No4 Based Target rifles - Collectable?

[Mk VII]

Very few people here have got any use for 'sporter' rifles and if they do they'll go and buy one out of the store. They won't select .303, which is too much gun for most quarry animals in the British Isles.

[newcastle]

Grrr. All these rifles sitting over there across the pond. Anyone know of any No.4 based target rifle available here in the USA?

[Peter Laidler]

Maple Leaf is quite right in what he says (thread 13) about these so called 'specials' The trouble is that all these so called san-fandanglio ideas, methods, theories etc etc are all well and good but they are the ideas, theories, methods etc etc of many many different people who all have different....... you get my drift! Mind you, just from an engineering eye, some seem a bit, er......, suspect to say the least. Some of ther haronic theories wouldn't face up to close scrutiny either

What was/is needed is a pooling of all these ideas so that a perfect standard could be achieved. Alas, as JSS says later in thread 16, the car comparison is fair too. The TROUBLE is that they are all racing on a late 30's Morris 8 chassis. You can call it what you like and do a bit of this and that, put a new barrel on and mess around with harmonics and vibrations - but you ain't going to win any races.

I wonder just how one of these san fandanglio 'specials' compares for accuracy with a properly set up L39/scopeless L42 set-up.

I feel that's the reason that these specials have just fallen by the wayside. Theyain't competitive any more, that means not worth much whereas reverting one back to standard form means that they're worth more........... unless some clown has chopped the back off!

If you're into MGB GT's, it'd be like owning an MGB V8 converted by Costello. On the other hand, you could have the real McCoy made by MG

[jss]

Yes. The car analogy fits to a degree but you are right. On reflection, the Elan was pretty, imaginative but an engineering disaster compared to the Cortina GT, the Tuscan while fun and stronger was not as good as the Granada and the B GT was rock solid, high quality and pretty, straight from the factory.(All of them overtaken easily by a Peugeot 205 GTI!.)

So why did these 1st Generation target rifles emerge. Are they better than the L39/Conv/L42 which I imagine were readily available at the time, and if so why are they worth less.

[Peter Laidler]

I don't know whether these 'specials' are any better than an L39. I mean 'better' as in 'more accurate' . But the L39's/42's enforcers are from the factory (although it's hard to believe from the sometimes dire quality.....) whereas the others are just , well, specials and the concensus is that they'll never feature prominently in the Lee Enfield hall of fame

On the subject of a good chassis, you could have a Cortina GT or you COULD have a LOTUS Cortina. Talking of which, where are you now GEV 134 H

Anyone else care to comment on the accuracy of these specials over the L39 series?

[newcastle]

Tha L39 I had shot better than me and my eyes.the No4 conversion target rifle I had (had to sell both) shot better than me and my eyes. Thge DCRA I DO have shoots better than etc etc etc. Never had a No.1 based target rifle but I'm betting if it was still in good condition it would ..well you can see where this is going can't you. Still want to get one though.

[tbonesmith]

Handmade forend, centre bedded, reamed nose cap, full top wood, central sight, odd forsight, foresight protector, very good-excellent heavy barrel, turned up bolt handle, superb trigger, 2 point sling setup. I love these old things but I can't get $550 for this one, so maybe there's not as many people collecting these in Australia and I thought there may be... At least it means I get to keep it!

[Peter Laidler]

The trouble is TBone, that even collecting them isn't easy. For every 'converter' of these 'specials', if the special is made for a specific person, then every one will be different. So where do you start?

Someone who shall be nameless said to me today that he bought 2x 7.62mm P-14's just to machine the meaty barrels to L39/42 spec for needy Enfields

[newcastle]

T bone. when you send me the Forend for the L42alike - just slip that No.1 into the packing - no-one would ever notice.

[muffett.2008]

Well, Tbone, it's probably because here in Australia, we've allready got one.