Wrapped Enfield (Before and After)

[jmoore]

Oddly enough, I had a mummified DCM 1903a3 w/ the 1960's railway express box that I couldn't sell for three/four years. Everyone wanted to have one to shoot; no one wanted an "as shipped" rifle for the "collection". Finally swapped it off for I can't remember what- possibly towards the "new" L42a1...

Those unwrapped No.4 Mk.2s were purchased fairly reasonably as they were no longer wrapped- The "mummy" was purchased when they first came in country and they "littered the countryside".

[bearhunter]

Yup, $100 per rifle when they first hit the shelves, for a mummy wrap. $65 for an unwrapped one, without accessories. At the same time brand new Long Branch No4 Mk I* beside them for $90. The local store keeper was apologetic about the premium but with about 1000% return on investment, well what can I say.

Go ahead fellows unwrap them. The wrapped ones will just get more valuable that way.

That being said, I don't have any problems with someone wanting to unwrap one. The rifles were made to shoot after all. The only reason mine was kept in the wrap is that there were several of the unwrapped rifles that looked to be as new. Not even a brass skim on the mag follower, so I bought two of those to shoot instead. One of them has the most incredible grain in the fore stock and butt. They both shoot very well.

There is always that certain excitement to being the first to shoot a new rifle. I know, they were proof and test fired before wrapping but there is still that certain feeling.

Enjoy that rifle anthon, it has already cost you a lot just to let it breath again. You might as well get as much enjoyment out of it as you can.

[madcratebuilder]

I see wrapped No4's on gunbroker occasionally, also freshly unwrapped.

No4's imported after 68 in the wrap well have been cut open for import marks and serial number verification. Finding one totally sealed would be a rare bird indeed.

[Peter Laidler]

In England/the UK, they have to be proof fired so they're even MORE opened up and proof stamped to boot!

[PrinzEugen]

Would a private shooter even be able to own one in the UK I wonder? Presumably the firearms officer on an inspection and see said gun in the locker all wrapped up, not in a position to be fired.
After all it's fair to say the UK police like us to shoot or collect - but not both - and what would we say to justify a slot on our tickets for a gun seemingly never to be fired?

[anthon94]

Enjoy that rifle anthon, it has already cost you a lot just to let it breath again. You might as well get as much enjoyment out of it as you can.[/QUOTE]

Not really worried about the few hundred dollars I lost by opening it. Life is to short to have safe queens. I am sure my son will keep this long after I am gone. I bought it for him to have a nice surplus firearm that he could enjoy for years to come.

[enfield303t]

I work on the principle that there are 1 million UN-wrapped No4's but only, say, a few hundred still wrapped and once UN-wrapped, it can never be De-unwrapped...... if that makes sense

The irony is that until, say, 15 years ago, replacement No4's used to come from Ordnance Stockpiles mummified similar to this with that thick greasy cloth impregnated waxy stuff around the muzzle, butt plate and trigger mechanism/body and all enclosed within a heat sealed shrunk-on green plastic bag thing. Not new of course but still 'new' as in Fazakerley FTR from the 50's.

Some of these were used for the massive L59 conversion to DP programme. I think 17,000 were eventually DP'd for Cadet use

I totally agree Peter, there are very few left that are wrapped and there won't be more but there are TONS of No4's out there in various condition that shoot well. I would love to have a wrapped No4 so if anyone has one at a realistic price send me a pm please. A perfect No4 never fired is going to be worth alot of money down the road, a perfect No4 wrapped is going to be worth MORE...ALOT MORE.

Of course once I get a wrapped No4 I will encourage everyone else to unwrap the few remaining and then eventually trade mine for a nice Rolls Royce or Bentley.

[spinecracker]

Sheesh, I wish I had a dad like you - all my dad gave me were a thick ear and some questionable DNA, which are not much use at the gun range :P

I did note someone making a comment on a GB listing that some people had found rust when unwrapping No.4 Mk.IIs. It sounds a little like scaremongering to me, but has anyone else heard of this?

[tlvaughn]

I did note someone making a comment on a GB listing that some people had found rust when unwrapping No.4 Mk.IIs. It sounds a little like scaremongering to me, but has anyone else heard of this?

I have not heard that, but if any of you have one wrapped, run, don't walk, and open it up like you are a 6 year old on Christmas morning and report back to me. I will leave mine in the wrap just in case this info is wrong!!

I'm with Peter and enfield 303t, I plan on leaving my wrapped and unissued Mk2's alone. Besides, I can use the other three for shooting !

[spinecracker]

I have come across one or two that were opened a little too enthusiastically with a box-cutter- not a pretty sight, and I bet that the owners freaked out just a tad.