Original British P-1888 Lee-Metford MK.1* .303 Magazine Rifle by B.S.A. with Bayonet and Wood Tipped Scabbard – Dated 1891 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. These are getting to be like Hen’s Teeth! Some years ago we received a small number of British-made Lee-Metford Rifles from the Royal Nepalese Arsenal, which was located at the palace of Lagan Silekhana in Katmandu, Nepal. These were all sold over the years, however we are now able to offer another, purchased recently from the estate of a long time customer.

The Lee-Metford rifle was the first British Military rifle designed for the new .303 MkI catridge, as well as the first magazine repeating rifle in general issue, starting in 1888. This rifle saw service throughout the Empire in the final years of Queen Victoria’s reign. Although superseded in 1895 by the Long Lee Enfield Rifle, they were in use at the famous Battle of Omdurman in 1898, which was Great Britain’s revenge against the Mardists outside Khartoum in the Sudan.

The short service life was due mainly to a logistical problem involving the new .303 MkI Cartridge. It was originally to have used smokeless cordite as a propellant, but there was a major problem with supply, so the early .303 Cartridge MkI design used black powder. It was this cartridge that the Lee-Metford and Metford pattern rifling was designed to work with.  When the .303 MkII came out with the cordite propellant as originally intended, the Metford barrel and rifling was found to be insufficient to deal with the increased power, so in 1895 a new barrel and deeper square-cut rifling was designed at RSAF Enfield, leading to the introduction of the Long Lee-Enfield rifle. Many Lee-Metfords were retrofitted, so finding one in the original configuration is rare.

This example is well marked, as all were, on the cup for the butt stock:

(crown)
V.R.
B.S.A. & M. Co.
1891.
I. *

This example was made by Birmingham Small Arms & Metals Co., previously known as simply Birmingham Small Arms, a name they would return to in the early 20th century. It also is marked with serial number 22022 on the front of the receiver. Having been long stored in Nepal, this example comes complete with dust cover to the bolt, which is often absent. The long distance volley sights are still present and functional, and many components are proof marked.

Overall solid condition, though the rifle shows some pitting from long storage in less then ideal conditions. The stock is still in great shape, with a very nice color. The rifle is also missing the cleaning rod, usually stored inside the bayonet lug. The bore is has strong rifling, with a partly bright finish. There is just a bit of fouling in the grooves.

Also included is an equally rare original P-1888 bayonet, complete with an even MORE rare first pattern wooden tipped leather scabbard. These are usually seen with the wooden tip missing, but this example is still intact. It correctly has no frog button on the throat. The ricasso of the bayonet blade is dated 11 / 98 and is maker marked with the BROAD ARROW / EFD marking for Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield. The bayonet like the rifle is well marked with British stampings, though the blade shows overall oxidation and age.

This is the very rare Mk.1* model, in fact Nepal was never issued any and what they had were captured from Tibet in the Nepal/Tibetan War of the early 1900s.

All in all an extremely rare and hard to find set! Probably the last one that we will ever have!

Specifications (Rifle):

Year of Manufacture: 1891
Caliber: .303 British MkI
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 30.2 Inches
Overall Length: 49.5 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 8 round single stack magazine

Specifications (Bayonet):

Blade Length: 12″
Blade Style: Double Edged Spear Point
Overall length: 16 3/4“
Crossguard: 2 3/4”
Scabbard Length: 13 1/4″