Printable View
Hi folks, I was wondering of the original number of Enfield rifles produced, how many are still in shooting condition. I realize that this can't be answered definitively but it's something I've thought about for a while. I'm guessing 35%.
Educated guesses welcome:D
SAMK4
Someone placed the original manufacture at something around 4 milliion plus. Thirty-five percent is likely a good guess, but, honestly, probably a little high. Not just being contradictory, but these things got the bejeezus beat out of them.
even at 35% of 4 million, its a wonder some of the prices being sought after for bog standard enfields... are they really worth this much? Or is Aus a special case because of the niche market?
16,000,000 (16 million) manufactured from No1 Mk3 thru to No4 Mk2, No5 etc.
i thought he meant 4 million remaining of 16 million produced?
There have to be at least 1,000,000 registered fireams owners in Canada alone that own Lee Enfields of one sort or another. As we all know, owning Lee Enfields is like eating peanuts, you don't eat just one.
Its been reported that India alone has more than 2 million Enfields still in service.
Probably the other largest stock must be private ownership in US: companies like Interarms bought up all of UK's main surplus - which must have been at least one million rifles.
If you estimate a few thousand for each Commonwealth territory, there must have been at least another million out there until - say - 1990s. Probably many of these were burned or cut up, as in South Africa, but there must be quantities still existing.
We've got 20 or so................
I just want one, but if you say "Lays potato chips no one can eat just one" I best be savin up.
IIRC that is the number for No.4s alone.Quote:
Originally Posted by mack
---------- Post added at 05:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:33 PM ----------
Plus my 4 ..... Its adding up. :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Plus My 12, (Four of them awaiting some clothes etc) will be 13 tomorrow with the arrival of a Longbranch No4 Mk1*Quote:
Originally Posted by Beerhunter
No1 Mk3*
No2 Mk4*
No4 Mk1*
No4T
No5 Mk1
No7 Mk1
Enforcer
No4 Mk1/2 (410 calibre)
Even with the UK draconian firearms laws - managed to amass 8 (It was 10 so now just have two slots left to fill)
Now we know how many Enfields it takes to fill the Albert Hall?
-----krinko
Wow!! Two pages right off the bat :super::
Beerhunter, thanks for straightening out my numbers. Guess we all know the reason I never taught math.
You are right. The four million number is No. 4 rifles. I misspoke.
If we are counting, I have 28 in the Enfield safe. Should we try to get folks to post their numbers just for the fun of it.
73 so far....
Mack, you mention Enfield safe, do you stock pile any other milsurp?
Between me 'Ol Dad and me-self ..... 24! Minor issues with 3-4 .... 1914 EY, shouldn't fire that one. 2A1 with too much head space. '40 Ishy where the bolt jumps off the rail. Essentially all 24 are shootable if an emergency necessitated.
I would tell you as a newbie but you probably wouldn't believe me...LOL
23 if you don't count a Khyber Pass Martini 303.
My habit peaked at 211 a few months ago, but since then sanity prevailed and I've thinned out quite a few....
I can think of a lot worse habits,s to have, that brings the total to 331 the vast majority belonging to Thunderbox. ( were you looking to arm a local village at the time)Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderbox
So down to 209 now?Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderbox
Well, in deference to the sensitivities of fellow forum members, I stopped counting the DPs I shoot with......Quote:
Originally Posted by No4Mk1(T)
---------- Post added at 07:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:56 PM ----------
Just tooling up for the revolution, like everyone else in UK.....Quote:
Originally Posted by bigduke6
I can testify that it's a case of 'cold dead hands' with TB! :)
Anyway I've, as a recently started shooter amassed five - and in the UK!
I've been collecting Enfields for just over 3 years and have 7 at the moment... so just arming the neighbours really, rather than the whole village.Quote:
Originally Posted by PrinzEugen
Always happy to help thin out Thunderbox's fine collection ;)
I've got 10 so far.
I only have two so far.I have wanted one for years so I finally got one a few months ago. A Savage built No.4. I was planning on getting one more a No.1 and stopping there but low and behold along came the second No.4 purely by accident. I still want a No.1 and I will probably get one this summer. I am also now thinking about getting another sporterized No. 4 and having it re barreled to 7mm Epps heavy match barrel, A Hubber trigger and some glass bedding just because I like tinkering with guns. I will stop there really I will.
