Early Enfield Oiler

[Flying10uk]

This is a recent addition to my collection which members may be interested to see, an early oiler. Although there are no visible markings on it which I am able to see I think it is a genuine item looking at the overall patina of it. Please feel free to make any constructive observations on it and thanks for looking.

Information

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[Strangely Brown]

It's the real deal, I have two of them although I think I have had about 5 of them over the years. Usually referred to as a Metford oiler.

[henry r]

this is based on nothing other than supposition, but.... commercial metfords had no inspectors stamps on their parts so it would make sense that an oiler supplied with one would also have no stamp.

I've been keeping an eye out for an oiler for my metford and wondering if unmarked ones existed. now I know and have another unusual variant of a 100 and something year old part to hope to find... all part of the fun.

[CINDERS]

One I bid on this week in Aus went for $138/AU I stopped at $110.00

[Flying10uk]

This one came up on U.K. eBay a week or so ago and I happened to see it purely by chance when browsing at other Enfield bits and pieces. It was was priced @ £30 buy it now or best offer which also included a pull through in the deal. I didn't have a clue if this was a good price or not but knew that they didn't come up for sale very often. I offered £25 and the vendor counter offered @ £27.50 for the 2 items which I agreed to. It would seem that I got a good deal if mainly by luck.

[Surpmil]

Very nice piece; nothing like a straight knurl.

This photo suggests there was one earlier type a bit longer?

[mrclark303]

What a great find, really well done on grabbing that, I occasionally look at flea bay and you do every now and then come across things worth buying among all the "genuine" made in India Flanders Mud flaps and alike...

[Strangely Brown]

I've yet to find the original longer Metford oiler; some years ago a dealer I knew had just sold a Metford complete with the original longer oil bottle and he believed the pull through with it was also the original.
He told me that the pull through was of much finer finer quality and thinner to what we are used to from Great War pull through onwards.

[Enfieldlock]

I have one staring down at me as I write. Never seen another one.

[Flying10uk]

Another Enfield brass oiler which you don't seem to see that often and which I happened to pick up an example of, at an event a few months ago, is the one with the recessed cap. I have seen it suggested that the reason for this recess was to save brass during WW1 but I think that this was very much an unconfirmed suggestion.