Original British P-1895 .303 Lee-Enfield Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine dated 1896 with Bayonet and Scabbard Original Items

Original Item: Only one available. One Only. This is extremely rare, a P-1895 Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine originally made at Royal Small Arms Factory ENFIELD in 1896. It bears serial number 3539 on the front of the receiver as well as the chamber end of the barrel. The bolt handle “knob” is officially “flattened” because it caused issues with the mount by rubbing in it’s neck. Bearing all Military proofs, even on the flattened bolt knob, indicating that it was an official arsenal modification.

Comes complete with its original Lee-Metford first model bayonet dated 4 ’92, complete with the correct first model leather scabbard, which has a wooden plug in the bottom, as opposed to a steel fitting. It also still retains the original 5 round Lee-Enfield magazine, with the original metal retaining loop, to prevent it from being lost if removed for cleaning.

The Lee–Enfield rifle was introduced in November 1895 as the .303 calibre, Rifle, Magazine, Lee–Enfield, or more commonly Magazine Lee–Enfield, or MLE. The next year, a shorter version was introduced as the Lee–Enfield Cavalry Carbine Mk I, or LEC, with a 21.2-inch (540 mm) barrel as opposed to the 30.2-inch (770 mm) one in the “long” version. Many LECs were converted to special patterns, such as this Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine, also referred to as the RIC.

The markings on this rifle help trace the history of the refits it has gone through. The left of the butt socket is clearly stamped with the original manufacturing information:

V.R.
ENFIELD
1896
L.E.C.

II

First, the royal cypher Crown over V.R., for Victoria Regina. Well, this Queen, longest lived of all British monarchs, had an influence far beyond the British Isles and the British Empire during the Nineteenth Century. Victorian morals dominated the cultured classes of Great Britain and the new United States, and even now, in the Twenty-First Century, nostalgic organizations such as the Victorian Riflemen thrive in the former Colonies.

Second, “ENFIELD” indicates that the first incarnation of this piece was produced at The Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield with 1896 being the year of manufacture. It was made originally as a Lee–Enfield Cavalry Carbine, MKII

Thirdly, the buttstock is stamped in the wood with a roundel marked:

BIRMINGHAM
1902
1

This indicates that the conversion from the Lee-Enfield Cavalry Carbine to the Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine took place in 1902 at Birmingham. This involved mainly modifications to the front of the stock for a bayonet for the Lee-Metford Bayonet Lug and putting a sleeve on the barrel tip to fit the bayonet correctly.

Lastly, the butt stock has a unit marking disk with the following stamped information:

3. ’04
R.I.C.
1382

This carbine was accepted into the Royal Irish Constabulary in March of 1904, and given issue number 1382. It was most likely in service for many years, however it was apparently not fired much, as the bore is still very nice.

The right side breech area is marked with the opposing broad arrow “out of service” marks, as well as British Nitro Proof BNP marks, indicating that this rifle was disposed of in the civilian market once becoming obsolete.

An interesting and rare Lee-Enfield variant, all in fine condition ready to display.