British Lee-Enfield Mk I R.I.C. Carbine – .303 British (58986)

Serial No. 8281, manufactured 1898, .303 British, 20½" round barrel. A scarce Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) carbine, one of roughly 10,000 produced, this example remains in solid, service-used condition. Bolt is non-matching, though factory markings on the receiver and barrel remain sharp and clear. Bluing shows thinning and high-edge wear consistent with late-Victorian and early-20th-century police service. Stock is good, exhibiting expected handling and duty wear. An arsenal repair is present on the right side just forward of the magazine cutoff. The stock disk is clearly marked “5’04 / R.I.C. / 1928,” and a faint 1902 dated cartouche with Broad Arrows remains visible alongside it, indicating continued service and inspections through the early 20th century. Action is smooth and functions correctly. A highly collectible and increasingly hard-to-find Lee-Enfield Mk I R.I.C. Carbine with excellent historical markings and character.