~ Long Lee Enfield Bolt Action Rifle Dated 1869 ~
The Long Lee Enfield, also known as the Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield, is a series of British bolt-action rifles that played a significant role in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The rifle is serial numbered 5178 with the old serial number 5519B sill visible and stamped in places.
Here’s a brief history of the Long Lee Enfield rifle:
Development: The development of the Long Lee Enfield can be traced back to the late 19th century when the British Army sought to replace its aging Martini-Henry rifles with a more modern and smokeless-powder cartridge-firing rifle. The development led to two main designs: the Lee-Metford and the Lee-Enfield.
Lee-Metford: The Lee-Metford was the first in the series, designed by James Paris Lee and adopted by the British Army in 1888. It was chambered for the .303 British cartridge and featured a bolt-action design with a detachable box magazine. The “Metford” in its name referred to the rifling in its barrel, which used Metford’s polygonal rifling.
Transition to Lee-Enfield: In 1895, the Lee-Metford was modified to incorporate improvements in rifling, resulting in the Lee-Enfield. The rifling was changed from Metford’s polygonal design to Enfield’s conventional rifling. This change addressed concerns about fouling and barrel wear. The Lee-Enfield also featured a magazine cutoff, allowing single-loading of cartridges when desired.
Military Service: The Lee-Enfield was adopted by the British Army and became the standard-issue rifle. It served as the primary infantry rifle for British forces and many other Commonwealth countries throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was used in various conflicts, including the Boer War, World War I, and World War II.
~ Condition ~
Please refer to the pictures. The rifle cocks and dry fires.
