Finding a decent Enfield

I've been on the hunt around my hometown now for some time searching for a decent No.4 or No.5, yet where they show up they are either sporterized, or overpriced "surplus" guns that look like they have been to hell and back. (I do recognize that they may have gone through hell) Where are all the nice Enfields? Perhaps I should take a whack at repairing one...

I suppose some sporters are nice, I added a link to one, but I prefer the classic look of factory Lee Enfields, is that so wrong?

http://www.shootist.ab.ca/drif21.html

I see them come and go here in Phoenix. Some gun show there's a bunch ... next show none. Rarely see any in gun shops.

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Originally Posted by Kman

Perhaps I should take a whack at repairing one...

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A fun thing to do. :thup:

Unfortunately the guy selling the 'sporterized' one wants twice the price because it been 'improved'. :thdown:

I can't seem to avoid them lately! I have a lovely No4 (T) that has taken some work to get it into shooting trim, and it shoots sub MOA. Then I found an Ishapore from a local buddy for $175 and have done nothing but shoot it a few times. And my latest is an Ishapore Carbine. I gave $300 for it but it had been sporterized to the max. I machined the scope mount off it, they'd used acra-glass to hold it in place, pulled the plastic stock off and put the original wood back on it, did some stoning work on the trigger to get back to a two stage trigger, and a good cleanup on it. So by the time I sell the fancy stock, and the Springfield Armory scope off it, I should only have about $150 in it.

And there is a No 5 Jungle Carbine in Wisconsin, on Gunbroker, for $325. Seems plenty cheap to me! Now I just need to hide my wallet before tomorrow's gun show -

Rework one - they are fun to work on and with the experts on this forum you'll have an excellent rifle for whatever you want to do - I love working on these rifles - -

Be well,
Steve

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Originally Posted by Kman

I've been on the hunt around my hometown now for some time searching for a decent No.4 or No.5, yet where they show up they are either sporterized, or overpriced "surplus" guns that look like they have been to hell and back. (I do recognize that they may have gone through hell) Where are all the nice Enfields? Perhaps I should take a whack at repairing one...

I suppose some sporters are nice, I added a link to one, but I prefer the classic look of factory Lee Enfields, is that so wrong?

http://www.shootist.ab.ca/drif21.html

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Wasn't there a gun show in Edmonton recently? I would be surprised if there wasn't a few good No4's there and am sure there would have been some in Calgay last weekend.

No4's aren't cheap anymore if you want one in very good condition. Many Lee Enfields were inexpensive just a couple of years ago but have taken a big jump in price.

I just helped a friend set up for the Penticton Show which is this weekend and there was a gentleman there that had a couple of No4's and both were pretty decent, the least expensive one was $400.00.

No4's are still fairly pentiful however not near the amount I have seen over the last few years and to be honest I am a little surprised more haven't "come out of the woodwork" since the LGR has been abolished.

I completely agree Enfield303t, its most likely a matter of waiting for the word to get out about the LGR, its only been a few weeks at this point, and I only head about it a few days ago. Im honestly a wee bit excited to see what shows up at some of the local shops!

Kman: I've had very good experiences (here in Canada) buying Lee Enfields from 3 different on-line companies. They have described their rifles very accurately and all have been willing to go the extra distance to check specifics for me (I buy these to shoot). The paperwork is a breeze (even with the registry in place) and in about two weeks the gun shows up with canada post at your door. One site in particular currently has a large number of various #4's (inc. Pakistan Mk2's). If you PM me I'll pass on the companies names.

Ridolpho

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Originally Posted by enfield303t

Wasn't there a gun show in Edmonton recently? I would be surprised if there wasn't a few good No4's there and am sure there would have been some in Calgay last weekend.

No4's aren't cheap anymore if you want one in very good condition. Many Lee Enfields were inexpensive just a couple of years ago but have taken a big jump in price.

I just helped a friend set up for the Penticton Show which is this weekend and there was a gentleman there that had a couple of No4's and both were pretty decent, the least expensive one was $400.00.

No4's are still fairly pentiful however not near the amount I have seen over the last few years and to be honest I am a little surprised more haven't "come out of the woodwork" since the LGR has been abolished.

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I was at the Edmonton show bright and early Saturday Morning. I spotted a No. 5 that was interesting, not many Enfields out that I could see.

I saw five really nice SMLE's at the gunshow today. 4 were No4 Mk1s and one very nice carbine. Two of the No 4s were way over priced at $600 plus. Two were priced at $250 each and were numbers matching rifles. From appearances they looked good. Lovely furniture on them both. I wasn't able to look at the actions due to the show rules that have the bolts locked into the rifles. Stupid rule in my opinion. The carbine was exceptional I thought. 6/45 manufacture, matching numbers, clean furniture, had a ROF (F) on it. It had not been refurbished. He wanted $299 for it. Had I not bought the Ishapore Carbine I'd of bought it in a second.

Oh man it sucks having somone bemoan the absence of good lee enfields and then showing a picture of an available and excellent Parker Hale Supreme. which I've been after for ages, whereas my local store has 4 or 5 Great condition No.s 4's that I can't afford, whereas I could afford teh PH. grrr.

I had thought the Parker Hales were based off No.4's... Im new to this and am unfamiliar with commercial sporters, I just figured that it had been a nice gunsmith sporterization, the same shop has a nicely done but un-saveable No5, therefore i made an assumption, but I was wrong! Never thought to look at the damn thing either, but i know what I'm doing on my next lunch hour!