Original British P-1888 Lee-Metford MK.I* .303 Magazine Rifle by R.S.A.F. Enfield dated 1891- serial 9659 M Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. These are getting to be like Hen’s Teeth! Recently purchased from the estate of a long-time customer, this is one of the few Lee-Metford rifles we have had that was not acquired from the Royal Armory of Nepal. Many of these were later upgraded to Lee-Enfield rifles by replacing the Metford rifled barrel with the new Enfield barrel with deeper, square-cut rifling. This example however has not been modified, and is still in the original issue configuration.

The “Magazine 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 Although superseded in 1895 by the Long Lee Enfield Rifle, they were in use at the famous Battle of Omdurman in 1898, which was Great Britain’s revenge against the Mardists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.
ENFIELD
1891.
I. *

This example was made at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock, a storied production factory in operation since 1816 as one of the major manufactures of arms for the Great Britain. It also is marked with serial number 9659 / M on the front of the receiver. 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 light pitting from long storage. The stock is still in great shape, with a dark brown color from years of oiling and cleaning. The rifle still has the original cleaning rod, which are very hard to find. It still removes from the rifle, and has intact threading on the end. The bore shows clear rifling and a bright finish, though there is rounding on the lands, as was common with the shallow Metford rifling. It cycles well, with a crisp dry fire. The extractor spring however sometimes likes to move out of position, easily pushed back, into place.

This is the very rare Mk.1* model, possibly 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