no 8 or no9 enfield?

[RJW NZ]

Nice new place we have here, very smart...

If one had the choice, if you could keep only one, which one would be top dog, either as a collectible gaining value, or as a shooter, no8 or no9?

For those unfamiliar with the numbers as I was all too recently, the no8 is a .22 enfield that resembles a stocky jungle carbine and was purpose built to be a .22 trainer/shooter, while the no9 .22 enfield is a no4 enfield with a .22 conversion.

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[John Sukey (Deceased)]

I have yet to see a No9 anywhere.

[Alan de Enfield]

Well purely from a collectors / value point of view I'd go for the No9.

The supposed production figures (no doubt will be questioned by someone) are :

No8 = 76000
No9 = 3000

With only 3000 No9s made, some lost, some destroyed and some in museums etc there cannot be a lot of them left on the market.

If you dont want it send it to me - as to market price who knows ?

[smle-man]

I have yet to see a No9 anywhere.

I saw a rack of them for sale at Waffen-Frankonia in Wurzburg in 1980 (funny what I remember). Tried to figure out how to get one home to the U.S. but the ATF wasn't allowing importation of military arms back then. They also had unfired K31s but that was another matter.

[harry mac]

I saw a rack of them for sale at Waffen-Frankonia in Wurzburg in 1980 (funny what I remember).

My Enfielditis was initially started by service in the Army Cadets at the tender age of 13, but didn't actually get round to owning one until many years later when I was serving in Germany and I too walked through the doors of Frankonia, for me it was in Hannover. Along the back wall was about 20 Lee Enfields and although I'd originally gone in to buy a hunting rifle I crumbled and used my newly aquired hunting license to buy an SMLE III*. I was simply amazed at the ease with which I could buy a rifle or shotgun in Germany compared to the rigmarole we have to go through in the UK.

[smle-man]

My Enfielditis was initially started by service in the Army Cadets at the tender age of 13, but didn't actually get round to owning one until many years later when I was serving in Germany and I too walked through the doors of Frankonia, for me it was in Hannover. Along the back wall was about 20 Lee Enfields and although I'd originally gone in to buy a hunting rifle I crumbled and used my newly aquired hunting license to buy an SMLE III*. I was simply amazed at the ease with which I could buy a rifle or shotgun in Germany compared to the rigmarole we have to go through in the UK.

I am told that it is even easier now than it used to be in the 80s. I caused a big stir when I showed up at the rod and gun club range at our kaserne with an HK 91 that I had brought from the U.S. The German running the range was convinced it was a stolen G3. Once we got past that issue the locals all wanted a go at shooting it.

[scout7]

I would keep both, but the No. 9 would be No. 1.

[Yakster]

Hi Everyone. Had to change my username when the forum switched. Been lurking a lot because my new job keeps me very busy (happy to have one, so no complaints!). I own a N09 I picked up about 5 years ago at a very good price. Nice piece. Have no idea as to current value, but they do exist, at least in NE Florida.

Yakster aka Viking Guy

[Patrick Chadwick]

Alan, what is the source for the quantity of 76000 No. 8s? I have read several times that "about 20-25000 were made", but I never saw a source quoted for that figure either.

As to which one I would keep - the chance would be a fine thing. I have never seen a No. 9 for sale in Germany, but several number 8s.

No doubt collectors would value a No. 9 highly, because of the scarcity. But as a shooter, the No. 8 is a beautiful little rifle. I have not yet found a trainer that shoots better than my No. 8. Shot by a regional/national level smallbore expert (not me!) it made one ragged hole at 50 meters and a sub-MOA group at 100 meters. Even this grandpa can manage 1-1/2 MOA on a good day with steady light etc.

Patrick

[Alan de Enfield]

Alan, what is the source for the quantity of 76000 No. 8s? I have read several times that "about 20-25000 were made", but I never saw a source quoted for that figure either.

As to which one I would keep - the chance would be a fine thing. I have never seen a No. 9 for sale in Germany, but several number 8s.

No doubt collectors would value a No. 9 highly, because of the scarcity. But as a shooter, the No. 8 is a beautiful little rifle. I have not yet found a trainer that shoots better than my No. 8. Shot by a regional/national level smallbore expert (not me!) it made one ragged hole at 50 meters and a sub-MOA group at 100 meters. Even this grandpa can manage 1-1/2 MOA on a good day with steady light etc.

Patrick

Click on the links :

Lee-Enfield Rifle No.8 for the British Forces
Lee-Enfield Rifle No.8 for the British Forces