BSA&M 1896 Mk 1 Club Pattern

[pzjgr]

Well, its been a long while since I posted anything new here, but I got lucky in the Enfield department the last few weeks, and managed to pick up a BSA&M 1896 Mk 1 cut down to club pattern, and a 1905 No.1 Mk I*** Irish Export rifle that is correct and original. I will post pics of sometime this week, but will start with the Club Pattern...

Always wanted a "Long Tom", but never even have seen one in the wild...a buddy of mine bought this in a batch of guns he bought from one of his regulars, and I had to have it...

So, mainly reading from what I can find on this site, it is a 1896 MLE Mk.1 cut down to Australian Club Pattern.

This one has its original barrel, which was turned down to accept the front site. It is missing the handguard (I have a spare No.1 MkIII rear handguard that I think can be modified to fit), and the rear sight leaf was butchered for some reason, as you can see...

Otherwise, its good to go, has an original early mag with link to attach to gun (although the link on the trigger guard was cut off), and the volley sights, front and rear...proper complete bolt with dust cover...

Here are some initial detail pics...will post more later...

So, questions...am I correct in that I can use a modified handguard to replace the missing one? Does anyone have a contact or place that might have a rear sight leaf so I can replace the buggered up one? Are the trigger guards the same as No.1 Mk III's? I would like to replace it with one that has the little link loop if possible....

Anything interesting to glean from the pics so far?

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Information

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[Frederick303]

Your rifle was originally sold to Canada around 1896. It was used their until it was replaced by the Ross. In 1914 Canada sold something like 10,000 of them to New Zealand, as New Zealand was short on rifles at that time. It would appear the barrel was replaced, due to the slightly different serial number font on the barrel relative to the reviver/action body.

The rifle was sold out of service sometime after WWI. It was cut down to club length sometime after 1934. The rear leaf is not buggered, it is missing the small v notch that was mounted to the end of the leaf. These can be found.

The correct rear hand guard can be found for around 35 dollars. I seem to recall a local PA chap I see at gun shows has some of them in his spares bin.

if you want more detail on the sale to Canada and from Canada to NZ, I think those details are covered in one of my reference books.

[pzjgr]

Thanks Frederick for the interesting info....didn't realize these rifles traveled to Canada first, although that explains the M&D stamp on the butt...

I do have a lead on a rear sight leaf, but I don't know anyplace I can find a proper handguard...if you happen to see one at a show, and it isn't too crazily priced, and you can snag one, I will happily pay you the cost plus a finders fee and postage to get one! For now I have a broken Mk III rear handguard I am going to work on and use....

Please tell me more about your reference books, or IM me a link, I would be interested in picking them up, I am sure!

Anyway, here are some overall shots for everyone to look at....the "smith" who did the work apparently wasn't a great one...look at that barrel!

Regardless, this will certainly be a place holder, at least until such time I might find an unmodified Long Tom....



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[Surpmil]

I think you must have a home workshop job there. The rusty nosecap, the rudimentary inletting of same and the hammer & tongs work on the foresight and barrel step fairly shout it.

Sorry to be a "downer", but honestly.