Help to identify long held family rifle.

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   he!!o. 

I just received an old family rifle that I am trying to identify. The markings are as follows:

Lee Enfield LE 1 1896 VR BSA & MC

S/N 1065

It is currently in its original, unrestored condition etc, with what appears to be a rather long factory barrel.  

Any help as to its date of manufacture, and it’s exact model etc etc would be highly appreciated. Google seems to have many conflicting “facts”.  

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Cudas8me Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: July 25 2023 Location: Vancouver Can Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cudas8me Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Help to identify long held family rifle. Posted: July 25 2023 at 9:03pm
	he!!o. I just received an old family rifle that I am trying to identify. The markings are as follows: Lee Enfield LE 1 1896 VR BSA & MC S/N 1065 It is currently in its original, unrestored condition etc, with what appears to be a rather long factory barrel. Any help as to its date of manufacture, and it’s exact model etc etc would be highly appreciated. Google seems to have many conflicting “facts”.

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 16998	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 26 2023 at 8:39pm
	this would be an MLE - magazine lee enfield mkI , also called the "long lee" and predecessor the the SMLE mkI , mkIII rifles , if , as you say unmolested original condition , a very desirable element of any respectable ENFIELD COLLECTION , congrats , would love to see some photos , there are anly a few of us here that collect/collected these colder rifles , one is terry lee - he has an extensive collection and if around can offer more info , my example was also an 1896

terrylee Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: December 30 2014 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 942	Post Options Post Reply Quote terrylee Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 26 2023 at 11:30pm
	This is how a LE Mk I should look. However, this example still has its clearing rod which is unusual.

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 16998	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 27 2023 at 7:41pm
	thanks terry , i knew you had a better photo than mine , BTW mine did not have its clearing rod as he points out

Canuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Cochrane, AB Status: Offline Points: 4021	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 28 2023 at 5:57am
	Cudas8me, welcome to the site from Agassiz, BC.
	Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually

paddyofurniture Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: December 26 2011 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 7942	Post Options Post Reply Quote paddyofurniture Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 28 2023 at 8:50am
	Welcome from North Carolina in the States.
	Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.

Sapper740 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: July 15 2021 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1737	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sapper740 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 29 2023 at 3:53am
	Welcome aboard from a former Vancouverite now living in the Great Independent Republic of Texas. Your Magazine, Lee Enfield MkI was made during the reign of Queen Victoria, hence the VR. MLE MkI's were converted to MkI* status by, among other things, removing the hole in the nose cap to store the clearing rod. Your nose cap, depending upon when it was manufactured could have the Rigby patent stamp on it from his design which allowed removal of the nose cap without removing the blade of the fore sight. As A Square 10 pointed out, any respectable Lee Enfield collector should have at least one "Long Lee" in their collection. I regularly shoot both my M.L.E. and my CLLE (Charger Loading Lee Enfield) which differs from the MLE in having the ability to use stripper clips (chargers) to reload the rifle quickly. The Brits soon realized during the Boer War that not being able to charger load their rifles was a huge disadvantage. If you choose to shoot your rifle, remember that it is most likely chambered for the Cartridge, Cordite MkII .303 British round that used the long 215 gr. bullet and shooting modern or even surplus MkVII ammunition may give you less than satisfactory accuracy. Enjoy your rifle and it's place in the history and development of the Lee Enfield family of rifles!

Honkytonk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: December 30 2017 Location: Brandon Mb Status: Offline Points: 5190	Post Options Post Reply Quote Honkytonk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 29 2023 at 4:53am
	Welcome from Brandon, Manitoba, Canada!