British Lee Enfield Mk I* Sporter .303 British Bolt Action Rifle 1902 BSA
SOLD FOR: $1,282.77
WOA#: WY231025DS001
Make: Birmingham Small Arms Co. (B.S.A. Co.)
Model: Sporterized Lee-Enfield Mk I*
Serial Number: B39982
Year of Manufacture: 1902 (Sporterized at a much later date)
Caliber: .303 British
Action Type: Bolt action, detachable 10 round magazine.
Markings: The left sides of the receiver and barrel shank are marked with various proof and acceptance marks. The top of the receiver is marked “W.A”. The right side of the receiver is marked “2518”, “B39982”. The rear right side is marked with an import mark. The right side of the bolt head is marked “M”. The top of the bolt is marked “N”. The cocking piece is marked with various acceptance and proof marks, also a broad head arrow stamp. The right side of the stock collar is marked with a crown stamp, “E.R”, “B.S.ACo.”, “1902”, “L.E”, “I*”. The top of the magazine follower is marked “TD 76 B”. The left side of the rear aperture sight is marked with two “BSA” logos and “P.PAT. 22619-09”. As is common for British rifles, there are numerous small acceptance and proof marks scattered throughout.
Barrel Length: 24.5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade on a sleeved ramped base with a hood that has a knurled front edge. The middle rear sight is a mid-barrel mounted u-notch blade dovetailed into a base. The rear sight is a vintage side mounted BSA-Parker No.9G adjustable aperture target rear sight set on a Parker No.SP.3 mounting plate.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece wood stock has a checkered semi-pistol grip, checkered forend, left side cheek rest, and a metal buttplate. There are light compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. The checkering on the bottom front corner on the left side of the grip and the bottom rear corner on the right side have compression marks to them. There is a wood insert in the right side of the stock where the magazine cut-off lever used to be. The top of the rear sight rubs against the stock when it is in the down position, leaving some small wear marks. The LOP measures 14” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Excellent overall condition as refinished.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: 1x 10 round detachable magazine in Very Good Condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish as refinished. There are light scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. There are a few deeper scratches and some wear to the finish at the bottom of the left side of the stock collar. There is some operational wear on the bolt body. The screw heads show light to moderate use. The markings are mostly clear, though the refinish has muddied some of them. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle comes with a 10 round detachable magazine.
Our Assessment: The Lee-Enfield Mk I* was the second iteration of the first rifle in the famous Lee-Enfield family of rifles. Also known as the ‘Magazine Lee-Enfield’ and a part of the colloquially termed ‘Long Lee’ section of the family (named so as to distinguish them from their shorter descendents), the Lee-Enfield Mk I and Mk I* were an improvement on the earlier Lee-Metford rifles. The main change being rifling that had a longer lifespan designed at the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield, hence the name change. The Lee-Enfield Mk I and Mk I* would serve as the primary service rifle for the British Empire from 1895 until being replaced by the first variation of the venerable SMLE rifle in 1904.
This is an example of a sporterized Lee-Enfield Mk I* (the * variant deleted the cleaning rod). Originally made in 1902 by BSA, this rifle has been placed in a completely different sporter stock and has had its barrel cut-down about 5”. A vintage BSA-Parker No.9G adjustable aperture target rear sight has been added to the side, which was a target sight specifically designed for ‘Long Lee’ rifles that had found their way onto the civilian market. The metal has been refinished, which has resulted in some of the markings becoming muddied and some having been completely removed. The stock collar markings are crisp though. This has a nice bore on it and combined with the target sight, should make for a fantastic shooter. This would make a good addition to an Enfield or sporter collection. Please see our photos.
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