Charger loading Lee-Enfields - foresight differences?

[MrEd]

Hello all,

 

query if I may - I have seen recently a charger loading Lee Enfield, in good order but there are a couple of things about it I wasn’t sure that I haven’t been able to answer with google or reference books.

1. Foresight - it appears to be missing it’s foresight blade and doesn’t have the foresight protector. The seller says there is no screw hole for the foresight protector so it wasn’t fitted with one but that yes the blade is missing.

2. The dial sight is a III which I thought was only for the SMLE with MkVII rounds and that the CLLE item was marked ‘CL’ accordingly - were CLLE ever fitted with a III dial sight? Or is this a later add on (I suspect so)

The only reference I can find in skennertons book is on page 79 where it states that there wasn’t a foresight protector on the barrels with body, M.L.E.C.L.R Mark 1*, no2

Is a 1901 LE mk1* the above referenced MLECLR rifle? Or something else? The rifle in question was updated to CLLE mk1* in 1909

here are the wrist markings

 

I am a bit confused and wonder should this rifle have or not have a foresight protector and is the III dial sight incorrect also? All the photos I can found or have been directed to show a foresight protector. 

It is a deac so not actually going to be shot, fyi.

 

was wondering if @5thBattmight have some knowledge?

thank you

ed

Edited 1 October , 2022 by MrEd

[5thBatt]

Would love to be able to help but i have very limited knowledge on CLLEs having never owned one so have never really researched them

What I can tell you is the III marked dial plate is for the MkIII SMLE sighted for MkVI (not MkVII) ammo so would say its incorrect for a CLLE, doubly so if it's been sighted for MkVII ammo

Edited 1 October , 2022 by 5thBatt

[4thGordons]

Ed,

As promised some pics of the relevant bits of mine:

 

 

Also - the LoC for the CLLE which spends a lot of time (relatively speaking) on the sights, and foresight protector.

[MrEd]

Thank you both @5thBatt and @4thGordons and thank you for the photos, one question does the front foresight fix in the same way as an SMLE foresight blade - I.e dovetail?

i think on balance, for a wall hanger, a dial sight that incorrect is probably better than not having one at all. Which is what I suspect someone has done in the past as an SMLE one would undoubtedly be easier to find! 

thanks both

ed