Sometimes you get Lucky

This is my first attempt at putting up pictures, so here goes. This is a Long Lee I got a few months ago. It shoots well but I have to crank the rear sight up to 400 yards to hit at 200 so I may need to play around with loads. I know a liitle about Tippins and Son but wondered if this was just a rifle retailed by them or whether it would have been 'Regulated'.

I'm also curious about the no DD784 which is not the serial number and about the marks next to the DD784.

Any help would be appreciated.
Robert

I don't think there was too much to "regulate" on a Long Lee - they have full-length solid bedding, unlike the later No1s and No4s where experimentation was possible.

Tippins did retail quite a lot of rifles, and they did fit some with their own proprietary target sights.

Looks like a very nice example of a Tippins rifle. What is the bore like?

Hi,
The bore was pretty dull when I got it but has cleaned up well. No obvious corrossion in the throat. At first I thought I would need .314 bullets but at the moment it is shooting 39grns Vit 140 with a 180 grain Sellier and Bellot Boattail just as well as my SMLE and No 4. Can't give MOAs etc as I'm not that good a shooter. The sight that came with it was a BSA 9 but I do have a Tippins sight which I might put on the rifle.

Just curious, does the bolt match? Because it looks like it has an SMLE cocking piece(no safety).


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Yes the Bolt matches and you are correct here is no safety.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Robert303

I'm also curious about the no DD784 which is not the serial number and about the marks next to the DD784

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The mark next to it is the government viewer's mark, which shows that it conforms to milspecs and somebody is not trying to cheat by using target grade barrels etc.

“ After breeching up, the body and barrel, the bolt and bolt-head are assembled with their components, and sent to be proved by the inspection department, after the body, barrel, sight leaf and bolt have been stamped with the same number…..the body, barrel and bolt-head are marked with the proof mark, and the barrel with the view mark and date.
The viewer’s mark consists of a number below a crown, the letters E or B are also put on to denote the place of manufacture. The marks are placed on the left side of the body, and on the left side of the barrel close to the junction of the barrel and body.
Private rifles or carbines that have been submitted for a modified inspection to the Small Arms Inspection Department after they have been finished and are found to be in general conformity with Service patterns, so that they may be used in matches restricted to rifles or carbines of Government pattern, are marked with the above marks on the right side instead of on the left.”
Textbook of Smallarms, 1904

I am inclined to think the 'second serial number' (something you find on other retailers' rifles as well) is also connected with the viewer's mark. I need to reread Tippins's book more carefully.

Many Thanks for this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Robert303

This is my first attempt at putting up pictures, so here goes. This is a Long Lee I got a few months ago. It shoots well but I have to crank the rear sight up to 400 yards to hit at 200 so I may need to play around with loads. I know a liitle about Tippins and Son but wondered if this was just a rifle retailed by them or whether it would have been 'Regulated'.

I'm also curious about the no DD784 which is not the serial number and about the marks next to the DD784.

Any help would be appreciated.
Robert

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It's not a "Long Lee", It is a "Charger Loading Lee Enfield".

Is there a manufacture date? or a conversion date?

Thanks for that. I can see no dates on it and am not taking to the woodwork off to look for any unless I have to

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lee Enfield

It's not a "Long Lee", It is a "Charger Loading Lee Enfield".

Is there a manufacture date? or a conversion date?

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To be precise, it is both..."Long Lee" being a descriptive term rather than an official nomenclature. As a commercial rifle, it may very well have been built that way rather than converted.