MLE target sling swivel

Just picked up some random bits and bobs from a fellow collector. I scored a sling swivel that replaces the Lee Enfield front trigger guard screw. It seems to fit well on Long Lee Enfield and SMLE.

Bonus for me is that I just so happen to have a have a Long Lee with which I have been playing, setting it up for some range use. I like to shoot from the prone position and use a sling.

It has a mint bore and tight headspace. I have paid careful attention to the bedding of the action and have mounted one of Parkers 9G rear aparture sights. The project is getting close to completion, so this swivel came along at the right time.

The sling loop is the same size and shape as yer regular Martini/Long Lee butt swivel. There are no markings on it which makes me think that this was probably a commercial item available for civilian purchase.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/pic017-1.jpg https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/pic018-1.jpg

I have another rifle with the common Parker Hale front trigger guard screw mounting target sling swivel with the triangular loop shape, which I believe was introduced in the 1930s.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/pic019-1.jpg

The swivel I just got obviously predates it, but I am wondering by how much.

Has anybody seen a trigger guard swivel like this before? Can anyone peg it with a date? Was it originaly intended for use with a target sling?

It just seems to me that this one I found is configured to be more of a carry sling swivel than a target swivel.

Unlike the triangular loop style swivel which is free to rotate on its mounting screw, this one doesn't rotate on the screw, so once it is tightened it stays put in whatever position. As of yet, I am not too sure as to how I will set it up for my sling.

Your MLE swivel was intended for target shooting. I found it in the 1930 and 1958 A. G. Parker and Parker-Hale catalogs as List No.215. It's not in the 1928 or 1962 editions. My '28 catalog is the earliest I've got. It seems a little thin and may not contain everything that was available so I'm not sure when the swivel first appeared.

In the 1940 PH catalogue :

1) the one with the 'machine thread' is shown as part number 215
2) the one with the 'wood screw' is shown as part number 215A

Then there were the swivelling swivels :

1) for the LE part number 215D
2) for the P14 part number 215F

Perfect! Good info. Thank you gentlemen.

Hello,

I had purchased one 215F once, hoping to enhance my Long Branch 1943 Nº4 MK1* with a nice sling swivel ... and found out it's impossible to screw it in place more than half a turn. The taping is not identical to the genuine screw.

:crying:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_7075-1.jpg

You want 215J for the ¼ BSF thread on No.4s.