Anyone know this R.L.R. marking?

[Jc5]

I came across this interesting rifle in my daily Lee-Speed tracking:
Enfield Lee Patent Speed Rifle .22 Conversion : Antique Guns at GunBroker.com


It's an older Lee-Speed Patents target rifle that was later converted by AG Parker into a 22 Short Rifle. The knox form has the letters R.L.R.

Does anyone know what R.L.R. might mean?

Thanks!

P.S. If any of you Enfield collectors are going to attend the Antique Arms Show in Las Vegas next week, drop me a PM.

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[Thunderbox]

Nice rifle.


I think you'll only be able to make an inspired guess about the RLR marking; its nothing well known or obvious.

- the mark is not parallel with the AJP stamp, so they did not apply it;

- the mark is not neatly done, so it unlikely to be an owners initials (which are common on target rifles);

- its probably a club or organisation that had quite a few rifles, and hence was stamped up with no particular ceremony.

[Maxwell Smart]

Don't know for sure; perhaps - "Rim-fire Long Rifle" as a guess?

[Gil Boyd]

As it looks like a separate stamp mark it may be nothing to do with the rifles progress through PH or other manufacturers. It could be simply something like an identifier for the Royal London Regiment(s)
Just a suggestion which may be wide off the mark, but there are other Regiments which operated in Canada such as the Lambton Regiment (LR)which again could be closer to the mark and associated with teaching shooting to grammar schools and other training establishments. I know certainly that the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers who were renamed in its past spent a great deal of time in Canada too
Gil

[Beerhunter]

It could be simply something like an identifier for the Royal London Regiment

Except the London Regiment did not, and still does not, have a "Royal"

[Surpmil]

Rimmed Long Rifle or Rimfire Long Rifle as Maxwell Smart suggests seems most likely. Size and location makes sense for that reference as well.

[Gil Boyd]

I am still convinced that the R.L.R is a personal or Regimental stamp and nothing to do with the calibre.
I have spoke to a contact who actually worked on the Lee Speeds and he concurs with me. It certainly was not a stamp placed by them, for what its worth.
Gil

[Thunderbox]

Rimmed Long Rifle or Rimfire Long Rifle as Maxwell Smart suggests seems most likely. Size and location makes sense for that reference as well.

I don't think that terminology has ever been used in UK?

In that era surely they would mostly have used ".22" RF".

[Surpmil]

I don't think that terminology has ever been used in UK?

In that era surely they would mostly have used ".22" RF".

That may well be the case, but it doesn't resemble a regimental marking either IMHO.

Has that marking been seen elsewhere in association with the "Royal London Rifles"?

I'm not even finding a regiment of that name via Google - except a reference in Canada: "The Royal London Rifles (1st Canadian Regiment)"

Would a regiment have such a tiny little stamp made up - and it is obviously a one-piece stamp - to mark their kit in such a insignificant and unclear way? Seems doubtful to me. They would have something quite a bit larger and more obvious I suspect.

[Gil Boyd]

Yes agree in part, and only threw into the pot the Canadian angle of the Royal London Regiment or Rifles, because it was on that continent. They are clearly not letters stamped by Parker Hale or any manufacturer and are offset as if an after thought or merely a unit or group identifier as their ownership. I would hedge a bet they were for "Junior Riflemen" to learn to shoot with a Military school or organization, but IMHO a Military unit nevertheless.