Description

WW1 Enfield ' Territorial Officers Private purchase' Charger Loader Fitted by Alex Martin of Glasgow Periscopic Prism Co Scope 1915 This is a very rare example of Alex Martin converted Enfield Charger loading Long lee for sniper used in the Great War. Alex Martin firm was a high class Scottish gunmakers based in Glasgow and the firm was founded in 1778 with shops in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Bisley. Alex Martin was one of the UK's top gunmakers, but it was the third generation of Alex Martin that gained a reputation as a rifle maker in the late 19th and early 20th century, especially target rifles based on the British Army Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield military actions. The Charger loading versions were used by the Territorial Army rather than first line troops. In 1904 the Long Lee service rifle's were replaced by the 'New Short Rifle' the Short-Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) in the British Army as its standard service rifle and the Long Lee service rifles were issued to the Territorial Army. This rifle has a good shooting barrel and smooth action, we test shot this rifle and had a 4' grouping at 100 yards which was the average range of a German trench line to a British Trench line. In many cases the trench lines were no more than 30 feet apart. The condition is very good for 1899 and considering it might even been sent to the South African Boar War as well. ​ Unfortunately like a lot of rifles its history has been lost to time Go to Enfieldguns.com for full description