gate. The relief was thus effected after two months' siege.
Last edited by Alan de Enfield; 04-03-2024 at 03:24 AM.
Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...
Jolly Jack Tar not looking very jolly in post # 4.
Those straw "Sennet" hats were practical for tropical climates, but lacking something stylistically.
I see they persisted until 1921.
Last edited by Surpmil; 04-03-2024 at 10:52 PM.
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
Having never seen an original for a Metford or Long Lee Enfield I was once told by an RFD in Devon who had several pass through his hands that the string was considerably thinner than those found on the SMLE to accommodate the earlier Mk1 oil bottle which was an inch longer.
Has anyone on here witnessed a Mk1 pull through before?
PM
Originally Posted by BVZ24
