Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine

[Ridolpho]

Hello Lee Enfield fans. Recently purchased this Lee Enfield RIC carbine and am very impressed with the quality of the rifle. The bluing on the underside of the barrel is extremely nice as is the wood in the forend. Everything appears to match but I'm curious if anyone can see anything that might be a tip-off as to its history prior to conversion (from LEC 1) and sale to Ireland as part of the 1905 order. Other than the Enfield markings there are also what I think are Sparbrook marks on the knox-form and left cheek. Is that where the conversion work was done? Excellent bore in what appears to be the original 1896 barrel and I look forward to putting a few rounds through it. Anybody out there have much experience shooting one of these- I'm curious about their accuracy as the barrel seems to pretty much be in contact with the full length of the forend.

Ridolpho

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[EarlyFours]

Beautiful carbine. It was not 'sold' to Ireland. It was 'sold' to the RIC, which was the Natonal Police Force set up by the English Government in Ireland. All the transactions were
between government agences.

[Sarge1998]

Attachment 38833Attachment 38834

[jrhead75]

A beauty indeed! The figuring on the wood is really nice. I've got her sister, within a month or so of the issue date on yours.

It's almost certainly part of the original 1903 order rather than on of the later ones though.

[gsimmons]

You did very well! It's a very pretty rifle. The wood on mine isn't nearly as nice. Same date on the stock disc though.Attachment 38850

[Ridolpho]

gsimmons: Thanks for the comments- I bought it without seeing photos when it came up on a trusted suppliers website! Any of you guys with similar carbines see similar markings on the barrel. There is also what appears to be a "17" under the bolt handle and another "17" under the barrel. Also, do you guys shoot these little fellers?

Ridolpho

[ActionYobbo]

I shoot 2 of my 3. one shoots good putting in a 4" group at 100 but the other keyholes at 25 and it has the better looking bore but its really well worn.
all 3 of mine were sporterized and no where near as nice as yours

[Bear43]

That is one very pretty rifle! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[Ridolpho]

Bear43: Thank's. My photography has been improving since starting to post on Milsurps! Can't say enough about the excellent photo uploading software provided here. As to the rifle, one of my collecting goals was to find a MLE, LEC and ShtLE Mk1- mission accomplished. My oldest Lee Enfield as of now is an 1896 and my newest a 1965 Ishapore 2A1- quite a contrast but also quite a testament to the fundamental soundness of the mechanism.

Ridolpho

[Tahunua001]

I am very novice when it comes to enfields in general but didn't the RIC LEEs have flattened bolt knobs?