Very Rare Canadian Lee-Metford Mk. I Unaltered Carbine with Leather Carbine Bucket 1895

Serial #5644, .303 British (BP), 21" barrel with an excellent, bright bore. This is one of 500 Lee-Metford carbines ordered by Canada in 1895 (specifically no. 277 and so numbered on the stock) and retains 80-85% of the original blue finish with gray fading at the muzzle, on the nosecap, exposed edges, and on the bearing surfaces of the matching numbered bolt with "EFD" marked bolt head. There are some minor spots of freckling and mild pinprick pitting along a few of the projections, as well as some small impact marks scattered along the metal. Interestingly, these 1895 purchase carbines were not construed to fall under the 1896 regulation stipulating removal of the D-ring on the left side of the wrist, and this example is unaltered with the extremely rare D-ring intact. The walnut stock and handguards are in fine shape with scattered light handling marks under an old added varnish finish. The arsenal cartouche and Canadian M&D markings are still crisp and clear on the right side of the buttstock with a short, with-the-grain crack running from the sling bar cut to the buttplate. The carbine comes complete with cleaning rod, magazine (the chain link is present but loose), and cleaning pull-though in the stock compartment. The carbine is housed in an original brown leather British carbine bucket that has a "(Broad Arrow)/41" stamp at the mouth and a faint, but partially legible Birmingham maker's marking on the strap tab. The leather is in very good condition overall with light scuffs and flaking along the lip of the opening and mild crazing along the body. The strap is heavily flaked but still supple and intact, while the narrow loop on the perpendicular tab has broken. The first 200 of these carbines were forwarded to the N.W.M.P., making this one of only 300 carbines that were issued to Canadian forces. This group is also one of only a handful in existence that escaped alteration when it was decided to remove the original D-ring from the wrist. As such, this is a rare and desirable Lee-Metford variant that also happens to be in very good plus-fine condition. It would make a splendid addition to any collection. {Ref. "Defending the Dominion Canadian Military Rifles 1855-1955" by David W. Edgecombe; 2003} Antique