April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
This is a beautiful example of a scarce early British Pattern 1913 trials rifle in the .276 Enfield caliber. This rifle was manufactured in 1913 with serial number 1176. These rifles were tested after the British decided that the German Mauser rifles employed against them during the Boer War outclassed their current rifles. They were tested in England, Ireland, Egypt, and South Africa. Praise was heaped on the accuracy of the rifle and the aperture sighting system, but the high velocity round and strangely cut finger grooves detracted from the rifle, with parts breakage being quite common. Before the problems could be worked out, the outbreak of World War I forced the British to adopt the Pattern 14 as it was easier to mass produce. Rifle also features one-part wooden pistol grip style stock with finger grooves, two-piece forearm and handguard, aperture sighting system, stamped trigger guard, sighting disk on left side, and blank butt disk. Import stamped on the underside of the barrel. Left side of frame has the Georgius Rex proof, “Crown/A2/E” and “Crown/75/E” proof marks. Bottom of grip on stock also stamped with “Crown/A2/E”. Left side of stock has the original Volley sight and also has the rear peep Volley sight. Heel of stock stamped with an “L” near buttplate. Has sling rings at butt and barrel bands. All visible serial numbers match. CONDITION: This rifle is in very fine condition, retaining virtually all of its arsenal blue finish with losses at high edges and some scattered handling marks. Bolt has some patina at top. Extractor, originally blue, is now largely a mix of soft brown patina. Wood is excellent with no losses, but scattered nicks and bruises from use. Fine action, and a bore with well defined lands and grooves, albeit a little frosted. A rare Enfield Pattern 13 rifle in exceptional condition. According to the serial number, this would be a 1913 manufacture and is not marked for commercial sale. A little over 1,000 manufactured prior to World War I, and the fact they were shipped to South Africa and Egypt makes their survival rate minimal and very few have made it over to America. This one was recently discovered in Europe and exported to the States. In all our research we could only find one example sold in the US in the last ten years. A ridiculously rare gun especially on this side of the pond that's on just about every Enfield collector's wish list and a better example would be difficult, if not impossible to find.