16 Attachment(s)
Survey of Lee-Metford Mk. II*, Late Lee-Metford Mk. II and Derived Conversions
Survey of Lee-Metford Mk. II* Rifles, Late Lee-Metford Mk. II Rifles and Converted Derivative Rifles.
Moderator, would it be possible to sticky this, please?
Folks,
I’m doing research on the magazine Lee-Metford (MLM) mk. II* rifle, yes, with the asterisk or star. This will be for future publication by Ian Skennerton. The study will be similar to the New Zealand carbine study that appeared in the June 2012 edition of Skennerton’s “Collector” magazine (no. 30 annual).
With only 13,479 made, and with most subsequently converted to other models, not many mk. II* rifles survive today. That’s why the report will be important.
I am looking for input (a) from owners of Lee-Metford mk. II*s or rifles that once were mk. II*s, but are now converted to something else, and also (b) from owners of Enfield- and Sparkbrook-made Lee-Metford mk. II rifles (no asterisk) from the same era (1895-96).
1. My working principal hypothesis is that all Lee-Metford mk. II* rifles were in fact conversions from mk. II. My assumption is that existing mk. II rifles were drawn from store, and each was given a new, safety-fitted bolt and had a star added next to the pre-existing “II” mark-of-arm stamp (as in Lee-Metford mk. II). The records indicate 5,991 Enfield-made and 7,488 Sparkbrook-made mk. II* rifles. I believe a serial number analysis will reveal a the number spread between the first and last far greater than 5,991 and 7,488, respectively. If I am correct in this, this will demonstrate, not a series of rifles made from scratch, but, rather, pre-existing rifles drawn at semi-random and converted. (By semi-random, I mean at random from a circumscribed supply, such as official stores, and not from the whole universe of mk. II rifles.)
2. A secondary hypothesis, of which I am much less certain, is that all the mk. II* bolts will prove to be Enfield made, even if fitted on Sparkbrook rifles. While this is a secondary aspect of the study, it is still very important.
If you are the owner of any of the following rifles, please respond to this survey. Your anonymity is assured. No names will be associated with any rifle in any subsequent publication.
• MLM mk. II*. A list of surviving mk. II* rifles will form the basis of the study.
• Any rifle converted from MLM mk. II*, such as the CLLE mk. I or mk. I*, the SMLE mk. II Cond., the SMLE mk. IV Cond., .22 Long Rifle mk. II and a number of others. While these conversions are no longer intact as MLM mk. II*s, they are likely still to bear their old mk. II* serial numbers in various places. Gathering data on conversions will also provide a useful insight into what the bulk of the mk. II*s were converted into.
• MLM mk. II, 1895-96, Sparkbrook and Enfield only. If my primary hypothesis is correct, then there will be extant several late Enfield and Sparkbrook MLM mk. IIs with serial numbers within the known range of the mk. II* serial numbers. For example, if we discover 1895 Sparkbrook MLM mk. II* s/n 45001, MLM mk. II s/n 45002, MLM mk. II* s/n 45003 and MLM mk. II s/n 45004, then we will be able to state with virtual certainty that the mk. II*s were drawn from an existing batch of mk. IIs.
For those unfamiliar with some of the technical names I have used, at the end of this post are 16 photos showing what I’m looking for in terms of stamps and features.
Thank you,
Coggansfield
_____
Please answer the following questions. Responses may be posted here or e-mailed to munro[at]intergroupservices.com.
1. My rifle is currently (see photo 1):
a) [ ] An intact MLM mk. II* (from RIGHT side of buttsocket, II*).
b) [ ] An intact MLM mk. II (from RIGHT side of buttsocket, II).
c) [ ] A former MLM mk. II* now converted to something else, usually from LEFT side of buttsocket (specify: _______________________________).
2. The factory that made my rifle was (from RIGHT side of buttsocket, under bolt handle):
a) [ ] Enfield.
b) [ ] Sparkbrook.
c) [ ] Other (specify: _____________________________).
3. My rifle was originally made in this year (from RIGHT side of buttsocket, under bolt handle):
a) [ ] 1895.
b) [ ] 1896.
c) [ ] Other (specify: _____________________________).
