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Fifteen years ago I bought most of an 1898 dated Enfield Mk.1* action with a matching bolt. Since then I've picked up a piece here and a part there and about a month ago I finally found a barrel with a good bore. Here it is ready to go. A complete "bitser" but I'm pleased with it.
Attachment 40156
A fantastic job and probably no more of a "bitser" than it would have been during its service life with I suspect many changes of worn or damaged parts, service rifles were built to be used not wrapped in cotton wool to be "discovered" by collectors many years later.........
Very nice job. Always loved the lines of the early lee's. And you win the "patience" award!
It´s a stunner!
Very nice!!! Great job!!
She's a beaut!!
Very nice. An outstanding display of persistence and patience!
Steve: Very nice! Do you plan to put a few rounds through it? Haven't had a chance to fire my own MkI but plan to come Spring.
Ridolpho
That's an impressive looking firearm, how about some more pic's?
Thank you all for your kind comments.
Ridolpho; I do plan to shoot it but I'll have to find someone who can see open sights to help me out.
muffet; A couple of indoor pics (snowing now).
The buttplate, at least, has been to New Zealand. Can someone decipher the markings?
Attachment 40167Attachment 40168Attachment 40169Attachment 40170
You've done yourself proud. Great work.
My action is not quite as old as yours, I guess I never had to chase up parts to complete it either, but they are an impressive bit of kit theres no doubt.Attachment 40184........and it still shoots okay.Attachment 40185
Finally got an opportunity to wring it out a bit at a friend's farm. Zero malfunctions and groups were acceptable for me trying to use open sights. The best part was me with the L-E and buddy Mark with his trusty Krag going back to the swamp and expending way too much ammunition blasting tree stumps and whatever else we decided needed to be shot up with a couple of 110+ year old rifles.
It looks like a beautiful rifle mate.
The C14 means that it was part of New Zealand's 1914 purchase of MLE's from Canada. Quite a common marking on MLE's in NZ. I have a few of those buttplates as well as a couple 'E13' marked buttplates that were part of New Zealand 1913 purchase of MLE's from England. It's a well travelled buttplate! Did the buttplate come attached the the buttstock you have on your rifle, if so is there a Canadian 'M&D' stamping on the buttstock?Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve H. in N.Y.
Well done....
Very nice! Well worth the patience it took to put her together.
Kiwi, not sure if the plate came with the butt, no M&D mark. Thanks for the info.
Great job & well done!
Bravo!
WD, first issued in the UK?
Next accepted to NZ army/ NZ service
NZ serial number, all NZ guns as far as I know had their own NZ serial number, I'd love to find some records.
C14, unit number? rack number? Ive seen a year stamp eg 1901 here.
Attachment 44786
By the way the above complete stock is attached to a no4 mk2 Im looking at/thinking of buying....wierd...
Ive seen B's, C's and D's on NZ guns so far, Im assuming they are unit marks/rack marks, Peter might know more, I'd love to know.
I need to find some old cranky NZ armourers and spend an evening or 2 asking them to recount their days. I mean like my dad (did service in 1952) they all are now in their 70s and 80s. Im trying to collect pictures of NZ enfields marking to put in front to see if I can get more info. Guess I need to wander into RSA's and buy the odd beer.
Lovely.
The rifle, (or at least its buttplate!) being issued to Canadians in 1898, may well have been used in the Boer War at Paardeberg, which is the place associated with Canadians in South Africa. You can read about them here Canadian Military Heritage and see relics and accounts of the battle at Boer War Relics Susan Botha Enslin Paardeberg
Picture shows Canadians near the battlefield.Attachment 44854
"The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past". William Faulkner