Lee-Metford Sparkbrook 1895 MKII* Rifle

[varifleman]

Here for your perusal is my Lee-Metford 1895 Sparkbrook MKII* which will arrive next week. I'm looking for a cleaning rod should anyone know where to obtain one. It currently has the pull-through cleaner. I assume that this MKII* takes the .303 Smokeless rather than the black powder ammo.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Nice rifle, I always wanted one.

[RobD]

Any theories why the muzzle and piling swivel are v. rusted when the rest is v. good?

[browningautorifle]

Muzzle's the same. Wonder if it was stored in a cloth lined case at some point for a few (dozen) years?

[rayg]

I've seen other rifles were the barrels were rusted near the muzzle like that one. I suspect that it's because the rifle was picked up by the barrel and stored up right in a closet or gun rack and over time the salt from the hand and fingers eventually caused the metal to pit. Especially if the rifle was stored in a humid area. Not sure about the swivel, possibly that was also handled at that time also, Ray

[browningautorifle]

There was an individual that brought a rifle to me at one point that had the case so rusted to it that we had to cut the case away and then tear the bits of case off. It looked like this. There was another that had been stored in a garage between the wall and the pink wool insulation. It also had this effect. Anything that can hold moisture would do that. Just a salty hand? This seems a bit worse than that.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

There have been batches of reproduction rods made from time to time. I have one, in the "white', somewhere here in the crypt. Whoever made it went to the trouble of closely approximating the original, "weird" Enfield threads at both ends.

Because they were removed on official instruction, GENUINE items are up there with hens' teeth and rocking-horse manure.

[browningautorifle]

We have an older (older than me) ex weapons tech out in Alberta that locally produces these cleaning rods and brings them by the pail full to the Calgary show at Easter...I suppose one should attempt to find a way to locate him.

[rayg]

Just a salty hand? This seems a bit worse than that.

Maybe, maybe not. Not if handled a number of time over the years and stored in a fairly humid area. The damage is isolated to just that area so something came in contact only there that caused the rust. Over time, the salt and moisture from a hand can cause some pretty bad rust on metal. I had a 03 Springfield that had isolated rust like that I assumed was caused that way. Either that or the muzzle was sticking out of a case and exposed to moisture were the rest of the rifle wasn't or possibly blood came in contact with the metal there. Anyway, we'll never know. Ray

[Brian Dick]

One of my pet peeves that make me grit my teeth is watching people grab weapons by the barrel or exposed metal with their bare hands. I guess it stems from maintaining my Dad's collection as a youngster growing up directly on the Atlantic oceanfront in Florida where a fingerprint would become permanent in a matter of a few weeks if not wiped off and stainless steel screws would rust in two in a year when exposed outside. I'm still anal about it and walk around quietly behind people with an oily rag wiping things off!