4. If converted to some other model, my rifle was converted at this factory, usually from LEFT side of buttsocket (see photo 2):
a) [ ] Enfield.
b) [ ] Sparkbrook.
c) [ ] London Small Arms Co. (LSA).
d) [ ] Birmingham Small Arms Co. (BSA).
e) [ ] Vickers Sons & Maxim (VSM).
f) [ ] BSA-Sparkbrook.
g) [ ] Other (specify: _____________________________).
h) [ ] Does not apply, my rifle is still an MLM.
5. If converted to some other model, my rifle was converted in this year (usually from LEFT side of buttsocket):
a) [ ] ________ year.
b) [ ] No date given.
6. My rifle’s original MLM serial number on the receiver is (look on the right side of the receiver ring) (see photo 3):
a) [ ] Sparkbrook: ___________________ (expected range, 40000-60000).
b) [ ] Enfield: _______________________(expected range, 1H-9999I).
c) [ ] Other (specify make and number: _____________________________________).
d) [ ] Don’t know.
e) [ ] Illegible.
f) And this number is: [ ] horizontally set or [ ] vertically set.
7. My rifle has its original MLM barrel, the serial number of which is (you will have to take off the wooden handguard to see this number, on the right of the barrel reinforce at the breech end):
a) [ ] Sparkbrook: ___________________ (expected range, 40000-60000).
b) [ ] Enfield: _______________________(expected range, 1H-9999I).
c) [ ] Other (specify make and number: _____________________________________).
d) [ ] Don’t know.
e) [ ] Illegible.
f) And this number is: [ ] horizontally set or [ ] vertically set.
8. The manufacture date of my original barrel is (see photo 4):
a) [ ] ___________ year (to get this figure, you need to take the foreend off and look for the date on the underside of the barrel up at the breech end; expected formats are ’96 for Enfield and /95 for Sparkbrook).
9. My rifle is still an MLM or is a CLLE but has a replacement long Lee barrel, as follows (check all that apply) (see photo 5):
a) [ ] Metford grooved (seven very shallow, round-shouldered grooves).
b) [ ] Enfield grooved (five fairly deep, square-shouldered grooves)
c) Made by:
• [ ] Enfield (signified by roman “E” inspection stamps).
• [ ] Sparkbrook (roman “B” stamps).
• [ ] LSA (roman “X” stamps).
• [ ] BSA (italic “B” stamps).
d) [ ] And with serial number: ________________________.
e) [ ] Does not apply, my rifle has been converted to some other model.
10. The manufacture date of my replacement long Lee barrel is:
a) [ ] ___________ year (to get this figure, you need to take the foreend off and look for the date on the underside of the barrel up at the breech end).
11. The installation date of my replacement long Lee barrel is (see photo 6):
a) [ ] ___________ year (look on the left side of the barrel reinforce at the breech end; it will usually be a two-digit year preceded by an apostrophe).
12. My rifle is still an MLM or CLLE and its rear sight is serial numbered (look on the underside of the cap or top bar of the sight ladder) (see photos 7, 8 and 9):
a) [ ] Serial ___________________________, and this rifle is an MLM mk. II, MLM mk. II* or CLLE mk. I (not CLLE mk. I*), with a simple, non-windage-adjustable ladder sight.
b) [ ] Serial ___________________________, and this rifle is a CLLE mk. I*, with a windage-adjustable replacement sight.
c) [ ] Does not apply, my rifle has been converted to some other model.
13. My rifle is neither an MLM nor a CLLE. It has been converted to some other model, with a conversion barrel as follows:
a) [ ] .303 long rifle (long Lee).
b) [ ] .303 short rifle (SMLE).
c) [ ] .22 long rifle.
d) [ ] .22 short rifle.
e) [ ] Other (specify: _____________________________________).
f) Made by:
• [ ] Enfield (signified by roman “E” inspection stamps).
• [ ] Sparkbrook (roman “B” stamps).
• [ ] LSA (roman “X” stamps).
• [ ] BSA (italic “B” stamps).
