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Picked up this MkI Lee Enfield Carbine the other day, when out looking for something to satsify my Lee Speed urge. I was thinking it might be a good candidate for a "Lee Speed replica", but the more I look at it, the more questions I have. Now I'm wondering if it was an early "poor man's sporter" as the British gunmakers used to offer. Any comments would be welcome.

Odd points:

1. Finish is in very good condition, and is the grey/blue used by Enfield.
2. There is no sign of wear around the muzzle where the forend cap would have been if this rifle was converted from a carbine after it was sold (unless it was refinished by a gunsmith able to duplicate the finish used at Enfield)
3. The forend or forestock is from a Lee Enfield MkI rifle as it has the cutout for the long range dial sight, however it has been on the rifle for a very long time to judge by wear and the dirt and congealed linseed oil etc. in the barrel channel.
4. The butt has the two Broad Arrows touching point to point War Department sale mark, although like the Enfield roundel, this is faint due to the stock being heavily sanded a long time ago. The marks are now very slightly proud of the wood, not something I have seen before and something that takes a lot of time to occur I assume? The same sale marks are on the barrel ring and Nock's Form.
5. The serial number is in the 3000 range, original on bolt, barrel and barrel ring.
6. The bore is VG at least and if was not slightly ringed about 3/4" in from the muzzle would be almost excellent. I conclude the rifle has had little actual use since it was sold by the WD or since it was converted/sporterized. There is practically no bolt head over-turn and it is a No1 bolthead I believe.
7. The forend handguard spring slots have been very carefully filled with what looks like bamboo strips. This was done a long time ago judging by the dirt/wear/finish.

I don't want to mess with a restorable arm, or one that is an "original" conversion, which is why I ask what others who know these arms better think.

The defects that point toward "Lee Speeding" are:

1. Three old holes in the left side of the receiver
2. Bolt cover lugs ground off the bolt recoil lug (this was definitely not done by a gunmaker and there is what looks like cold bluing on the top of the recoil lug.)
3. Ringed bore at muzzle. (Could be counter-bored)
4. Missing 5 round magazine.
5. Missing bolt cover
6. Incorrect forend/forestock
7. Missing magazine cutoff (screw is present)
8. Foresight fined-down with a file
9. Face of cocking piece ground concave causing heavy trigger pull

More photos: http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2010-3/1354579/2128106

Edited by Old_Glass (24/03/10 05:25 PM)