I just bought a Lee Enfield and I need help identifing it.

[mtbikerwvu]

Very few markings on this one and I am admittedly a newb when it comes to .303's. I have had 2 Jungle carbines in the past but this is my first standard issue rifle. Help a guy out and give me your 2 cents.





It has a perfect bore, the wood is good with 1 arsenal repair on the left side, bayonet and sling for $245.00, I don't think I got hurt.

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Pic 2




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[/COLOR]What an UGLY bayonet! The whole gun has had no cleaning as of yet.

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Information

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[mtbikerwvu]

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Markings from left side at wrist M47, I think D43 and then a very, very faint serial number E41**.

[gsimmons]

Nice so far. The bayonet is a Mk III and they're not as common as the others. Need to see phots of the left side please.

[RJW NZ]

I like it, its got that been there, done that . kind of look.
M47 is the wartime code for the BSA factory, BSA has always been held in good regard.

[mtbikerwvu]

I think the gun is a No4 Mk1, it is very faintly marked on the left side of the reciever. The M47 is clear, the mark of D43 is a poorly marked 1943 and the four digit serial number is on par for British built guns. The bolt head is marked with a 2 which is good or so I have read. Magazine is not numbered and neither is the butt plate. All in all it is a plain Jane but no signs of the arsenal rebuild stamp on it. Unfortunately it is import marked. The bore is what sold me, just plain fantastic!

[jmoore]

I think the gun is a No4 Mk1

Yup! Identified.

[A square 10]

congrats , thats a fair price too

[smellie]

Don't kick yourself TOO hard, friend; you got the rifle for just over half of what we are paying for them.... an you got a darned scarce bayonet into the bargain!

One thing about these rifles: they really prefer a flat-base bullet. Some of them will shoot okay with a boat-tail but it is the old flatbase which will make them sit up and dance for you.

For a good test load, try a Sierra 180 Pro-Hunter bullet, seated to the OAL of a military Ball cartridge. This crowds the leade just a bit but the rifles like it. You get about 2250 ft/sec with 38 grains of 4895. It is a mild load but also a very accurate one, which is why I use it as a test load for .303s.

Good catch!

Hope this helps.
.

[mtbikerwvu]

Hey there Smellie, thanks for the load info. I ran into a gun shop yesterday that had probably 6 Lee Enfields, all were in much worse shape than mine and all were $450 or better without a sling or bayonet. They had a No4T that I drooled over for $875 but that is a dream gun for now along with a 03A4 which they also have. I just love the history that oozes from these guns and all milsurps. I have my English examples now and will move on to Japanese and Italian and maybe French but that is the future! 3 Russian, 2 German, 1 American, 2 English, 2 Swedish, 1 Brazilian and 1 Egyptian up to this point. Thanks!!!!!

[RobD]

Just post the address of the gun shop with a No 4(T) for $845 and watch the stampede