Lee Metford Carbine with atypical nosecap.

[Ridolpho]

Bought this about a year ago off a Canadian forum. A thread about the same rifle running at the time provided some info and at least one milsurps forum member (englishman_ca) contributed. Normal carbine with mismatched bolt other than the nosecap and rear sight. The cap appears to be of a type shown on pg 97 of Skennerton and the rear sight has been modified. Skennerton states that "during October (1900?), further experiments were carried out with sights by the 3rd Dragoon Guards at Curragh, comprising of Lee-Enfield carbines fitted with four types of adjustable foresights-". The fourth type listed was: "Bead foresight with nosecap and hood combined, and broadened 'V' on the cap and backsight: result; good, recommended for adoption."
Could this rifle have been part of that test? It has no post service proof or import marks. Judging from the marks on the left cheek it was in British service for a while (First Dragoon Guards, for a while) and returned to Enfield to have the saddle ring and boss removed, etc. The only other marks I could see that might shed some light are small stamped "G.J.O." on underside of small of buttstock and barrel reinforce. Note the rear sight leaf has matching original serial # but was scrubbed and hand marked with gradations. These probably reflect the fact that the height of the bead is about 0.025" greater than the original carbine foresight.

Ridolpho

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