Un-dated MLE

[303Guy]

I have this old LE action still with it's original barrel (long tom) with no date of manufacture. It's a BSA Co. with serial number 3287. Any idea of year of manufacture or anything? It has nothing else stamped on the socket, just BSA Co.

Information

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[Rowdy]

Sounds like a commercial action - anything between 1896 to 1914.

[Kiwi]

Is there a year marked on the barrel at all? I have a 'BSA & Co' marked MLE in Range Pattern configuration with a '20 dated barrel. It has the matching 'PB' prefix serial number on bolt, reciever and barrel (pretty rare in NZ to have a MLE with matching numbers). Apparently NZ aquired the remaining stocks of MLE parts from BSA in 1920 for refurbishment of is MLE rifles so perhaps your action is from that period?

[5thBatt]

303Guy, if your rifle has a PB or QB prefix have a look here at the article called "Long Tom update"
New Zealand Arms Register - Arms Register

[5thBatt]

Is there a year marked on the barrel at all? I have a 'BSA & Co' marked MLE in Range Pattern configuration with a '20 dated barrel. It has the matching 'PB' prefix serial number on bolt, reciever and barrel (pretty rare in NZ to have a MoLE with matching numbers). Apparently NZ aquired the remaining stocks of MLE parts from BSA in 1920 for refurbishment of is MLE rifles so perhaps your action is from that period?

Are you sure its the original number & not forced matched (just for you Son ) i have seen many of the PB & QB s/n BSA &Co MLEs & non had a matching bolt & i dont even think i have seen a QB or PB s/n on a bolt, nice if it is & photos are a must

[303Guy]

Thanks 5thBatt. Mine has PB 4083 stamped on the receiver ring and barrel plus the stampings shown in the link. The but socket looks like the sample in the link. I do have a BSA&Co with a carbine barrel (not original - it doesn't tighten up and might have been used like that for some time). The bore has rusted beyond even my requirements although there still traces of rifling which does engage and spin a paper patched bullet at low velocity. I'm hoping to get a 35/303 barrel for it. Or maybe 'refreshing' it to 8mm - it's doable but whether I can do it .....

P.S. Interesting read that armsregister. The says that matching bolts on MLE's are rear. Well I have one with matching bolt but it came from South Africa and is sporterized (with a No4 barrel - pretty accurate too!)

[Kiwi]

Are you sure its the original number & not forced matched (just for you Son ) i have seen many of the PB & QB s/n BSA &Co MLEs & non had a matching bolt & i dont even think i have seen a QB or PB s/n on a bolt, nice if it is & photos are a must

Here's some photos of my rifle.

Definately has a PB serial number on the bolt, but now I take a closer look at it there is a different font used on the bolt compared to the receiver and barrel and there's an RSAF Enfield mark to the right of the bolt serial number. Would like to think this isn't a DIY re-number on the bolt, but who knows? Certainily no sign of a previous number being over-stamped.

In any event really like the rifle. It's NZ home guard marked on the butt stock and it has a realy nice sleeved section at the muzzle where it has been shortened.

ps. I am aware that the screw at the rear of the trigger guard is missing.

[5thBatt]

Original matching numbered bolts in Long Lees are very rare in NZ & it does look to be a renumbered bolt in yours Kiwi, could of been by anyone at anytime, maybe when it was converted to a range rifle??

It has taken quite a few years for me to find a matching MLE but now i have one but only recently.

[shrapnel]

303guy, from looking at your pictures, I would say your barrel and action are matched because the serial numbers have the same font... A replacement barrel serialised to the receiver would most probably have slightly different fonts as two different sets of punches would have been used years apart... The number 20 on the left hand side of the barrel most probably indicates 1920. Since the barrel matches the receiver, I'd say your rifle was built in 1920.

---------- Post added at 07:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:11 AM ----------

Oups!!! Seems the pictures are from Kiwi not 303guy!!!! My bad! Still a 1920 rifle I believe!!