Pinned rear sight elevation slide on a Long Lee

[enbloc8]

I just acquired an 1896 Magazine Lee Enfield, made by BSA, that spent time in New Zealand before coming to the US. While examining it, I noticed that the elevation slide on the rear sight was pinned in place, so that it's fixed for about 300 yards lowered and about 1,200 yards raised. Was this a legitimate service alteration, and if so, what was the purpose?

[Giove]

Do you have any pics?

Are there any European proof marks on the rifle?

[Sapper740]

We need pictures of what you're describing. The service sights on MLEs are adjustable from 100 to 500 yards on the bed and anything greater than that on the leaf so to be "pinned" between 300 yards and 1200 yards is somewhat confusing.

[enbloc8]

Here are two pictures of the sight in question. The pin I mentioned is visible at the lower left corner of the sight slide. It goes all the way through the slide, and through the sight leaf itself. The leaf can be raised and lowered, but the slide doesn't move at all, doesn't even wobble.

I've looked at pictures of other Long Lees recently for sale (both milsurp examples and Lee-Speeds), and none of their rear sights had that pin.

The rifle has the "-->SS<--" mark for being sold out of surplus on the receiver ring, an NZ property mark with what looks like a rack number and a "C14" on the buttplate tang, and a J&J marking on the underside of the fore-wood. The only proof mark I see is a faint crossed-flags mark on the left side of the receiver ring. No import or civilian proof markings that I can identify.

I'd take a look through Skennerton, but my copy's packed away somewhere right now.

[Sapper740]

OK! Now I see what you're talking about. That's an interesting modification and I have no idea why your sight was pinned like thata. I too have a former NZ M.L.E. although mine was a civilian rifle taken on strength by the Kiwis then sold out of service at some point in its history. Mine came with a Twin Zero sight and by its condition never saw rough service.

[Terrylee]

I have quite a number of Long Lees and have never seen a similar modification.