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Winning Bid US $1287 First bid $600 Quantity 1 # of bids 15 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-10-29 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

RARE!!, RSAF Enfield, Lee Enfield Carbine Mk.1 Converted to R.I.C. Carbine, Cal: .303 British, MFG: 1898 (converted March 1904), S/N: 5761, Bolt action rifle, 20 3/4'' barrel.

HISTORY: The standard Lee-Enfield for the infantry would be adopted in 1895, the following year a calvary carbine version would be designed & adopted featuring a shorter barrel & a smaller 6-shot magazine to make the rifle handier. In January of 1904, Britan adopted the SMLE Mk.1 which was their first short rifle having its barrel in between the standard rifle & carbine length's. This model would replace both rifles & carbines in service with one standard model for the whole military. Because of the new model adoption many of Britain's older arms would be refurbished & sold to allies, with some being converted to new models before being sold like this rifle. the R.I.C. (Royal Irish Constabulary) was the police force for all of Ireland from 1822 until 1922 when the Irish free state was formed. They would be renamed the Royal Ulster Constabulary & continued as the police force for Northern Ireland until 1998. In march of 1904 the RIC would order 10,00 carbines of their own pattern, converted from L.E.C. Mk.1 & Mk.1*, they had the front sight protector removed, the leather rear sight protector removed with the screw holes in the stock filled, cleaning rod was removed & the stock channel filled (this was done in the 1899 ''*'' update to all the service rifles), the nose cap being replaced with one that has a bayonet lug & sling swivel, the forend was shortened & reconfigured leading to wood inlets & patches, middle barrel band was removed & the retention spring slot in the stock was patched, a steel sleeve was added to the muzzle to mount the 1888 pattern bayonet, & the unit discs in the stock were marked ''R.I.C.''. In 1905, 500 more were ordered, 450 more in 1907, & finally 250 more in 1913. This rifle's unit disc is marked with the issue number ''1486'', indicating this was part of the first shipment of 2,000 rifles sent over from the 10,000 rifle, 1904 contract.

CONDITION: The semi-pistol grip, two-piece wood stock is very good with various nicks, dings, dents, & scratches from use that have been smoothed over from light sanded when it was converted, & newer dings from handling. The bottom of the forend has the wood inlay seen on R.I.C. carbines. The right cheek of the stock has brass unit disc marked ''3.04'', ''R.I.C.'' over ''1486''. Just to the right of the unit disc is the thinned remains of the original MFG stamping that reads ''R'' Crown ''M'' ''ENFIELD'' in a roundel, over ''I.'', over ''1''. The bottom of the wrist has three crown proof marks & a ''A1'' stamp. Bottom of the forend, just in front of the magazine has another thinned proof. The metal carries a arsenal refinish with thinned markings & some spots light roughness under the finish. The blued finish rates 95% on the receiver with light scuffs & wear marks. The finish on the barrel rates 90% with the chamber & end of the barrel starting to tone brown. The dust cover retains about 35% blue with spots worn gray & toning brown. The Right side of the wrist band marked with a crown over ''V.R'', over ''ENFIELD'', over ''1898'', over ''L.E.C.'', over ''I.''. The left side of the receiver band is marked with the ''sold out of service'' double broad arrow stamp, British military & commercial proofs. Right side of the receiver is marked with the S/N. The right side of the chamber is marked with the S/N & one small proof. The Left side of the chamber is marked with thinned British military proofs, fresh British military proofs, fresh British commercial proofs, & the ''sold out of service'' double broad arrow stamp. The top of the chamber marked ''E''. The top of the barrel, just behind the rear sight is marked ''S''. The sling swivels, buttplate, trigger guard, bolt handle knob, dust cover, & other smaller metal parts are marked with British proofs. S/N matching bolt. The bore is very good. Its bright with strong rifling & light roughness throughout. The barrel holds a barleycorn front sight with, as well as a ramped base/ ladder V-notch rear sight marked 200 to 500 on the left of base, & 6 to 20 on the ladder. The stock carries a brass trapdoor buttplate, nothing inside trapdoor. Stock has both bottom sling loops. Rifle comes with the correct Pattern 1888 bayonet & sheath. Bayonet S/N ''669'' dated ''8.91'' & ''X''. Mechanical function appears solid. A nice example of a rare R.I.C. Carbine. Antique, No FFL Req - Value: 1200 to 2400

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Price

RARE!!, RSAF Enfield, Lee Enfield Carbine Mk.1 Converted to R.I.... Item # 4483 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $1287

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