Which rifle to sell?

[Smellymarkfive]

I'm having. a difficult time making a decision, one rifle has to go, but which one? One is a No1 MKV 1922 matching bolt and receiver, correct safety, sight, and cut off. I restored this one with MKIII wood, made a rear handguard from a No 4 and a No 1, and got a repro front band. It looks good, and the bore is decent. The other one is a 1924 MK V all original and complete except the bolt number does not match. The bolt fits properly around the lugs and it shoots better than the 1922 and the rear sight is not as 'slippy.' I considered swapping the wood onto the 1922, but it's numbered correctly to the 1924, so I can't do that. Any advice would be appreciated (or excuses to keep them both), but I have to make some funds for an incoming No1 MK I project.

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[superbee]

I would swap the wood from the 24 to the 22.You will have correct wood and matching bolt.Most collectors shy away from a mis-matched bolt.

[browningautorifle]

I'd keep the original one and send the other one out...If you have to...the odds of finding another are slim though. Don't take original wood off one gun to put it on the other... The one you cobbled together would satisfy someone like me. I wouldn't part with either unless I absolutely had to.

[303tom]

Me, I would find an excuses to keep them both, but that`s me I collect em & have never sold a firearm !...................

[Smellymarkfive]

Me, I would find an excuses to keep them both, but that`s me I collect em & have never sold a firearm !...................

This is where my mind is at. I've been swapping rifles for a few years now getting better ones and selling the worse ones. I'm almost at a 'I can't part with any of these' phase. I think I'm going to try for a rummy hand 04, 05, 06, and 07 No1 MKIs and '22, '23, and '24 MK Vs, all I need is a '23 and gin.

---------- Post added at 12:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 PM ----------

I would swap the wood from the 24 to the 22.You will have correct wood and matching bolt.Most collectors shy away from a mis-matched bolt.

I almost did this but can't bring myself to actually do it. If I was keeping both I might, because I could always switch them back.

---------- Post added at 12:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ----------

I'd keep the original one and send the other one out...If you have to...the odds of finding another are slim though. Don't take original wood off one gun to put it on the other... The one you cobbled together would satisfy someone like me. I wouldn't part with either unless I absolutely had to.

I always had in the back of my mind that I would get repro wood from EFD eventually, but they are pricey. If I could get the prices they have on their guns I'd do it in a shot.

[mmppres]

well never sell something you cant replace

[browningautorifle]

never sell something you cant replace

Exactly. You'll regret that, I know...

[enfield303t]

I sold many rifles years ago and really regret doing that, most I could never replace.

Personally find it impossible to sell any at this time of my life. Have left all to my son and told him to do what he wants with them when I am gone, I'll still be watching however...LOL

[Seaforth72]

If you cannot keep both No. 1 Mk. V rifles then I agree with the suggestion of switching the wood because a matching bolt is the most important feature for collectors, followed by "real" woodwork, and that woodwork with matching numbers (if at all possible.)

If you sold the one with all original wood as it is now, you are left with a rifle that looks nice but has "replica" wood. If you kept the rifle with the original wood, the bolt would always be a mismatch unless by a miracle you located and obtained this 1 in about 20,000 item. If you keep both Mk. V rifles then do actively look for the right SN bolt!

I had a couple of Lee-Enfield No. 5 Mk. I "Jungle Carbines". One was all matching nunbers (body, bolt, magazine and wood) but the wood was badly damaged. The second one had rougher metal, lovely original wood and the mag was not numbered. As retired British armourer Peter Laidler often points out, armourers used whatever parts were at hand to keep weapons serviceable. All marching factory is lovely, but often means that a rifle saw little service. Americans love M1 Garand rifles with all correct parts for year and manufacturer, but most seem to have been through rebuilds and have a mish-mash of parts. These are still the real thing however.

By the way, in my case, the numbered No.5 bolt and magazine were fitted to a No. 4 rifle in the auction and the No. 5 had the bolt for that No. 4 but no magazine. The auction staff agreed to switch the bolts back before the auction but not the magazine. I got a friend to buy the No. 4 (full military rifle) and then traded him a spare No. 4/No. 5 magazine and a bag of McDonald's chocolate chip cookies for "my" serial numbered No. 5 magazine for the No. 5 rifle which I bought in the auction.

I too have sold many rifles and later regretted it, but the simple fact is that my income was/is limited and the ONLY way to buy other items was to let others go.

[Smellymarkfive]

I sold many rifles years ago and really regret doing that, most I could never replace.

Personally find it impossible to sell any at this time of my life. Have left all to my son and told him to do what he wants with them when I am gone, I'll still be watching however...LOL

Thanks everyone. I've decided to hang onto both of them until I can upgrade. I've got more regrets about not buying something, like the pristine No V I saw in a gunshop years ago. Like an idiot I put it back on the rack to think about it and the next time I saw it was someone buying it at the counter.