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Hello this is my first post so here goes.
Some years age I bought an old 303 which I understood to be a cut down Long Tom Boer war rifle. After learning a bit on this site I would like to know more.
VR Enfield 1900 L.E.C. I* # 1647 C with stock disc 12 A 04
3
396
can anyone shed some light on this old girl
cheers
L.E.C. would indicate a purpose built cavalry carbine rather than a cut down rifle. Any chance of pics?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...00001JPG-1.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by jrhead75
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...00002JPG-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...09996JPG-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...09997JPG-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...09998JPG-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...09999JPG-1.jpg
What a shame that someone bubba'd this beauty! And disappointing that no one is making repro wood or nosecaps for these!
Still, a fine old rifle that I'd be proud to own.
Can someone save me a hunt through the bookshelf and remind me how the barrel diameter on the LEC compares to the SMLE? I know it's thinner than the MLE, but was it identical to the SMLE?
I love it! beautiful rifle. Of course, if it's not originally supposed to look like that I would try to find what I needed to restore it as close back to factory as possible.
They are being made but only small amounts, and the fore ends etc are made to order. ( I,m waiting for a drawing of the nose cap so I can get some machined)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jc5
Thanks for the feed back so far. Looking at the option of rebuilding to original and have found a guy who has made the fore wood before. All 8 units went fast.
What was the barrel length of the carbine? I think my barrel may have been cut down by an 1" or so. She still shoots well and feels good to shoot.
Birmingham small arms have advertised a Lee Enfield magazine Carbine No4 Sporting Carbine with leaf flip up sights? ( Posted on this sight.) Which looks the same but for the stock disc ? your thoughts !
That was something completely different. Yours was a military pattern, not a sporting pattern. Those express sights (even if you could find them) are not correct for this restoration, unless you just want to make a sporter out of it. I admire your plan to restore this thing. The cavalry carbines are just about coolest Enfields ever made, IMO. Hang tight until you find the wood and nosecap.Quote:
Birmingham small arms have advertised a Lee Enfield magazine Carbine No4 Sporting Carbine with leaf flip up sights? ( Posted on this sight.) Which looks the same but for the stock disc ? your thoughts !
Barrel looks fine, original OAL is 20.75"Quote:
Originally Posted by OtagoNZEF
Does anyone have a pic of one of these in original format?
There's a kiwi gent mentioned on the front page of enfield resource.com who can do wood to order, could be an option?
Nice rifle, Otago NZEF, good to see you here on the forum, one of the greatest collections of Enfield brain cells on the planet. cheers rjw nz
I found this site, interesting place, halfway down the page is some Irish carbine history history with pics of LEC's.
Firearms of the Irish Police - Gentleman's Military Interest Club
From writer Peter Mc
The Lee Enfield RIC Carbines (part 1 of 2)
Lee Enfield Mk1* carbines or Lee Metford cavalry carbines converted to Enfield rifling; 21 inch barrel, nose cap adapted to take the Pattern 88 knife bayonet. Small six-round magazines. 11,000 were supplied by the War Office as a free issue to the RIC between March 1904 and 1914.
The new carbine was first issued to the Reserve Force at Dublin's Phoenix Park Depot in March 1904, before being distributed across the county forces. It replaced the Martini Henry carbine and at the same time replaced the existing long bayonet with the shorter knife pattern.
By July 1904 the new rifle had been issued to counties Cavan and Carlow, and special training regarding the mechanism of the new rifles had been given to the RIC Musketry Instructors. In January 1905 Kings county had been supplied, and it was noted that Morris Tubes had been privately purchased by some of the men for practice. County Monaghan did not take possession of the carbines until April 1905.
In September 1920 the RIC wrote to the Ministry of Munitions of War to communicate their desire to sell as scrap approximately 10,000 of these carbines, which were to be replaced with the modern SMLE rifle. They were shipped to the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock around November or December 1920, together with around 1.1 million rounds of MkVI ammunition (ref: National Archives file MUN 4/6028).
The estimate for scrappage was 5d each, or £1 if sold (for LE carbines) or 10 shillings each (the Lee Metford carbines). I am led to believe that some of these carbines were taken into use by the South African Prison Service.
A Lee Metford cavalry carbine converted to Enfield rifling
21" brl with Enfield 5 groove rifling, military proofs at breech. Full walnut stock, nose cap with bayonet lug to accept the P88 knife bayonet. Butt with brass disk stamped 3.'04 R.I.C.1094. This specimen made up from a Lee Metford cavalry carbine which was re-barrelled. Vg o/a cond with high % finish, shooting grade bore. I have fired this weapon many times and it has a kick like a mule!
He is busy at present, mine is approx two months away.Quote:
Originally Posted by RJW NZ
Looking at getting the main stock made and will finish myself. I'm after a nose cap and band. Also I have an Aussie cavalry rifle scabbard and would like to know if the Carbine would have been used in that type ?
She most likely started out in life looking like this...
Attachment 32261
Regarding:Yes, I know that's what you meant, but as I said above, your LEC has nothing at all to do with those BSA sporters. Completely different model and maker. Yours would have originally looked like the photo that jrhead75 posted. Someone cut it down.Quote:
Item 4 was what I was meaning as I looks pretty much the same.
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment.p...4&d=1269537281
I wish you the best on the restoration--it will be difficult but worth it.
Good luck finding a nose cap and band. Here is a Metford carbine of mine that gives you an idea of how they look.
Your carbine also appears to have express rear sight on it, which would have come from a Lee sporting carbine. Does the barrel number match the action? If it does not then the barrel and sight probably come from a Lee sporter.
I enjoyed seeing pictures of the 'lovely old girls'. I had a curious thought cross my mind whilst reading through this thread. What was the serial number of the last rifle and carbine to get the 'VR' stamp after Victoria Regina cast off her earthly bonds?
I am also curious about whether the barrel number matches the action. A rebarrel would account for the express sight. However, this particular express sight appears different than the ones usually found on BSA sporters--the standing leaf is thicker and there is no ladder. Could you please post some close-up photos? I'd guess that the backsight was fitted later.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr303
The LEC designation, royal cipher and date make it clear that the action body (at least) was a military weapon and not a sporting carbine.
Yes the bolt # Breach # and Barrel# are the same
Could you please post some close-up photos? If we can see more numbers and markings, there might be more to tell.
Thanks!
Yes Jc5, the sight base does appear thicker than a normal Lee one. As the action and barrel match, the sight must have been added later.
Hey Big Duke would you let me know how you get on with the nose cap ? I might be up for one Cheers
If you look up this site you'll see every thing you want to know
Boer War Rifles | All About Enfields
cheers