Lee Metford Carbine with atypical nosecap.

[Ridolpho]

Bought this about a year ago off a Canadian forum. A thread about the same rifle running at the time provided some info and at least one milsurps forum member (englishman_ca) contributed. Normal carbine with mismatched bolt other than the nosecap and rear sight. The cap appears to be of a type shown on pg 97 of Skennerton and the rear sight has been modified. Skennerton states that "during October (1900?), further experiments were carried out with sights by the 3rd Dragoon Guards at Curragh, comprising of Lee-Enfield carbines fitted with four types of adjustable foresights-". The fourth type listed was: "Bead foresight with nosecap and hood combined, and broadened 'V' on the cap and backsight: result; good, recommended for adoption."
Could this rifle have been part of that test? It has no post service proof or import marks. Judging from the marks on the left cheek it was in British service for a while (First Dragoon Guards, for a while) and returned to Enfield to have the saddle ring and boss removed, etc. The only other marks I could see that might shed some light are small stamped "G.J.O." on underside of small of buttstock and barrel reinforce. Note the rear sight leaf has matching original serial # but was scrubbed and hand marked with gradations. These probably reflect the fact that the height of the bead is about 0.025" greater than the original carbine foresight.

Ridolpho

Information

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[harry mac]

Nice Carbine. 1st Dragoon Guards became The Blues & Royals when they amalgamated with The Royal Horse Guards in the 1960s.

[RobD]

Coincidentally I have a Martini Henry cavalry carbine marked to the 1st Dragoon Guards. They captured King Cetsewayo in the AZW and then stayed on in SA to fight the Transvaalers in 1881.

[Ridolpho]

Coincidentally I have a Martini Henry cavalry carbine marked to the 1st Dragoon Guards. They captured King Cetsewayo in the AZW and then stayed on in SA to fight the Transvaalers in 1881.

Rob: A fascinating time period I've only recently begun to learn a bit about. Struggling to get my head around Majuba Hill! A Zar Martini and, perhaps, a Monkeytail are at the top of my wants list but the latter are horrifically expensive when advertized up here. The LM carbine in this thread was actually a bit of a bargain, probably due to the non-standard features. Regards.

Ridolpho