An interesting Territorial rifle

[Sapper740]

I have three Lee Enfield civilian target rifles in my collection, one a M.L.E. made sometime prior to 1908, a S.M.L.E. regulated by Fulton, and the other a Territorial Rifle (C.L.L.E.). It's rather interesting how the 'Territorial' rifle is less travelled than the other two but that's a story for another day. The BSA & Co C.L.L.E. is in excellent condition with a strong bore and a couple of very interesting accessories and stamps. The accessory is the very rare and unique Vickers Son & Maxim quadrant windage adjustment rear sight and the 'ghost ring' front sight. I was unfamiliar with this sighting system and only became aware of it when I bought this rifle. Apparently Vickers Son and Maxim wanted to try their hand at the small arm trade in some small way and developed the sight for commercial sales. Also of interest is the serial number of this rifle, which I believe is " 1 ", at least, that is what is stamped on the bolt and on the receiver ring. Also of interest and slightly amusing is the "For Cordite Only" and Birmingham Proof stamp on the receiver ring which BSA stamped on all their rifles starting in 1898 to avoid lawsuits when cartridges loaded with with Nitrocellulose powders damaged a shooter's rifle.....except this rifle has "Nitro Proved" with Birmingham Nitro Proved stamps, so it's a case of "Don't use Nitro Powders!", "You can use Nitro Powders!" stamps. This rifle also has the Birmingham 'View' stamps which allowed the shooter to bypass certain inspections to compete in Service Rifle matches. Enjoy the pictures. I shoot this rifle on a regular basis and I'm currently looking for an original rear sight to mount on the VSM quadrant.

[Nigel]

You probably need one of these a correct windage adjustable rear sight as fitted to Charger Loading Lee Enfields.

[browningautorifle]

Before it's hundred plus years of time in the rifle racks and hands of shooters that furniture would have been absolutely stellar.

[Sapper740]

You probably need one of these a correct windage adjustable rear sight as fitted to Charger Loading Lee Enfields.

I have a M.L.E. civilian target rifle that still has its correct rear sight and a Twin Zero rear aperture sight. I'm considering having a shoot off between it and the C.L.L.E. and whichever is the more accurate will get the Twin Zero and the other will get the original rear sight, at least until I find another.

---------- Post added at 06:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:13 AM ----------

Before it's hundred plus years of time in the rifle racks and hands of shooters that furniture would have been absolutely stellar.

Yes, it's gorgeous, isn't it. Almost makes me want to refinish it. Almost.

[browningautorifle]

Almost makes me want to refinish it. Almost.

It's probably as good as it'll ever be now. Clean is good enough.

[Sapper740]

I had the shoot off between the M.L.E. and the C.L.L.E. using some postwar MkVII. The C.L.L.E. won hands down over the M.L.E. which wasn't unexpected as the M.L.E. is chambered for the MkVI round. I've installed the Twin Zero sight on the C.L.L.E. and am in the process of working up the most accurate handload for it. I'm starting off with twice fired (original use, then me fire-forming) HXP brass neck sized only, Varget, Remington primers and 174gr. SMK's. I anticipate greatly tightening up the 3 moa groups I shop with the surplus ammo.