Steampunk MLE

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   I may get tossed out for this.I'm an old Toolmaker and enjoy tinkering with rifles.
All our (Wife included) rifles must be practical, huntable and reliably accurate.
Our menagerie is all behaving themselves, so needed a new project.
I recently found an 1896 MLE, for $90, equal to one and a half packets of cigarettes.
It had been sported, probably before I was born (Remember I'm old'sh).
Mechanism and bore are better than I could have hoped at 9 out of 10 and everything else is acceptable.
My eyes are useless for open sights, everything we own have scopes.
Chopped the barrel down from 24" to 21", I hunt in thick bush, long rifles are a pain.
Removed the rear sight, mounted a Weaver scout barrel rail that I had laying around.
Stole the long eye relief scout scope from the brides pre WW2 22BAR. (Still keeping a low profile about that).
Still working on the rifling, 129 years of neglect takes time to clean.
Apart from that, getting two-inch groups at 100m, won't attempt beyond 200m.
Scout scope takes time to get used to, years of it being on the wifes 22 has familiarised me.
Already dispatched a Red Deer at 50m.
I like this rifle.

Such fun......

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Drax Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: October 26 2025 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote Drax Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Steampunk MLE Posted: October 27 2025 at 12:02pm
	I may get tossed out for this. I'm an old Toolmaker and enjoy tinkering with rifles. All our (Wife included) rifles must be practical, huntable and reliably accurate. Our menagerie is all behaving themselves, so needed a new project. I recently found an 1896 MLE, for $90, equal to one and a half packets of cigarettes. It had been sported, probably before I was born (Remember I'm old'sh). Mechanism and bore are better than I could have hoped at 9 out of 10 and everything else is acceptable. My eyes are useless for open sights, everything we own have scopes. Chopped the barrel down from 24" to 21", I hunt in thick bush, long rifles are a pain. Removed the rear sight, mounted a Weaver scout barrel rail that I had laying around. Stole the long eye relief scout scope from the brides pre WW2 22BAR. (Still keeping a low profile about that). Still working on the rifling, 129 years of neglect takes time to clean. Apart from that, getting two-inch groups at 100m, won't attempt beyond 200m. Scout scope takes time to get used to, years of it being on the wifes 22 has familiarised me. Already dispatched a Red Deer at 50m. I like this rifle. Such fun......
	Jobs not done until you've bled on it.

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: October 27 2025 at 12:49pm
	Far from it. I love the steampunk theme but the scope body should be brass (or gold Paint). For dramatic effect you need the splendidly steampunk BSA/A.G. Parker No9W folding target sight & the mount though!
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

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(1) Quote Reply Posted: October 27 2025 at 1:31pm
	Looks like a work of art to me.

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(1) Quote Reply Posted: October 27 2025 at 2:30pm
	Beauty! Nice job!
	Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually

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: Online Points: 16999	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: October 27 2025 at 5:16pm
	nice looking setup ,

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 27 2025 at 10:37pm
	It's great to see these older rifles still putting meat on the table! I'm still waiting to test the 1907 Mk1* that I picked up in summer. Our club currently has the large calibre range closed. Which is also holding up the No4 Mk1 accuracy project, that I got at the same time. I want to shoot it prior to stripping it down, just in case it's better than standard as is!
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

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: Online Points: 16999	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 27 2025 at 11:13pm
	i cant disagree with you here - they are still capable and comfortable for the purpose , some have lots of life left in them , after all most of them could outlive all of us and our grandchildren too if taken care of , i know my MLM trainer will be with my 10 yr old granddaughter long after im gone and its near a 150 years old at this point BTW - its one of my best shooting rifles if one can see the sights [i cant anymore] but this one shoots well

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 28 2025 at 3:56am
	Amen to that A Square, I will probably enter my 1918 .22 with the AG Parker dioptre in a club Bench rest competition. It's for .22 rifles with a maximum of x24 scope. Last time I was 25th out of 26! But it was our club president that came 26th, so I was happy with that! Hopefully I will improve, but it's just too much fun shooting with iron sights and a century old rifle, when everyone else has the latest equipment.
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 28 2025 at 8:01am
	Absolutely! The "Gehmann" eyepiece on my Central attached to the 42 Lithy has the advantage of an optical correction as well as an adjustable aperture. They're surprisingly inexpensive if you check them all out & there's an option for either a Parker-Hale thread adapter, or a Parker-Hale threaded version too. I made me able to use irons with my advanced optical deterioration! https://gehmann.com/en/Sighting-Equipment/Rearsight-Irises/
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 28 2025 at 11:45am
	Shamu, I have a Gehmann on the L39A1, it is very good.
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: October 28 2025 at 4:02pm
	Oh yes! Well worth the coin.
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

Drax Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: October 26 2025 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote Drax Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 29 2025 at 8:41am
	Thank you Zed. Pity to hear that range access is snarled up. I can appreciate your frustration.
	Jobs not done until you've bled on it.

Drax Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: October 26 2025 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote Drax Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 29 2025 at 8:58am
	Thank you, A square 10. The "303" is so deeply intrenched in our culture. As a kid "303" was all I ever heard about. So, I'm beyond pleased at every level with this rifle. Man, and it's got "VR" stamped on it. Had trouble with the scope, had to fix that, then needed resighting. Took it to the range yesterday, holes at 100m are on top of each other !!!! That's not my skill level, this rifle is possessed and it is talking !
	Jobs not done until you've bled on it.