Theories on this Charger Loader?

[jrhead75]

No goof, it is correct. Please refer to "The Lee Enfield" p.85. In summary, in 1909 the CLLM was ordered to be discontinued and existing stock modified to CLLE Mk I* status. Some were rebarreled, some like yours were not. The biggest modification to CLLE I* status was the bolt with the safety catch was installed, originally the CLLM had the non-safety catch type like the MLM II. Your rifle is very uncommon, great pick-up! I have yet to come across a non-upgraded military CLLM Mk II (I have a civilian pattern).

My weird CL is a pattern CLLE Mk I (no windage rear sight installed thus a groove was put in the charger bridge and the battle sight heightened). Some were permitted to be fitted with metford barrels to use up existing leftover stores or if the barrel was still serviceable. So like yours, it is marked as and CLLE but has a metford barrel. My example is a VSM 1911 conversion with a 1911 barrel.

Very nearly the exact twin of mine down to the dates. !893 dated MkII converted to a CLLE MkI in 1911 by VSM with a Metford barrel. My barrel is also dated 1911, but in its case, that's the date it was installed on the rifle rather than a manufacture date. An LSA barrel with Victorian proofs.