This is a low resolution image (loads faster, so nearly all my photos are low resolution) of some of my military rifles. I am primarily interested in military rifles from the 1880's through the end of WW II, particularly British "Short Magazine Lee Enfield Rifles". Many gun collectors consider these old military rifles as junk, but there is a large following who appreciate these old warhorses. My collections are housed in my "playhouse" which has several layers of active and passive security measures. "Don't Tread on Me"!
.....and if you collect old military rifles, you just gotta get some bayonets for them!
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Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine. (see page 391 in Skennerton). This is my favorite Enfield Rifle because it has such an interesting history. These rifles were special conversions for the Royal Irish Constabulary. They were produced from Lee-Metford Carbines and Lee-Enfield Carbines. Between 1904 and 1914, appr. 11,000 of these carbines were converted.
My RIC carbine started as a Lee-Metford Carbine manufactured in 1894. It's barrel was then changed to Enfield rifling, as designated by the large "E" stamped on the knox form. After that (or concurrently), it received its conversion to the RIC configuration at Birmingham Small Arms Factory (BSA). The BSA cartouche is still visible on the stock to the right of the brass roundel (photo #4).
Photo #2 shows the receiver section of the rifle. Note that the bolt handle is swept forward, a cut-off and sliding bolt cover are present, and that it has a special 6 cartridge magazine held to the trigger guard assembly by a metal loop. (Just try to find a spare magazine...you can't !!).
Photo #3 shows the frame markings. In addition to its original 1894 markings, "England" and "LEC" were added. If you hold it just right in the light, you can see where the saddle ring was removed.
Photo #4 illustrates the original sling bar of the Lee-Metford carbine, the brass roundel, and the BSA cartouche.
The "bible" for Enfield Rifles is "The Lee-Enfield Story" by Ian Skennerton, published in 1993.
Photo #5 illustrates some of the many marks on the rifle. Note that it was proofed for "18.5 tons" of pressure.
Photo #6 illustrates how the forearm was
changed so the carbine could accomodate the Pattern 1888 bayonet.
A very interesting rifle..and I probably paid way too much for it!
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Photo #7 is a Siames Contract Enfield made at BSA in England in1920. Ten thousand of these were produced along with
matching Pattern 1907 bayonets.
Photo #8 shows the Siamese markings on the frame. The Tiger mark actually looks like the Cheshire Cat in the Walt Disney version of "Alice in Wonderland". Photo # 9 shows the P1907 bayonet markings. Both the bayonets and the rifle are failry scarce as collectible items. The serial numbers of the rifle and bayonet do not match. If they did, it would be a real rarity!
Skennerton refers to the Siames contract rifles on page 173 of "The Lee-Enfield Story".
His website is: www.skennerton.com (sorry, this is not a clickable link.
