1896 L.S.A. Co. Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk I – Rare Early Enfield Variant (Sporterized)

This is an exceptionally rare Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk I, manufactured in 1896 by London Small Arms Company Ltd. (L.S.A. Co.). It holds a special place in British military history as the first service rifle officially adopted by the British Army specifically designed for smokeless powder (.303 British), and it served as the direct predecessor to the iconic SMLE No.1 Mk I.

The receiver bears the royal “VR” (Victoria Regina) cypher and is clearly marked “L.E I”, denoting its early designation within the Lee-Enfield lineage. Rifles of this type saw limited combat use during the Second Boer War, and surviving examples with legible markings are extremely scarce today.

While this example has been sporterized and no longer retains its original magazine, the receiver and core structure remain intact. It offers significant value for collectors, historians, or as a foundation for a faithful restoration project.

Original-production MLE Mk I rifles from the 1890s are very rarely encountered on the open market, making this a highly desirable piece for advanced Enfield collectors and enthusiasts of British small arms history.