Canadian MLE?

[Sapper740]

I'm bidding on what I believe is one of the MLE's that Canada purchased in 1896 after Britain rejected America's claim that the Monroe Doctrine applied over Venezuela's border dispute with British Guyana. An Anglo-American dispute had the potential to involve Canada so Canada's long delayed rearmament suddenly became a priority thus on December 28th, 1895 the Canaian Minister of Militia & Defence approved sending the Quartermaster General Col. Lake to Great Britain with authorization to purchase initially, Martini-Metford rifles then after much discussion and clamour, magazine rifles, the first of which were to be delivered by the end of May 1896. Eventually Canada bought 18,850 from Enfield, 13,000 from BSA&M Co., and 8,150 from LSA Co.

The rifle I'm bidding has all the attributes of one of the Canadian LSA MLE's. M&D stamp on the butt, serial number 4850 in the correct range, and the kicker is its Sutherland rear rifle sight. Unfortunately, the bolt is mis-matched but I'm more buying, if successful, this rifle for its Canadian history value than its value as a shooter. All input is much appreciated and if successful, I'll be posting many more pictures.

[smle addict]

Very nice looking rifle, and desirable LSA manufactured Mk I. The mis-matched bolt is not a deal breaker for me. I have a few longs lees; some have matched bolts, some don't. The Sutherland sight is more appropriate on a 1905 Ross. I had one of those on a long lee some years back. I had to set the ladder up to 600 yards just to get it to hit the target at 100 yards! I put a regular/standard pattern Lee rear sight on my rifle, and sold the Sutherland to a needy Ross owner.

Good luck with the bidding!

[Sapper740]

Thanks smle addict! I'm really hoping to bring this one home to add to my Canadian milsurps collection. Currently, all I have is a Ross M1910, a Long Branch, a Canadian marked No.2, and an Inglis HP.