Long Lee .303 markings and identification

[Mystyler]

Hello all,
Any Enfield experts out there that care to share their wisdom? I'm trying to figure out the barrel markings on this MLE (Mk1*) from 1896 manufactured in Sparkbrook.

All I can ascertain is that the WD indicate War Department acceptance, and that the rifle may have been issued in March 1907, then perhaps overhauled and reissued in July 1916? The crossed Lances and VR is the Royal Cypher from Queen Victoria and the P underneath would suggest it was issued to land forces, but I don't know that the leading 2 is before the P? Likewise, the PL and sideways N markings. I also assume the E is for Enfield rifling.

Zero idea what anything else is, including "3291." From what I understand, the rifle fought the Germans in Namibia, before ending up in private hands in the 1920s, coming to Oz with its owner in the 1980s.

If you can decipher anything else, I would be very appreciative. Thank you!

[No1Mk3]

Your 1st photo shows 2 Birmingham Inspection marks Crown/B/Inspectors #, and the original serial number correctly stamped vertically for early Sparkbrook MLM & MLE Mk1 rifles. Your 2nd pic shows on the top of the Nocks Form (correct spelling of inventor Henry Nocks) the letter E which is as you correctly surmise, to indicate Enfield rifling, The Crown/VR/Crossed Flags/2P is not an issue mark but rather it is the Sparkbrook 2nd Proof Mark, 2P is applied to the mark when the barrel and action are proofed after assembly, with Crown/B/21 Birmingham Inspections. Arrow/WD is as you stated War Dept acceptance stamp. !st re-work stamp PL/N/1 3/07, 2nd re-work 7/16 P1 for July 1916.

[Mystyler]

No1Mk3, with a name like that that's probably the best reply I could have hoped for!

Thank you very much for that - regarding the PL/N/1 and P1 rework markings, it's there anything further to read into them? E.g. was PL a factory or inspector?

I'm guessing after being reworked twice, the rifle has been "upgraded" to a later spec, or are the rework markings just an indication of maintenance?

It hasn't been fired for a while and I'm aware of the number of Marks of smokeless .303 ammunition. I'm not certain if commercially available ammunition is "wise" to use in it only because I'm not fluent in .303 ammunition dates. I would have thought that by the middle of WWI Mark VII ammo would have been in circulation and that's what commercial ammo these days is based on? Surely they're not loaded too hot to take into account such things, but advice would be great. It does have a valid Safety Certificate from this year!

[Mystyler]

Here's the markings on stock metalwork.

[No1Mk3]

I should have defined the re-work markings as "re-work/re-issue" stamps as they could be either. Without plowing into copies of List of Changes and Instructions to Armourers as appended to monthly Bulletins decoding the marks would be difficult for me. Sadly no one yet has published a definitive work on these types of stamps with Skennertons book The Broad Arrow focussed mostly on original production, proof, inspection, ownership and issue markings. To get an exact answer to your markings would take some work, but could be done but continuing to ask on forums like this may find someone who has already discovered these particular marks and is your best hope. Just as an example ONLY of how these marks can be interpreted, PL/N/1 3/07 could possibly be read as an Inspection and Re-Issue stamp PL = Pimlico Inspection Office, N = Naval re-issue, 1 = Acceptance as 1st Class Arm with Inspection carried out March 1907. The copies of Instructions to Armorers I have are all post 1920 and are not comprehensive but I will have a read and see if anything turns up, Cheers.

[No1Mk3]

With regard to ammo, all commercially loaded 303 ammo is loaded to be within the 18.5 tons per square inch maximum working pressure of Lee Metford/Enfield rifles. It is safe to use in your rifle but check headspace is not too stretched or you may suffer early case seperation issues. I have an 1894 dated Lee Metford with most of the rifling burnt out by Cordite loaded ammo, it has about 13" of rifling halfway along the barrell, but I sometimes fire Mk 7 ammo in it, sometimes hits the 75 yard target (mostly sideways) but at least it speaks. I have reloaded cast lead projectiles sized to 0.318 which shoot a bit better. I won't re-barrel it due to the original stamps on it and it is still matching numbers, and I have a few LE 1's to play with as well, one of which has an Australian fitted Motty barrel and Central Target sights.

[Mystyler]

No1Mk3, my apologies for the late reply.

Many thanks again for your help. I suspect this one is going to shoot the same, as it to was fed cordite for a very long time, but at least she's still functional and for the intended use I doubt I'll be using it at distances more than 50-75m.

Now to continue playing the waiting game while licencing does what it does...