Who else enjoys Lee-Enfields?

Laufer · 07-27-2009, 08:28 AM

Bought my first (good #5) in May from "Joesalter", and Saturday a 'mixmaster' #4 with a really shiny, bright bore at the Batesville, MS gun show.
Very satisfied with both and even the #4 was probably built in England but it is not inscribed anywhere, and some numbers only partly legible after the FTR process in '48 or '49.

Were British parts often mixed after the war with those from the Commonwealth, or even with some Savage #4 parts?

**c3shooter** · 07-27-2009, 10:17 AM

have a SMLE from 1915, and a Mk 4 from 1944. Enjoy shooting both- scored a few thousand rounds of the Greek .303 just before it started drying up.

Some good basic info over at surplusrifle.com. The numbers etched over- you may be seeing what is called a "forced match". When a gun has been thru an arsenal rebuild, parts get shuffled. Some parts (bolt in particular) should stay in the right gun (headspace) so bolt may get an "electric pencil" revision to serial number- and guns imported into the US now must be stamped with name/ address of importer, a UNIQUE serial number (not all military serial numbers were unique- some repeated)

Picked up a sword bayonet for my SMLE from Southern Ohio Gun- pretty fair shape, $29. Don't know if they still have them.

Hawg · 07-27-2009, 12:29 PM

I had a #1 MKIII BSA, 1916 with a slash through the original numbers and new ones added. Funny thing is the old numbers matched too. I had the gun for over 20 years and never even shot a full box through it. Sold it last year with a sheathed Wilkinson bayo for 175.00.

Laufer · 07-27-2009, 10:31 PM

Thanks for your interesting comments.
These LEs have become much more interesting than my Mosin Nagant 44, though it is really fun to shoot and cheap ammo is available, but the LE is my only combat rifle of 'the west'.

And the LEs have a much more widespread history around the vast British Empire/Commonwealth. Too bad about so little surplus ammo available at decent prices.

supergus · 07-27-2009, 11:19 PM

Yup, I love 'em! Picked this one up at a gun show for $260 with case AND matching #'s

Last Crow · 07-29-2009, 06:28 PM

My only Enfield is a 2A1 made by the Rifle Factory Ishapore in 1965. It is chambered for the 7.62 X 51 NATO and has a 12 round box magazine. I bought the rifle in 1997 from a local gun store for $99.97.
I’ve only fired the rifle once. I felt sorry for the Indians who had to use this rifle. It has a good kick and weighs over 10 lbs unloaded.

Laufer · 07-30-2009, 01:16 AM

supergus: The wood and metal condition are excellent. You might be in luck in NH, if "joesalter" allows people to see his collection in person, and what a selection on his website. Many of the items are shipped from his Canadian business to the NH location.

Finally noticed the numbers on my bolt which match the left butt socket (receiver) numbers. My hand guard pieces are dark and the mag numbers do not match, but what a rifle...

Aren't we fortunate that more people have not discovered what one small town MS store owner called "antiques"!
Let's be grateful that so many are chasing plastic ARs and the elusive Mosin Nagant 44s.

supergus: Who built your foxy babe?

supergus · 08-01-2009, 12:39 AM

Foxy Babe??? you mean the gun or the car?

karlsgunbunker · 08-01-2009, 04:18 AM

I have 4 and I'm working on getting no 5.
2 - Savage enfields
1 - Longbranch
1 - Fazerkly

I'm working a trade for a No5 Jungle carbine.

these things are almost as addictive as my Mosins.

Laufer · 08-01-2009, 08:02 AM

supergus:
Your car also looks like a nice classic babe-probably built when I was in the last year of high school ('73).

Karls:
Until last April, MNs seemed like the best milsurp rifles, but it must be the cheap surplus ammo prices which keep them in the limelight.

07-27-2009, 10:17 AM	#2
c3shooter Supporting Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,442	have a SMLE from 1915, and a Mk 4 from 1944. Enjoy shooting both- scored a few thousand rounds of the Greek .303 just before it started drying up. Some good basic info over at surplusrifle.com. The numbers etched over- you may be seeing what is called a "forced match". When a gun has been thru an arsenal rebuild, parts get shuffled. Some parts (bolt in particular) should stay in the right gun (headspace) so bolt may get an "electric pencil" revision to serial number- and guns imported into the US now must be stamped with name/ address of importer, a UNIQUE serial number (not all military serial numbers were unique- some repeated) Picked up a sword bayonet for my SMLE from Southern Ohio Gun- pretty fair shape, $29. Don't know if they still have them. __________________ What we have heah is.... failure to communicate.

