Scotarms, Lee Enfield Carbine (LEC 1*)

[bigduke6]

At Scotarms Auction today and met up with Alan de Enfield, nice to put a face to a name, (Nice to meet you Alan no doubt will meet you again).

Didnt have much time today but had my eye on two rifles, one i got my fingers burnt as it was deacted (thought it was just the Barrel as i wanted the action) win some loose some.

Next was lot 189 listed as a, 1803 LEC 1, but was 1903.
Had a quick look at this one it was all there apart from the fact the stock had been cut down (sporterized) apart from this it is excellent all matching numbers even the sight, got it for a very reasonable price, was a bit unsure about the barrel but checks out, note the numbers on barrel and action, think the 3 on the barrel serial number is a genuine mistake and should be 5.
(Looking again at the serial number it looks like the 5 was stamped at an angle giving the impression its a 3)

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.

[robertb6112]

Is that a 5 round magazine? And it looks like the bolt lever is grinded down.

[bigduke6]

Is that a 5 round magazine? And it looks like the bolt lever is grinded down.

Mag is a 6 round and bolt is original, " cavalry carbines" were produced like this for easier stowage.

[Alan de Enfield]

Nice to meet up with you BD6 - thanks for the mug of tea.

So what else was there ?

a) A brass Salter trigger-pull spring gauge with Broad arrow markings £120 (US$192)

b) Was this a bargain or a nightmare ? A No5 in .22rf calibre, Extractor missing and bolt wouldnt close down (something wrong in the breech area - barrel protruding too much ??) The barrel was 'steel' coloured and had been turned down to allow the fitting of the flash hider - no way was it an original barrel. All furniture was original No5. £240 (US$385)

c) A .22 War Office Pattern 1907 Marked LSA £192 (US$310)

d) 303 P14 with PH5B sights and original canvas slip. £240 (US$385)

e) 303 P14 standard specification £120 (US$192)

f) Fully auto AK47 7.62x39 £156 (US$250)

g) 9mm Erfurt PO8 Luger dated 1916 in original holster and spare magazine. All numbers matching £624 (US$1000)

h) WW2 303 ammo, mix of ball and tracer 200 rounds £48 (US$77)

i) 200 rounds Radway Green Mk7 303 £48 (US$77)

j) 180 rounds 7.62x51 Norinco £36 (US$58)

k) 200 rounds Radway Green 7.62x51 £66 (US$106)

[Thunderbox]

Nice to meet up with you BD6 - thanks for the mug of tea.

So what else was there ?

a) A brass Salter trigger-pull spring gauge with Broad arrow markings £120 (US$192)

b) Was this a bargain or a nightmare ? A No5 in .22rf calibre, Extractor missing and bolt wouldnt close down (something wrong in the breech area - barrel protruding too much ??) The barrel was 'steel' coloured and had been turned down to allow the fitting of the flash hider - no way was it an original barrel. All furniture was original No5. £240 (US$385)

c) A .22 War Office Pattern 1907 Marked LSA £192 (US$310)

d) 303 P14 with PH5B sights and original canvas slip. £240 (US$385)

e) 303 P14 standard specification £120 (US$192)

f) Fully auto AK47 7.62x39 £156 (US$250)

g) 9mm Erfurt PO8 Luger dated 1916 in original holster and spare magazine. All numbers matching £624 (US$1000)

h) WW2 303 ammo, mix of ball and tracer 200 rounds £48 (US$77)

i) 200 rounds Radway Green Mk7 303 £48 (US$77)

j) 180 rounds 7.62x51 Norinco £36 (US$58)

k) 200 rounds Radway Green 7.62x51 £66 (US$106)

Are those prices net of buyers' premium?

I thought about coming up for the ammo, but £60 expense in fuel (thanks for nothing, G Brown....) makes it totally uneconomic even to buy a couple of rifles....

[bigduke6]

Alan has included the premium, as i remember the Jungle carbine went for £200 (only the action, flash hider and woodwork worth anything).
Its a 6 hour round trip for myself, thats why i didnt go home empty handed.

[Alan de Enfield]

Are those prices net of buyers' premium?

I thought about coming up for the ammo, but £60 expense in fuel (thanks for nothing, G Brown....) makes it totally uneconomic even to buy a couple of rifles....

Yes - 17.5% + VAT buyers premium inclusive (equates to 20%)

You could have got 200 rounds of Iraqi 7.62x51 in links for £10 + 20%
or 15 empty .577 Snider brass cases for £45 + 20%
or a 66mm HEAT rocket launcher for £1 (no bids received)

Come up for the next Scotarms auction and bring me that L39 (we discussed at the Newark show a couple of weeks ago), that'll cover your petrol and save you shipping it to my local RFD.
My variation should be thru' well before then.

[Surpmil]

Magnificent wood on that rifle - I can't see the foresight, is the barrel cut down also? The patch under the band should be doable, as long as you can find a similar grain?

[bigduke6]

Surpmil,

Thanks for the PM and pics, looks like we are both in the same boat, the Barrel is original length and diameter, the wear around the barrel from the nosecap is minimal, just a faint mark on the blueing so would say the fore-end was cut down very early in its life.

Other thing is the spring band retainer for the fore-end this i,ll have to make, a company in the UK does reproductions (mostly antique) of barrel bands etc, if i do find the original bits will get them to knock a few up,see link below. They also do the band for the SMLE No1 Mk V. (which i,m waiting on)


E J Blackley & Son - Antique Arms Supplies, Castings, Restoration & Pistol Kits

[bearhunter]

Your ammunition prices are certainly a lot lower than they are in Canada.