Possible Indian CLLE conversion

[Lance]

Sorry, the rifle did not have a barrel at all when I got her.

[Aussie Long Tom]

Roy, I have something very similar, but just need to work out how to post photos. Give me a bit of time.....OK, edited photos in now. My rifle appears to have something like CCL officially cancelled out and CLLE added. Has the square notch in the charger bridge, and what appears to be a date on the rim of the butt socket. Might help your research, regards Anthony

[Roy]

Thanks Anthony

Does yours have any remains of markings on the butt or buttplate tang, any commercial markings on the breech ring or nocks form and range pattern or still full length?

Cheers

Roy

[Aussie Long Tom]

Thanks Anthony

Does yours have any remains of markings on the butt or buttplate tang, any commercial markings on the breech ring or nocks form and range pattern or still full length?

Cheers

Roy

Hi Roy,

I have to use my wife’s computer to post photos, so when she gets home I’ll add a few more. It is a bit of a bitsa also, barrel is a 1920’s Lithgow replacement, at least it’s a 30” barrel, butt has been shortened slightly, but may well still be the original? There is Indian proofs, but Skennerton doesn’t believe they did the CLLE conversion. Not to say the cancelled CCL(?) wasn’t done by India. He was also confused by the lack of a date, as it appears that mine had some sort of rack number instead, but it was also canceled out. Get back to you later. Anthony

[Roy]

Hi Anthony

Skennertons description of converted rifles in India is confusing to say the least, Whereas in England, MLE rifles converted to Sht LE MkI pattern with sliding charger bolts were (generally) known as Cond rifles. It seems in India MLE rifles converted to Sht LE MkI pattern were known as CLLE 1. MLE rifles converted to charger bridge loading from 1909 were known as MkII IP CLLE Skennerton howerver makes no mention of C.C.L

[Aussie Long Tom]

Hi there,
I have attached some extra photos of the CLLE. The butt was shortened as is evident by the slightly shorter tang. I don't think it ever had any issue marks. Like you say, Ian had no knowledge of the CCL marking, though at the time, we were unsure of the actual lettering underneath the cancellation marks. Have attached one of the emails I received back from Ian, slightly confusing, but still interesting. Hopefully we can find more examples of the CCL markings that may shed some light on what /where these rifles were converted. Regards Anthony

[Roy]

Thanks Anthony

Yes your rifle did spend some time in India as evidenced by the GRI proof on the breech ring. Lance's rifle has the stamp by RFI, CCL LE. So i'm confident CCL is an Indian marking. The one I saw also had the obliterated proofs on the breech ring.