Item Description
Original Item: One-of-a-kind. We just received this very rare example from the estate of a longtime customer. Serial No. 1. YES, this is perhaps the first Rifle, Magazine, P-1895 Long Lee-Enfield ever made (excluding experimental or pattern guns). It was later converted to British Charger-Loading Lee-Enfield Mk I* Action Skeleton. This piece is Serial Number 1 as marked on both the receiver, the barrel and the bolt!
Manufactured in 1895, this Skeletonized action is legally classified as a "Pre-1899 antique firearm" by the BATF. Please see Ian Skennerton's wonderful book THE LEE ENFIELD, Pages 527 to 529 for full information about these extremely rare training devices.
Beautifully executed by Victorian Craftsmen this is a mega rare example that has all the correct features of the earliest long Lee Enfield P-1895 magazine Rifle production. These include a brass butt plate with a bronze trap door and the cutaway of the earliest ten shot magazine. The barrel has been shortened, drilled through the chamber top to bottom, and welded to the receiver making it unable to chamber a cartridge, as these were intended as training devices only. This is an amazingly rare item to appear on the open collector's market.
The skeletonized action is fitted with a .303 caliber magazine that has had the left side of the magazine casing milled out to show the inner workings. The barrel has been shortened and the front stock officially discarded. The butt wood has been cut back and part of the butt socket cut away to allow a view of the works of the system. The weapon still retains the long-range rear sight to the left side and the correct brass butt plate with steel trap door.
Offered in excellent collector's condition this is clearly in the "Hen's Teeth" category of antique weapons. We have only ever had two of these exceedingly rare items.
History of the British Charger-Loading Lee-Enfield Mk I* Action Skeleton
Originally developed for armorers to test parts on, the various models of Lee skeleton actions were soon adapted to training troops. They have always been the rarest of the Lee family of models, from the Lee-Metford on. IMA has one left. It was originally made as a Rifle, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk I*, then converted to the C.L.L.E. configuration before being skeletonized. The skeletonizing, or as some call it, the sectioning, is beautifully done with the highest standards of metalworking.
It has the original L.E. Mk I* bolt with the bolt-head safety, and a magazine cutoff. Viewing windows have been cut to make all of the internals visible, including the bolt. It has more inspection stamps than we've ever seen before, including proofs under Victoria and Edward.
This piece is Serial Number 1, marked on both the receiver, the barrel and the bolt! This is a rare opportunity to own a truly once-in-a-lifetime Enfield. The whole in extremely fine display condition, and extremely hard to find, classified as a pre-1899 Antique. Probably the last one that we will ever have!
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: 1895
Caliber: .303 British
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 8.75 Inches
Overall Length: 28 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: magazine
- This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
This product is not available for international shipping.
IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States.
These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.
Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
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