Anybody knows about a Whitworth Lee Enfield?

[louthepou]

Ok, I just received it! Here are a couple of pics. The action is of a 1943 Longbranch No4Mk1*.

On the barrel, we can read "Whitworth Rifle Company, Manchester England"


Lou

[jmoore]

I'm fairly sure that's not an 1860's precision rifle...

[Surpmil]

Quite. I wonder who bought the name - and who owns it now for that matter!

[jmoore]

I'm fairly sure that's not an 1860's precision rifle... 1960's-1970's hunting rifle, yes. I think the company was also doing new manfacture muzzle loaders (of the famous old sniper/target rifle) at this time as well.

ETA-ETA Somehow the edited post became a new one...

[tikkathreebarrels]

Hmm. Had you posted that view of the sporter stocked rifle without any reference to Whitworth, I'd have been looking for the words Parker and Hale. Just the way it looks.

[jmoore]

You don't reckon there might have been some sharing going on at the time? There's Whitworth rifles, Parker Hale Whitworth rifles, "Non-" Parker Hale Whitworths. It gets sort of confusing.

[tbonesmith]

Either way it's a really nice looking sporter, very worthwhile.
BTW, I did a repair like the one you're doing on the SMLE fore end in the background, could you post some pics?

[RJW NZ]

That is one nice looking rifle, and Whitworth being there is icing on the cake!

[louthepou]

Thanks for the input guys. The stock requires refinishing, the varnish is peeling off everywhere, and there are a few dents. The blueing is worn with some surface rust spots. But besides that, a pretty nice rifle.

tbonesmith, here's a close-up pic of the repair on the SMLE stock (sorry it's slightly blurry). This is for a dewat No1Mk3* that will be used in teaching WW1 history at my wife's school.

[Noel]

Yup, identical to the one I picked up for $40. I was wondering if I was missing something with all the posts about the 1860's guns.

They sure made a shooter of the one I had, the most accurate Enfield I've had to date, hope yours points them the same.