Milsurp After Hours

I have been waiting for this to become available for some time now, as I knew the owner was planning on selling it sometime as he is giving up shooting due to ill health and he said I could have first refusal. I got the call last week that it was mine if I want it. I thought long and hard for about 2 seconds before I said I will be over to collect it which I did on Monday evening. It is a commercial Lee Speed BSA. I think it is the equivalent to the military MLE Mk I* though I stand to be corrected on that. The history of it is that it had been in the same family from new until sold to a dealer who then sold it to the chap I bought it from. I see the now ex firearms dealer on the range from time to time so I will ask him about it to see what information he can give me about it. I think it is in good nick for a 100ish year old rifle, the bore is bright and shiney with no rust. It has 'Rigby Patent 88' stamped on the nose cap. What is that about? Anyway, a few pics.

I am very pleased to have this rifle and am looking forward to shooting it. He has a very nice Longbranch No4 MkI* dated 1944 that he will be selling later this year. I have first refusal on that also

Regards
Peter

If I remember correctly, Rigby patent refers to J. Rigby, who was superintendent (?) of Enfield and designed the bayonet bar. It's somewhere in Skennerton, and I'll try to dig out the reference tomorrow

Looks very pretty though

Nick

Very nice Peter, what a lucky chap you are
John Rigby MA was Superintendent of the RSAF from 1887 to 1895. He patented (No: 16,321 of 10 Nov 1888) his combination nosecap/sword bayonet bar design which fitted the 1888 Pattern bayonet.
He also proposed a Safety Trigger was not adopted.

That is an incredibly beautiful rifle!
Thank you for posting photos of it.
These peacetime Lee-Enfields seem to be of the highest quality.
I hope I get to see one firsthand one day.
Will you give us a range report?

Beautiful rifle!

Are there any numbers stamped on the bolt handle?

Jc5, the number 13536 is stamped on the rear of the bolt handle.
Regards
Peter.

PeterN2, Thanks for sharing. While I can guess, I've never seen the "For Cordite Only" stamp, any info about that?

Brad

It only let me do the update on twelve photos so I will add the other two here.
Regards
Peter.

Now that is one piece of kit that I would love to have Peter. Thank's for the update.....

Just to add to the story of the nose cap.

Rigby actually had to sue BSA for royalties. Rigby won in court, BSA had then to acknowledge the patent and mark it on the nose cap.
RIGBY PATENT 88.


The FOR CORDITE ONLY was a legal disclaimer. In the early days of smokeless powders, there many new propellants being loaded for sporting use. RIFLEITE being one for example.

Apparently there had been some problems with BSA rifles blowing up in Africa. Investigation showed that some propellants become unstable at high temperatures, if for example left out in the African sun.

Cordite, although not an ideal propellant hot and erosive, is very stable at all temperatures. Hence its longevity with the British WD.

FOR CORDITE ONLY marked on the rifle was simply BSA covering their butt.