• [ ] other (specify: _________________________________).
g) [ ] And with serial number: ________________________.
h) [ ] Does not apply, my rifle is still an MLM or a CLLE with a long Lee barrel.
14. The manufacture date of my conversion barrel is:
a) [ ] ___________ year (to get this figure, you need to take the foreend off and look for the date on the underside of the barrel up at the breech end).
15. The installation date of my conversion barrel is:
a) [ ] ___________ year (look on the left side of the barrel reinforce at the breech end; it will usually be a two-digit year preceded by an apostrophe).
16. My rifle was issued to the navy at some point (see photos 10 and 11):
a) [ ] Yes, there is an “N” stamped on the left side of the buttsocket.
b) [ ] Yes, there is an “N” stamped somewhere else (specify: ___________________).
c) [ ] Yes, though there is no “N” stamp, there are other naval ownership indicators (such as “P/N/1” on the barrel) (specify: ______________________________________).
d) [ ] There are no signs of naval ownership.
17. My rifle is still an intact MLM and has its original foreend (see photo 12):
a) [ ] Yes, my rifle’s foreend appears to be original.
b) [ ] No, replacement Parker-Hale (P-H) foreend, dated: _________________ (look at underside of foreend at middle band).
c) [ ] No, replacement “heart wood” civilian target shooter foreend (generally, this will be smooth, shiny and very well made).
d) [ ] No, replacement other foreend (specify and look at inspection stamps to determine maker:________________________________________).
e) [ ] Don’t know.
f) [ ] Does not apply, my rifle has been converted to some other model.
18. My rifle is an intact MLM and has its original butt (see photo 13):
a) [ ] Yes, my rifle appears to have it original butt.
b) [ ] No, replacement long Lee butt from this model ___________________ and maker ____________________.
c) [ ] Don’t know.
d) [ ] Does not apply, my rifle has been converted to some other model.
19. Please describe any manufacturer’s stamps on the right side of the butt:
a) Roundel or cartouche says: _________________________________________.
b) Mark of arm says: _______________________________________ (Roman numeral) and asterisk, [ ] yes or [ ] no.
c) Class of arm says: ___________________________________ (Indo-Arabic digit under Roman numeral).
20. Please describe any issue or ownership stamps on either side of the butt, also describing their placement.
a) Description: __________________________________________________ __________________________.
21. My rifle is an intact MLM and it has been upgraded to take mk. VII high-velocity ammunition (see photo 14):
a) [ ] Yes, there is an “HV” stamp [ ] in front of or [ ] behind the backsight.
b) [ ] No, there is no “HV” stamp anywhere.
c) [ ] Does not apply, my rifle has been converted to some other model.
22. My rifle is an intact MLM with an MLM bolt:
a) [ ] My rifle is an MLM mk. II* with its original bolt, and the bolt’s original serial number is: _________________________.
b) [ ] My rifle is an MLM mk. II* with a replacement bolt (describe type of bolt: _____________________________________), and the bolt’s original serial number is: _________________________.
c) [ ] My rifle is an MLM mk. II with its original bolt, and the bolt’s original serial number is: _________________________.
d) [ ] My rifle is an MLM mk. II with a replacement bolt (describe type of bolt: _____________________________________), and the bolt’s original serial number is: _________________________.
e) [ ] Does not apply, my rifle has been converted to some other model.
23. This question is for intact MLM mk. II* owners only. My rifle’s safety-fitted MLM mk. II* bolt (check all that apply) (see photos 15 and 16):
a) [ ] Is Enfield made, and I know this because it has:
• [ ] An “E” inspection stamp to the right of the serial number, down by the knob.
• [ ] An “EFD” maker’s stamp at the top rear corner of the bolt handle, visible when I pull back the cocking piece.
• [ ] Other evidence (specify: ________________________________.)
b) [ ] Is Sparkbrook made, and I know this because it has:
• [ ] A “B” inspection stamp to the right of the serial number, down by the knob.
• [ ] An “SK” maker’s stamp at the top rear corner of the bolt handle, visible when I pull back the cocking piece.
• [ ] Other evidence (specify: ________________________________.)
c) [ ] Does not apply, my rifle has been converted to some other model.
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