50p Carboot purchase - 29th August 2010
Another nice little find. It had some strange little tools in it, (I think they may have been watchmakers tools), but the mark on the base ID’d it for me. As usually I went through the normal bartering process and got this for 50pence (about 80 cents American), took it home and cleaned it up. I also found a nice little guide to help ID these particular items.
A nicely stamped (although not dated ) Lee-Enfield oiler. The base stamp shows it was actually made at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, (RSAF Enfield). A nice WD arrow on it to so probably WW1 or early WW2.
These come in 5 ‘marks’
Mark I and II - Brass. Top has a small ‘knob’ on it and the base is rounded. Manufactured between 1889 and 1898
Mark III - Brass. The top is now plain (no knob) but base is still curved. Manufactured between 1899 and 1906
Mark IV - Brass. The top is plain and the base flat (someone finally figured out this would allow you to stand the oiler up on a flat surface !!!). Manufactured from 1906 up to early 1950’s.
Mark V - Bakelite, plastic or steel, to conserve brass resources for more essential items. Bakelite was early 1940’s, clear or amber plastic much later post war.
A nice little find and a steal at 50p 
Cheers
Steve T
