Hello Tony,

Thank you for your interest and kind words. I will try to answer some of your questions.

Firstly 'no' this is not a converted rifle but is completely original and as it came from BSA as a newly built rifle. In the 'BSA Rifles & Rifle Sights' catalogue of 1910-12 it is shown on page 17. It's official designation is 'Lee-Enfield Magazine Carbine - No4 Sporting Carbine' this explains the markings on the left which are 'No4 S.C.' (S.C. for Sporting Carbine). The 'No4 should not be confused with the later Lee Enfield model but is reference to the sporting rifles (aka Lee Speeds) BSA were producing at the time 1 - 4 being of difference grades No1 being the finest.

This (along with other patterns) was essentially a commercial sporting rifle marketed to officers/hunters. It's most significant difference from the No1, 2 & 3 was the use of the standard Lee Enfield shaped stock (the first three having a sporting pistol-grip type stock).

As mentioned earlier and from what I have been able to piece together, this was one of 970 such rifles purchase by the Admiralty (along with many others) for issue on trawlers/small craft etc. So in essence you have an interesting situation, in that the design being based on the military Lee Metford was used by BSA to produce a civilian/commercial sporting rifle but later a number of these 'civilian/commercial' patterns were (as is the case with this one) purchased by the military (Admiralty) for issue. So in some respects a 'full circle' moment...!

A great rifle and fascinating piece of history.

I hope that makes sense Tony?

Cheers, Roy.