Eighteen or twenty... hang on (mumbling to myself , flicking fingers up, more mumbling- bugger... taking shoe off, mumbling, quick headscratch and the other shoe off).... BUGGER! ran out of space on my calculator, but there's only one more so that makes 21 (I think)
But... I am selling one to a bloke who has been pleading with me to let him have one... his intentions are honourable and I need to finance another "teenage daughter friendly" firearm for the safe, so combining the reasons to justify the first ever sale of one of my Lee Enfields....
Hey, BushFromOz- some of the reasons you pay higher prices for your Lee Enfields here is the demand generally outnumbers the supply (especially with regard to nice rifles being chased by inexperienced collectors) That and the advent of the web-based sale sites- everyone selling is asking top dollar + and while ever someone is prepared to pay it- then that will be the price.
Another factor is the collectors and shooters of black rifles turned to bolt guns when they lost theirs- a whole genre of owners suddenly needed something to fill their needs... and for a little while- until the "supply" dried up the prices only rose marginally.... BTW, posted your sight today- will PM you the details.
While i understand the supply and demand bit, i underestimated the effects that the e-gun trade has had on prices. I sort of remember when usedguns started up. Lots would sit on the screen for weeks before it moved, now and specially the military wifles, dissappear quite quick, and the prices just keep going up!
Interestingly enough, when i was at the last firearms show (whatever it was called) in ipswich QLD, i noticed that the prices were less than some of the online websites, and you didn't have to pay freight if you came with a permit to acquire.
It would also seem that the lack of "gun shows" makes hunting for that next piece of history that much harder, or perhaps the difficulty in advertising gun shows?
Importing from NZ is starting to sound cheaper ;)
In deference to the gubmint spooks who are prob watching, I have a few Enfields.........................................
Six at my place: ME Mk1, MLE Mk1*, No1 MkIII, No 1 Mk III*, No 4 Mk2, L42A1
Yup, nobody will rival Thuderbox for sheer numbers, but I am certain NOBODY will rival TerryLee in S Africa for variety...
Lets see. I have 5 x No.1, 5 x No.4 and 3 x 7.62 Enfields, so 13. Stupidly I sold on several I REALLY regret, not least an Enforcer, an L39. No.4 T in transit chest and a No.1 Mk 5 when I lost a job a year or two ago. Now trying to get some back but it's costing more to find new get them back. stupid Stupid STUPID!
Out of 231 Milsurps in my collection, 126 are Enfields. I had 58 No.4's alone until recently. I believe the No.4 count is now 51.
i have a no.5 jc my dad bought me for my birthday about 20 years ago. it came with a vintage bolt on sk scope mount. i put on a walnut cheek rest that looks and works like a dream and it has a 1x4 leupold 20mm. shoots 1 in. with my handloads all day long. this is one of my favorite deer guns. i also just got a mk2 no.4 i have been playing with, installed a walnut cheek rest and 3x9 leupold 40mm with bolt on mount. with my load it will do 1/2 to 3/4 in. i have a range at home in the woods of s.c. :o:oso i can try many loads to see what works best. thinking of a no.1 next.........
I have the exact same setup and it's a supreme deer killin rig! That no drill S-K mount is absolutely solid. Over 5 years that #5 has not had to be resighted and has accounted for 3 deer in the three years I have actually hunted with it. It maintains 1 1/2" 5 shot groups @ 100 yd with my handloads but must admit it wont shoot any brand of milsurp worth a hoot. That's ok, my handloads are a little faster and flatter shooting than any Milsurp.Quote:
Originally Posted by olskool
I have 3 -
No.4 Mk.1 BSA 1943, FTRed 1949, almost looks like it just came out of the factory
No.4 Mk.1 Long Branch 1941 (almost finished the restoration - just need to do some matching with wood colours - woohoo!!!)
No.1 Mk.III (no *) BSA 1913, rebarreled 1922
I have had 2 other No.4 Mk.1s, a No.1 Mk.III* and an Enforcer, hope one day to get another Enforcer and/or No.4 T and/or L42A1.
In my home town, there are at least 10 Lee-Enfields for sale at different places at the moment, but there are condition issues, mismatched bolts, Bubba'd actions, ridiculous prices, etc.