07-30-2009, 01:16 AM	#7
Laufer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: In the Mid-South. Posts: 216	supergus: The wood and metal condition are excellent. You might be in luck in NH, if "joesalter" allows people to see his collection in person, and what a selection on his website. Many of the items are shipped from his Canadian business to the NH location. Finally noticed the numbers on my bolt which match the left butt socket (receiver) numbers. My hand guard pieces are dark and the mag numbers do not match, but what a rifle... Aren't we fortunate that more people have not discovered what one small town MS store owner called "antiques"! Let's be grateful that so many are chasing plastic ARs and the elusive Mosin Nagant 44s. supergus: Who built your foxy babe? Last edited by Laufer; 07-30-2009 at 11:09 PM.

08-01-2009, 12:39 AM	#8
supergus Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Triad, NC Posts: 544	Foxy Babe??? you mean the gun or the car? __________________ In God We Trust. (Everyone else, hands where I can see 'em) If Obama is the answer, then the question must have been stupid.

08-01-2009, 04:18 AM	#9
karlsgunbunker Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 59	I have 4 and I'm working on getting no 5. 2 - Savage enfields 1 - Longbranch 1 - Fazerkly I'm working a trade for a No5 Jungle carbine. these things are almost as addictive as my Mosins. __________________ KGB 01FFL - $20 Transfers In Indianapolis Area.

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07-27-2009, 08:28 AM	#1
Laufer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: In the Mid-South. Posts: 216	Who else enjoys Lee-Enfields? Bought my first (good #5) in May from "Joesalter", and Saturday a 'mixmaster' #4 with a really shiny, bright bore at the Batesville, MS gun show. Very satisfied with both and even the #4 was probably built in England but it is not inscribed anywhere, and some numbers only partly legible after the FTR process in '48 or '49. Were British parts often mixed after the war with those from the Commonwealth, or even with some Savage #4 parts? Last edited by Laufer; 07-27-2009 at 07:50 PM.

07-27-2009, 12:29 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mississippi, out in the boonies Posts: 376	I had a #1 MKIII BSA, 1916 with a slash through the original numbers and new ones added. Funny thing is the old numbers matched too. I had the gun for over 20 years and never even shot a full box through it. Sold it last year with a sheathed Wilkinson bayo for 175.00.

07-27-2009, 10:31 PM	#4
Laufer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: In the Mid-South. Posts: 216	Thanks for your interesting comments. These LEs have become much more interesting than my Mosin Nagant 44, though it is really fun to shoot and cheap ammo is available, but the LE is my only combat rifle of 'the west'. And the LEs have a much more widespread history around the vast British Empire/Commonwealth. Too bad about so little surplus ammo available at decent prices. Last edited by Laufer; 07-27-2009 at 10:33 PM.

07-27-2009, 11:19 PM	#5
supergus Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Triad, NC Posts: 544	Yup, I love 'em! Picked this one up at a gun show for $260 with case AND matching #'s __________________ In God We Trust. (Everyone else, hands where I can see 'em) If Obama is the answer, then the question must have been stupid.

07-29-2009, 06:28 PM	#6
Last Crow Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 401	My only Enfield is a 2A1 made by the Rifle Factory Ishapore in 1965. It is chambered for the 7.62 X 51 NATO and has a 12 round box magazine. I bought the rifle in 1997 from a local gun store for $99.97. I’ve only fired the rifle once. I felt sorry for the Indians who had to use this rifle. It has a good kick and weighs over 10 lbs unloaded.

08-01-2009, 08:02 AM	#10
Laufer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: In the Mid-South. Posts: 216	supergus: Your car also looks like a nice classic babe-probably built when I was in the last year of high school ('73). Karls: Until last April, MNs seemed like the best milsurp rifles, but it must be the cheap surplus ammo prices which keep them in the limelight.