My next challenge, MLE MKI

Took a punt on this poor thing online, a typical NZ MLE mixmaster. When NZ received consignments of Long Toms around 1901 from Canada and England they were all taken to bits, re-blued and totally mixed up so you have MLE MkI and MLE MkI* parts intermingled from that time. Though the buttplate of this one may have been in NZ earlier as it doesn't have the 'C' or 'E' stamp on it.
It seemed to have most of the really hard to find bits still intact, both volley sights and the dust cover still present, the stock what was left of it was in pretty good nick with a nice M & D Enfield roundel. I was also attracted by the fact it is a older MLE MkI. those are the good points. Described as having 'no rust' on the there is a lot of pitting on the barrel and action and terribly, someone managed to rebarrel it with a stilson wrench. Someone seems to have molested the from sight aswell, though I think at some stage the front sights were officially offset to correct a accuracy issue.
Im going to begin restoring the stock and the bolt, though if I can find a half decent MLE barrelled action ill probably drop that in. Ill need a couple of bits to finish it however. If any members are out there with a MLE nosecap and piling swivel they'd sell (or trade for Garand clips) i'd really appreciate it.
If anyone can tell me more about this rifle i'd love to know, I'm new to the MLE club after working my way back in time ( the last restoration was a Sht Le I* 1907)
Keep an eye on the restorers corner for more.

RoyAttachment 55841Attachment 55843Attachment 55842Attachment 55844Attachment 55845Attachment 55846Attachment 55847Attachment 55848Attachment 55849

Very nice rifle. I had a Mk I* about 10 years back, just as mismatched. Now I know why it was mismatched!

Anyway, this is not a plug for that well-know auction site that we all know yet seem to not want to name, but there is an auction for two short hand-guards, and an original nosecap, for the long lee, if you are interested.

Just type in "long lee enfield" in the search box, and it'll pop up.

Good luck with the restoration.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roy

Took a punt on this poor thing online, a typical NZ MLE mixmaster. When NZ received consignments of Long Toms around 1901 from Canada and England they were all taken to bits, re-blued and totally mixed up so you have MLE MkI and MLE MkI* parts intermingled from that time. Though the buttplate of this one may have been in NZ earlier as it doesn't have the 'C' or 'E' stamp on it.
It seemed to have most of the really hard to find bits still intact, both volley sights and the dust cover still present, the stock what was left of it was in pretty good nick with a nice M & D Enfield roundel. I was also attracted by the fact it is a older MLE MkI. those are the good points. Described as having 'no rust' on the there is a lot of pitting on the barrel and action and terribly, someone managed to rebarrel it with a stilson wrench. Someone seems to have molested the from sight aswell, though I think at some stage the front sights were officially offset to correct a accuracy issue.
Im going to begin restoring the stock and the bolt, though if I can find a half decent MLE barrelled action ill probably drop that in. Ill need a couple of bits to finish it however. If any members are out there with a MLE nosecap and piling swivel they'd sell (or trade for Garand clips) i'd really appreciate it.
If anyone can tell me more about this rifle i'd love to know, I'm new to the MLE club after working my way back in time ( the last restoration was a Sht Le I* 1907)
Keep an eye on the restorers corner for more.

RoyAttachment 55841Attachment 55843Attachment 55842Attachment 55844Attachment 55845Attachment 55846Attachment 55847Attachment 55848Attachment 55849

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The MLE & MLM from England & Canada were imported in 1914 not 1901 hence the C14 (Canada) & E14 (England) stamps on the butt tang, the 1901 marked rifles are the Boer war contract rifles & were all new made rifles.
There are some E13 marked rifles about & maybe some other years as well.
The England rifles were all refurbed in England prior to NZ receiving them, the Canadian rifles is unknown (to me at least) but most were taken apart & rebuild later in NZ.
Some NZ Longlees also show up with just '13 or '14 & with no C or E, these are believed to be newly assembled rifles that utilized earlier dated actions of the early 1900s & these rifles could well be the Longlees the NZ troops carried ashore at Gallipoli & are scarce to find today.
The BSA & Co rifles with no Crown or date & with a PB & QB prefixed serial number which show up in woodwork with any of the normal butt tang markings such as C14 & 1901 are all replacement barreled actions imported in the 1920s to rebuild NZs worn stocks of Longlees.

Your butt tang has been ground down to stamp the sale mark which will be over the C14, you can still see the NZ rack number above.

Here is a good article on NZs LongLees, "Long Tom update"
New Zealand Arms Register - Arms Register

What an excellent article. So I seems my rifle is one of 8000 odd MLE I's to come from Canada in 1914. Assuming the butt is original but since I have stripped and disassembled it I believe someone has had the rifle to bits recently and it may well be a recent mixmaster.

Now for a question. According to Skennertons SAI booklet on the MLE it states the barrel of my rifle is a commercial 30.2 Lithgow production based on the shape of the nocks form. It however has Victorian era inspectors stamps which predate the Lithgow factory. English or Canadian commercial production accepted for service use?

Cheers

Roy

Rebarreled with a Martini-Enfield barrel?? dont have one to compare but i think so, others here should be able to tell you.