What next to get

Ok a question for Enfield collectors of the middling variety. Warren, MJ, Brian etc look away now......
So here's the question. I have a small collection of Lee Enfields. I shoot as well as collect so whatever I get has to be in great mechanical condition with an excellent bore. I'm not stinking rich, in fact money is tight but I will try to save for the right rifle.

I have a couple of No.1s, a No.2 (.22LR), a rifle No.3 (P14) a few No.4s (Mk1, Mk1* Mk1/2 and Mk2 and a No.4 T), I have a No.5. I'm fairly confident that there's no chance of a No. 6 and the No.7 and No.8 are probably financially beyond me at present.

Where next? I've been buying some sporters I can refurbish but they don't add to the collection necessarily and cost more than they're worth by the time I have them back in Milconfig.

I want to keep in the .303 british area ideally and they have to be in shooting condition so they're accurate enough to be enjoyable to take to the range. Ideas?

Go Ishapore: a nice wartime MkIII*, a wire-wrap, and a 2A or 2A1.

I also see that you're missing a few Long Lees:

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Agree with Thunderbox, but perhaps cheaper than a Long Lee would be a 'target' version of the SMLE, or 'heavy' barrel version.

My last purchase was a 'Fultons Regulated' SMLE with Parker Hale 5A sight. Well worth having in the collection and another important part of the history of these rifles IMHO.

All the best with whatever you save for!

Mike

You never know what will waltz into your hands and at your price. I've picked up No.8's and No.9's along with trials rifles from $250.00 to $400.00 just by asking what they wanted for it and then trying not to get whiplash in the neck reaching for the wallet. I VERY seldom make offers as I learned a long time ago from an old friend never get into an auction sale with yourself. Ask what the owner wants and go from there. You may be pleasantly surprised and sometimes shocked.

newcastle, I have always struggled to come up with a description of my ownership of Lee Enfield rifles :confused:

It simply develops in the strangest way. I started out as a shooter but have developed into the eclectic Lee Enfield collector, who likes to shoot them.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, you'll know when the right rifle comes along - just increase your chances of finding it by searching the auctions and frequenting all the shows you can ;)

Love the suggestions. Especially the idea of the Long Lee's, though the finances would probably take a beating on those.

Might I make a suggestion Newcastle. It's not an Enfield but I am very sure that quite soon, it'll be put into the same hallowed stable as the Lee Enfield snipers and even if I say it myself, is a true, well and worthy successor to the L42 it replaced.

Go out and search for an Accuracy International L96 sniper rifle. They have just been declared obsolete by the UK Military and several UK Police forces (what on earth they wanted sniper rifles for is one of lifes great unanswered questions........) and are available at reasonable prices - for now. But they won't be available at these prices for long. Does that remind you of how No4T's and L42's were cheap and cheerful several years ago........... I don't want to come back in 5 years to say those immortal words '........I told you so'

Go out now and look for one. Don't forget that name........... Accuracy International L96A1 or the 'RIFLE, sniper, 7.62mm L96A1'. I've been out and given mine a good pasting all day and they shoot like a dream. Even those using the big, monster .338 L115 AI rifles all came wanting a shoot with the gentle giant...............

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Might I make a suggestion Newcastle. It's not an Enfield but I am very sure that quite soon, it'll be put into the same hallowed stable as the Lee Enfield snipers and even if I say it myself, is a true, well and worthy successor to the L42 it replaced.

Go out and search for an Accuracy International L96 sniper rifle. They have just been declared obsolete by the UK Military and several UK Police forces (what on earth they wanted sniper rifles for is one of lifes great unanswered questions........) and are available at reasonable prices - for now. But they won't be available at these prices for long. Does that remind you of how No4T's and L42's were cheap and cheerful several years ago........... I don't want to come back in 5 years to say those immortal words '........I told you so'

Go out now and look for one. Don't forget that name........... Accuracy International L96A1 or the 'RIFLE, sniper, 7.62mm L96A1'. I've been out and given mine a good pasting all day and they shoot like a dream. Even those using the big, monster .338 L115 AI rifles all came wanting a shoot with the gentle giant...............

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Are any available in the UK?

Bedfordshire Police have just sold theirs.......... and a couple of others on here that I know of have them too. So they're out there

Looking for a specific variant of Enfield is apt to be frustrating and/or expensive. As stated above, just be educated enough to know when the next keeper appears and act accordingly. I've bought No.4s just because they had a particular sight...!

Also, be prepared to pass up a very high percentage of the rifles you come across, due to one drama or another, including price.

But now Peter Laidler has to go and mention L96a1's...

There is a nice L96A1 with transit case listed on Guns America for the paltry sum of $8000.

I'm thinking they will cost a pretty penny too over here in the US of A Peter - Thank you for the advice though. Brian Dick is more knowledgeable than I when it comes to the importing of such a thing so may be able to confirm, but I think our wonderful current administration has recently brought in laws that may preclude the importantation of them and will thus keep prices spiralling upwards.

Importing a nice, 30 year old, used/second hand, iron sighted, target rifle for your own private use - surely not. I'd be looking at the optomistic side of life. Get one now and even if it means have it stored here, just get one because in your own words, very soon, the prices WILL be spiralling upwards. If you are a UK resident and are looking to invest, listen to me......... GET ONE NOW

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Accuracy International L96 sniper rifle

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Excellent bits of kit and worth every penny, still available from Accuracy International, as the AW, I had the AE, cheaper version made for law enforcment etc, only basic difference between the AW and AE, I was told was the AW was nearly "squaddie proof"

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Bedfordshire Police have just sold theirs.......... and a couple of others on here that I know of have them too. So they're out there

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Thought the police had the AE? The only L96 I have seen for sale in the UK was a few years back for £3000 IIRC, I was £2995 short of the asking price.
Missed out on a S&B scope from a L96 a while back, it went for peanuts, even Warren would of been reaching for the wallet.

The AW and AE's were marketed by AI because the UK MoD owned the Int Property rights to the L96 design. They differed VERY slightly and allowed AI to take advantage of the market. So, not quite the same and I don't know anything about them but if they're anything like the L96, then they're pretty damned good............

The Police ones had different serial number batches instead of the MoD UA 86A xxxx type

The original S&B scope for the L96 was the khaki green PM 6x 42.

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

The original S&B scope for the L96 was the khaki green PM 6x 42

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That was the scope I missed out on, think the main difference between the AW and AE was that the AW had a different body, and this was also bonded to the chassis, and the early AE was a 5 shot, side panels were interchangable with anything from the AI family.

For an off the shelf rifle, regarding build quality, price, accuracy dont think you could get better, see link below for anyone interested, regarding the video at the bottom, the guy runs the " Tac Pro Centre" in USA, couple of the lads from our club go out there every year.

Image Viewer

The L96 is also screwed and bonded to the chassis rail. This means that everything off the body, barrel and bolt is totally separate so will have no influence. But I have my doubts about the need for bonding! Ah, yes....... the AW and AE bipod is different too but conversion to the L96 spec is just a bolt off and on job.

Here is a MK 6 that is listed for sale on SRF. It may not be what you are looking for as it is not matching (magazine) and has been recrowned. I do not know much about the MK 6's, so I'm not sure if the rifle is legit or not. It does appear to possibly have the magazine cuttoff, but all of the prior photos that I have seen have had checkering on the forestock. The cocking piece on the bolt head also looks to possibly be incorrect as well.

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Dont rush - take your time and one-day you'll hear a little voice - 'Hey - I'm talking to you ....'
Coming out of a dark corner is some shop - you'll investigate and there you will find your next Enfield.

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