

Lee Enfield

New Zealand Pattern Carbine

Calibre .303

Serial No 37

£ POA

Commission Sale



Ultra Rare Serial No37 Possible Trials Model Issued to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles (Rough Riders) During the Boer War

One of the surviving 1500 carbines manufactured that went to South Africa

The New Zealand Mounted Rifles were mounted infantry who rode to engagements, then dismounted and fought as infantry which required a bayonet.

Hence the requirement for the New Zealand Pattern Carbine to be fitted with a bayonet boss to accept the 1888 knife bayonet.

From early 1901 these carbines were issued to some 6th and 7th Contingents. In February 1902 the 7th NZMR Contingent was engaged in severe action and in one battle suffered 65 casualties.

When the first contingents of NZ Mounted Rifles arrived in South Africa in November 1899 they carried single shot .303 Martini-Enfield Carbines.

These soon proved to be inadequate against the fire power of the Boers armed with clip loading Mausers.

So in April 1900, while camped at Springfield, Bloemfontein the NZ troops were issued with Lee Enfield and Lee Metford Cavalry Carbines obtained from the British. These solved the fire power problem but they did not have bayonet bosses. Tactically our ‘Rough Riders’ were not deployed as cavalry who fought on horseback but as mounted infantry. It was expected that they would engage the enemy on the ground where a bayonet would come in handy, Hence the urgent orders for 1500 NZ carbine that would accept a bayonet

We now have this rifle, the butt making disc is missing, so a replacement has been fitted.

This Rifle was in Africa During the Boer War with the NZ Mounted Troops & Almost Certainly Used on Active Service