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Hi
I would just fire it , don't get me wrong its a nice looking rifle but its not quiet mint I would say its probably had a couple of hundred rounds down the barrel already. The link below is of some pictures of my No4 i have posted them before but some time ago. These pictures where taken after I had fired 40 rounds from it so the ware to your bolt etc would indicate yours has certainly fired a few more than that , I also know there are more number No4`s out there in this condition than most people think. So shoot it and enjoy it
Lee enfield savage no4 mk1* - a set on Flickr
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This rifle deserves preserving
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nattC: Shooting and preserving are not really mutually exclusive goals. I would suggest the furniture would be better preserved by cleaning the gunk and soaking in RLO, while a light coat of grease on the metal parts will be adequate protection unless you live in the rain forest. As far as the bore is concerned, there seem to be lots of No.4's (and even older No. 1's) out there with excellent barrels. I have yet to buy one with a truly awful bore but have found 110 year old Lee Enfield Carbines, SMLE Mk I's, etc with exxcellent bores and I'm pretty sure they've fired a few rounds. Very nice rifle- enjoy it.
Ridolpho
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Well speaking as a collector and shooter I'd say leave it as is. Put it back together and tuck it safely away. There are still thousands of affordable No4 rifles out there that have been fired. With the passage of time the few remaining unissued and unfired rifles grows smaller and smaller and the value both monetarily and to history grows. If given a choice a collector will almost always choose and pay a premium for the as new, unissued and unfired example. If you shoot it and your honest about it should you choose to shoot it that first shot is going to devalue the rifle by at least 25% and possibly more. No it's not all about money but you hold in your hands a time capsule so for me the "need" to shoot it wouldn't exist.
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Load of different advice there Natt. But just remember, that if your dad gave you the new MGB or TR6 in 1970, you'd have used it - and rightly so. But he's giving you a virtually new one 1970 car today. It's only new once. Take your choice. I'd be clearing a space in my garage............
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Unless you have the very first/last or a rare variant of any of these firearms we collect I say shoot it. There were millions of each made. Nobody is going to retire 100yrs from now because he sold his great grandads No4 mk1 that never left the safe. In my opinion if a guy is looking for investment buy gold.
I see no reason why a mature adult can't take $1000.00 rifle to a gun range and enjoy himself for a few hours when he drove there in a $30.000 truck.
Sorry for the rant......nice rifle by the way:)
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Well on the serious side don't shoot it and don't let anyone talk you into doing that. Peter Laidler gave you a great analogy and it literally hits the nail on the head. MG's were made to be driven and enjoy however getting one in new condition as it hasn't been driven much would be beyond rare and a shame to drive to where it is just another old car.
You might not find another near perfect Savage No4 again, they are not common like any unissued gun. There are countless thousands of No4's that have been well used and make a perfect shooter. I have two (Savage) that are very nice but don't compare to yours and to be honest would swap you one any day of the week.
Buy a good quality gun sock to protect it in your safe, take it out once a year and give it some love and a light coat of oil. Thirty years from now you will thank me, I'll be long gone but maybe you will remember this advice.
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Why the mentality that you have to shoot everything? What if you have 100 rifles, would you shoot all of them? Do museums shoot all the rifles on display?
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Homer, I stand by my comments. The poster asked a question and I gave my opinion. A guy can dig foxholes in his back yard and play army with his rifles it's his business. Me, I shoot mine.
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"Why the mentality that you have to shoot everything? What if you have 100 rifles, would you shoot all of them? Do museums shoot all the rifles on display?"
yes ................ the only one I will not shoot is a Chinese 1941 by the 21st arsenal in Chungking, I value my face way too much
