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1902 Long Lee Enfield MK 1* .303 Calibre Rifle By BSA Co Modified To Charger Loading In 1909 WW1 Royal Navy HMS Lion Marked With Sling & 1897 Sanderson 1888 Pattern Mark I, 2nd Type Bayonet Regiment Marked To The 5th Cameronians Scottish Rifles & Scabbard - D 1520 HMS Lion was a Battlecruiser of the Royal Navy, the lead ship of her class, which were nicknamed the 'Splendid Cats'. They were significantly improved compared to their predecessors of the Indefatigable class in terms of speed, armament and armour. Lion served as the Flagship of the Grand Fleet's Battlecruisers throughout WW1. She sank the German light cruiser Cöln during the Battle of Heligoland Bight and served as Vice Admiral Beatty's flagship at the Battles of Dogger Bank and Jutland. She was so badly damaged at the first of these battles that she had to be towed back to port by the Battlecruiser Indomitable. The magazine Lee Enfield Rifle MK 1 was the first in a long series of Lee Enfield rifles. The MK 1 was approved on 11th November 1895. Clearing rods were abolished in British service in 1899 and were made or converted to have nose caps with no accommodation for clearing rod and redesignated the MK1* (see pages 386 and 387 of The Lee Enfield Story’ by Skennerton). This .303 calibre Long Lee MK 1* service rifle is crisply stamped on the shoulder stock 'HMS LION' together with War Dept Marked roundel. The right side of the steel strap is stamped 'Crown ER' (Edward Rex), 'BSA Co L.E. 1*' & dated '1902'. The wood work is all original and has just the scuffs and bruises to be expected with service wear. The stock is inlaid with void brass roundel. The metal work retains its original finish and the weapon has magazine cut off, charger loading bridge, adjustable rear sight, winged foresight and long range volley sights. The weapon was officially converted to charger loading by BSA in 1909 & is correctly stamped on the left side of the strap 'BSA Co, 1909, CLLE 1*' The top of the breech is crisply marked with the BSA stacked rifles logo & inspection marks. The rifle is serial number B65497 and has other un-matching numbers. It is fitted with bayonet lug, sling swivels fitted with leather sling and brass butt plate with trap. The rifle cocks and dry fires crisply and the magazine can be removed. The rifle comes with an original British Sanderson 1888 Pattern Mark I, 2nd Type, Lee Metford Bayonet And Scabbard. The bayonet’s 12” double edged blade with medial ridge running from the ricasso to the blade tip has just light staining consistent with age. The ricasso of the blade is marked Sanderson Sheffield 10 ‘97 (October 1897’) and has other WD inspection stamps. The wood grips are undamaged secured by two brass rivets and there is an inspection stamp on each one. There is the correct oil clearance hole behind the top rivet. The steel pommel is Regiment marked ‘5 SR’ above weapon number 45 to the 5th Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). The price for this Royal Navy issued Long Lee set worthy of further research includes UK delivery and deactivation certificate. D 1520
£1,895.00
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