SMLE Rifle MkII**Cond Navy

[Buccaneer]

This rifle from my hoard, sorry collection, was saved from de-activation or destruction, much the same thing in my book, by the fitting of a replacement barrel as the original was so far gone it would not have passed UK proof.
The description, and I quote with greatful thanks to Ian Skennerton "The Lee Enfield" :-
"This conversion was made from the MkII Converted rifle and so the right side of the butt socket bears the original Lee-Metford or Lee-Enfield designation. The first conversion, to Mark II, was effected at Enfield and these markings are located on the left side of the butt socket.
The next modifaction to Mark II** was done at one of the Royal Naval Ordnance Depots, this conversion having been approved in the Naval Orders on the 25th of June 1908 for it to conform with the original Mark I** specifications. This conversion date was not marked, merely involving the extra stars or asterisks being placed after the original designation.
From 1912, further improvements were carried out at Enfield in order that the rifle resemble the Mark III more closely, so the foresight wings were straightened and shortened and a charger bridge fitted to replace the Mark I style charger guides. This later conversion was not indicated in the receiver markings."
This particular rifle is a conversion from an L.S.A. Co Ltd 1897 LE I, its conversion date was 1904 which can be seen from the LH side of the butt socket and the date stamped in the butt. The bolt although numbered to the rifle has been ground and renumbered at some point in its life but then given the various conversions it has under gone that is hardly surprising. As can be seen from the pictures the woodwork as been around a bit but the rifle has a very good action and is as smooth as the day it was made, not bad for a rifle that started life 118 years ago.....

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