Mystery CLLE I (no star) opinions please

[Roy]

Hi Folk

I have here a CLLE 1 built on a LSA MLE 1* however I have never seen a CLLE I (no star)

Oddly there is no conversion date and the CLLE I marking is roughly stamped,

In 1919 it was reported that MLE and MLM rifles held in NZ stores were to be converted to CLLE, however none have been observed, Perhaps this is part of some sort of trial run, however there is a 'BM' Birmingham repair mark on the receiver and a '15 date, however this is well after any CLLE I conversions should have been made.

Any modified sights may have been lost in a rebarreling, incidentally with a 1903 Sparkbrook barrel which matches the butt and all the stock metal work.

The trigger guard appears to be a MLE one which has been hand filed to fit MK2-3 magazines with the stop clip, the chain link has been carefully removed.

The bolt has had its dust cover clips roughly removed.

There is evidence of 'restoration' it has a MA marked cutoff and a MA sling swivel cut through and used as a piling swivel, also it appears someone has tried to remove the charger bridge by attacking the inside of the rivets with a dremmel and a punch, fortunately without any success.

Overall it seems the conversion is rough, however it seems like it was done many years ago, before anyone would want to try to fake such a rifle.

If anyone has a CLLE 1 I could compare this to, especially one that has seen NZ service I'd be very interested in seeing some pictures.

Cheers

Roy

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.

[BushyFromOz]

Geeze , whoever butchered that stock to get a plate on for a target sight must have used the back end of an axe head.

Bloody nice rifle though!

[smle addict]

Very interesting rifle! I wish I could offer some ideas, but I really have no clue as to it's origin. I do have some pics of my CLLE Mk I. Mine began life as a BSA & M, MLM Mk II. It still wears a properly cartouched Mk II stock that is NZ marked. However, I believe the NZ mark was applied well before the CLLE conversion. No other NZ ownership marks. Barrel and bolt are mismatched, and it carries British proof house stamps as well as DP stamps. Enclosed are the pictures of the important areas. Note the grove cut in the charger bridge to allow for a proper sight picture.

again, yours is a nice rifle; I'd love to own it.

[Roy]

Interesting, is your rear sight a regular MLE one? I dont have the charger bridge cut or the CL marked dial plate. Does your have any interesting marks on the receiver ring and barrel?

Also what do the inside of your charger bridge rivets look like?

And yes it looks like someone did a hatchet job of fitting the side plate for the aperture sight!

[smle addict]

No other interesting marks. Lots of proof/inspection marks, but nothing other than an "EY" over stamped with a "DP" on both barrel and knox form. Rivets are very cleanly done and smooth with rest of action. Handguard is poorly fitted though, and sits proud of the barrel and stock.

It came with a Sutherland rear sight (see pic). Maybe an attempt to turn it into a target shooter?

Noticed yours has a Naval (N) stamp on the left-side socket. The mystery deepens...!

[Lance]

Here are a few pic's of mine, nothing super interesting in the history of the rifle, at one time was with the 4th Welsh, I have yet to come across the confirmed meaning of "RWR" (Royal Welsh Regt?). Note the rear sight battle portion of the sight is taller than other MLE's and is "CL" marked. Final pic is a glory photo of her with her sisters.

[browningautorifle]

Very nice group of older rifles.

[Roy]

Thanks guys, Interesting rifles there, I suspect my one l has possibly been restocked and it certainly been rebarreled, and so has lost its 'CL' marked parts.