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Contributing Member
As I understand now, officers could purchase these rifles with any number of options, including target grade 24" long Barrels, all sorts of checkering and any of the various various sights.
I missed one a little while ago with a full rib fitted along the top, fully chequered and engraved, including the buttplate.
Nobody knew what they were dealing with including the owner of the store, as he was only asking $250 for it and couldn't move it. Shame there isn't more information about these, as they are little jewels.
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04-22-2014 02:47 AM
# ADS
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Originally Posted by
harlton
As I understand now, officers could purchase these rifles with any number of options, including target grade 24" long Barrels, all sorts of checkering and any of the various various sights.
I missed one a little while ago with a full rib fitted along the top, fully chequered and engraved, including the buttplate.
Nobody knew what they were dealing with including the owner of the store, as he was only asking $250 for it and couldn't move it. Shame there isn't more information about these, as they are little jewels.
It's the best part about collecting Enfield's, you learn something new evey day, well almost........
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Legacy Member
There are BSA Military View marks, not sure if these would have been applied if it was non standard, I know these were an option that could be specified when ordering a commercial version from BSA.
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Legacy Member

Originally Posted by
Bruce_in_Oz
Note the 7mm and 8mm "options" in the catalogue list.
Interesting to see that the 8mm option (.315") is still manufactured as a modernised SMLE sporter by IOF (India) ... as is also a .32" Mk3 Webley.
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Contributing Member
Buccaneer, whilst your carbine is later than the Anglo-Boer War (charger bridge and sight upgrade indicate this) it may be of some interest that very similar carbines were in use in the ABW, before the RIC carbines (1904 onwards) came out.
I attach a famous picture of Jan Smuts, the Boer general, in 1901, and a closeup of an officer in the front row. He has a Lee Enfield carbine with a carbine-style bolt, no barrel band, and a rigby nosecap. I imagine this to be an Imperial officer's private purchase arm, which has been captured by the Boers. This is not an military pattern of carbine. (Note: this photo is taken during the guerilla phase of the ABW; the picture is located in the Cape during the invasion by Smuts' commando; Gen Maritz is by Smuts' side; many Boer officers are wearing khaki uniforms). Thus your carbine is a later version of a line of carbine-length MLEs which were popular by 1901. Unlike the one in the photo, yours does not have a turned-down bolt head.
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Thank You to RobD For This Useful Post: