Which one do you think?

**Oatmeal Savage** · 01-06-2009 01:52 AM

Of all the rifles you have owned or handled which would you pick? Which battle proven boltaction rifle used in WWI or WII has the best fit and finish, the "off the assembly line" quality?

I would have been proud to carry a No.I Mk.III Lee Enfield.

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**Highly Recommended** · 01-06-2009 01:52 AM

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**Badger** · 01-06-2009 07:05 AM

I like the No.1 MKIII as well ....

Regards,
Badger

**scrmblerkari** · 01-06-2009 09:57 AM

I'd pick a #4 Mk.1 (T) and be very happy with that.
Scrmblerkari

**Andy** · 01-06-2009 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Oatmeal Savage

Of all the rifles you have owned or handled which would you pick? Which battle proven boltaction rifle used in WWI or WII has the best fit and finish, the "off the assembly line" quality?

I would have been proud to carry a No.I Mk.III Lee Enfield.

I think of all the "Battle Proven" bolt action rifles I've seen, the GeW 98 has "the best fit and finish and off the assembly line quality", but if in battle, I'd prefer to carry a Lee Enfield No 4.

I didn't include the Argentine M1909, the Brazilian icon

M1908, nor any of the M1935 Mausers, as they weren't "Battle Proven" IMO.

**Claven2** · 01-06-2009 07:49 PM

Of the "Battle Proven" rifles of ww1, I would say the M1918 BAR, but if I had to take a bolt gun, I would say a SMLE MkI***.

For WW2, that depends... do you include carbine-length guns? If so, the StG44 - hands down. If not, then it would be hard to beat the M1 icon

for reliability and volume of fire. If I had to choose a bolt action, I would probably take a SMLE MkIII*.

**louthepou** · 01-06-2009 09:57 PM

I prefer the truely typical English flavor of the No1 Mk3. So much fine tuning, reminds me of what it takes to keep a Brit bike from the 60's going. Oh and yes, it's been doing great in battle for a few decades, so, it's ok on that side too!

Lou

**BCLOGGER** · 01-07-2009 07:04 PM

For fit, finish etc. the 1886 Lebel is hard to beat. Even the wartime ones were still of excellent quality. The tube mag is a big negative, though.

I'd still take a Mk.III L.E any day, if I had to go to war.

**J. Savoie** · 01-08-2009 11:16 AM

I'd say a Lee Endield SMLE No1 MkIII* too.

**Dimitri** · 01-12-2009 09:54 PM

A No. 4 for me. If issued with Optics all the better.

Dimitri

**Stevo** · 01-13-2009 09:05 PM

"Fit and finish" in a military rifle just isn't a real concern to me, especially if I'm using it in combat. Look at the wartime Mosin-Nagants, not what you'd ever mistake for a high quality, finely finished rifle. I'm sure those on the receiving end of Red Army rifle fire couldn't tell the difference.

If I had to pick a bolt-gun to fight with, it would be a No.4. Just like the one the Army lets me play with.

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