New Long Lee, did I over pay?

My first venture into the Longs. Read a little about them just enough to be dangerous. I always liked them, and this one turned up at a small local show and I thought it looked ok so I bought it for $800. It's a Mk I and dated 1896 with NZ 1903 on the butt plate. Is that the date it was transfered to New Zeland? It's well used but the worst thing is when I got home, I discovered the bolt was not matching. I can't believe I forgot to check that. Anyway, I had asked the seller, who was a private walk in person, if it was all correct or if anything was wrong with it, he said as far as he kew it was all ok. I obtained his name and address and the last thing I confirmed with him was that if it wasn't, I would be contacting him about it and he agreed. So I could probably return it if I wanted to. Does anyone see any other problems with it? Ray

I think you did Ok there. Its got all the bits that are often knocked around and gone, like the volley sights, a complete example is not common.. Its also kind of rare to find one that hasn't been sporterized.
HG = Home Guard, so before civilian sale it saw duty as a home defence rifle, most probably when the Japs were sending recon planes over Auckland from their long range subs, a little thing called ww2. We really needed every rifle we had, so this was far from being a junker reluctantly being used.
1903, hmm, not sure, it could be when it was pulled from stores and issued to a unit, it is a NZ stamp. 18439 is the rifle rack number.
It is nice to have the round front magazine and especially the little clip that usually is tossed away.
I've seen these with much higher prices, if you're in the US. If you browse gunbroker.com you can get an idea of US prices on enfields. Are you in the US?

Check the bore for, rust, dark color, wear on the rifling. Most here in NZ have a lot of wear in the rifling and are dark in the bore from lack of cleaning the corrosive stuff out. Don't be surprised if the barrel is dated from a no1 mk3, barrels were shot through and the were guns rebarreled 1-2-3 times. If you have an original barrel with little wear you did real good.

Not bad at all, cheers R NZ

Thanks RNZ, yes I'm in the US. The barrel has been replaced also as it has a different number, #3253. It looks more like a "C" then a "G", Ray

You never pay too much for a collectible you want or need..you just MIGHT buy a bit too early. Unless you are looking to flip it within the week:....... enjoy
Now, buy a book.

I really don't mind buying a rifle w/ minor dramas if its got a good bore and is otherwise shootable. Saves money and I don't feel bad taking it out and USING it. The pretty ones can get annoying what w/ all the pampering and all, just to save it for an uncertain future.

Ray, if you want to get your money back out of it and a little bit more. I'll take it off of your hands. Fred

Well, I bought another Long Lee from the guy. And I am one happy guy with this one. Met the gentleman and bought a 2nd Long Lee he told me about also. From what I can see it is as good as he described it with about 95% original bluing. The stock looks like it has had a stock finish applied to it but it looks good though and I'm sure it can be removed if one wanted to. It's all matching including the barrel. The bore needs to be cleaned but looks like it will clean up to about VG or better. The only question I have is that it has what appears to be the stamp of a dealer or importer, (doesn't look like a US one), in small letters on the receiver. They're real small and kind of hard to read but they look like ENGLAND stamped over "B.D. L. LTD EOGEFIELD SO, Possibly the rifle was sold by the government into civilian sales in England. There are no other import/export stamps like the tons proofs etc on it. The price was $1150. It did not have the cleaning rod when I bought it but the guy said he has one on another Long Lee if I wanted it for $50, of course I took it. He brought the other LL to show me also but I was running out of money and told him I will get back to him on it later.
Two days ago I didn't have a single Long Lee, now I have two. Not too bad, Ray

It wouldnt be BDL Ltd Edgefield South carolina would it ?
BDL LTD Rifles and Accessories

Brian - care to comment ?

Ray, I imported that rifle back in October 1997 from Canada. It was from a large Lee Enfield collection I purchased in Western Ontario. The original owner most likely sent it to a well known Gunsmith in Ontario who cleaned and finished the wood. Many of the rifles in that particular collection had seen his hand. Nice rifle! Love and cherish it. Brian

P.S. My mark is B.D.L. LTD. EDGEFIELD SC. ENGLAND is the country of manufacture stamp.

Thanks Brian, I forgot that was your stamp. I figured it came from Canada as it didn't have the "18 Tons etc" English proof stamps. It sure is a nice rifle, Ray