To Buy or not to buy - that is the question

[Alan de Enfield]

Just to throw a curved ball in -
How about a No1 MkV from a dealer who is trustworth and knows his Enfields and describes it as "immaculate and in original condition".
Considerably more expensive than the long lee (almost 2x the price) but its not all about the cost.

Uniqueness
Value for money
Collectability
Investment
Usable

Appreciate all the comments on the LL but can only have one more weapon on my licence so I need to make sure its the 'right one'.
The only way to get any more would be to sell something else - I guess it would have to be the 'excellent / immaculate condition' Savage No4,

The No1, The Enforcer, The No5, The No7 & The No4T are here to stay.

[enfield303t]

Just to throw a curved ball in -
How about a No1 MkV from a dealer who is trustworth and knows his Enfields and describes it as "immaculate and in original condition".
Considerably more expensive than the long lee (almost 2x the price) but its not all about the cost.

Uniqueness
Value for money
Collectability
Investment
Usable

Appreciate all the comments on the LL but can only have one more weapon on my licence so I need to make sure its the 'right one'.
The only way to get any more would be to sell something else - I guess it would have to be the 'excellent / immaculate condition' Savage No4,

The No1, The Enforcer, The No5, The No7 & The No4T are here to stay.

Alan now you really have thrown a monkey wrench into the works. A very tough decision and even more complicated that you are only allowed one more gun. I never knew you also had that rule in England. Hard to believe how draconian that law is but you never know unless things change here in Canada we may face something like that someday. Good luck on your choice and keep us informed.

[Gingercat]

I personally prefer the look of the SMLE and think every collection should have a No.1 MkV (I found one at the start of this year).

1922 and particularly 1923 dates seem to be more scarce than the 1924 dated ones, but only 20,000 odd manufactured in total...

If the dealer is who I think it is - highly recommended!

All the best,

Mike

[Peter Laidler]

Hi Enfield .303T. Draconian just isn't the half of it. After last weeks episode, people are already champing at the bit to get things tightened up even MORE.

I see one newspaper telling us that the deranged assassin was armed with a powerful sniper rifle (it was a .22 with a scope) and an automatic shotgun - that was akin to a machine gun no less.......

Watch this space...................

[Alan de Enfield]

Alan now you really have thrown a monkey wrench into the works. A very tough decision and even more complicated that you are only allowed one more gun. I never knew you also had that rule in England. Hard to believe how draconian that law is but you never know unless things change here in Canada we may face something like that someday. Good luck on your choice and keep us informed.

Legally speaking there is probably 'no limit' but it does get increasingly difficult to obtain permission to purchase additional weapons.
Remember in the UK, every time we want to buy a firearm we must apply to the Police for permission, send off our licenec and have a 'permission to purchase' (slot) added, once you have filled that 'slot' you will need to apply again for the next one.

Firstly we must 'justify' every weapon, the typical question from the Police is 'why do you need (not want - need) another 303"
Secondly once you get above (about) 10 firearms the Police want you to have a burglar alarm linked directly to the Police Station.
Each regional Police authority interperates the rules slightly differently but basically it gets very hard to get more than 7 or 8 rifles.

I already have 3 gun cabinets ( 1 for rifles, 1 for shotguns and one for ammunition) and really no more room for any more.

I have 5 shotguns (including a No4 in 410 calibre) + 5 full bore Enfields + a .22rf Enfield and one available slot for a 7.62 / .303, that will make 12 firearms, so I'd be 'pushing it' to try for another one.

[enfield303t]

Hi Enfield .303T. Draconian just isn't the half of it. After last weeks episode, people are already champing at the bit to get things tightened up even MORE.

I see one newspaper telling us that the deranged assassin was armed with a powerful sniper rifle (it was a .22 with a scope) and an automatic shotgun - that was akin to a machine gun no less.......

Watch this space...................

You know Peter I didn't want to bring that subject up but I just had a email from a friend and a United Nations survery shows the UK has over 4 times the violent crime rate of the USA. Uk violent crime is 2034/100,000 residents and the USA is less than 500/100,000. Here In Canada our figure is 935/100,000 and our gun laws are much stricter than in the USA. Your gun laws have done nothing to prevent any type of crime and I was very surprised to see those statistics. I might be wrong but here in Canada gun crime 98% of the time is committed by illegally owned guns and not legally registered firearms. Go figure we have spent somewhere around 2 BILLION dollars and have solved NOTHING. I have sent the survey results to Badger asking him to forward it to you. Most people in the world always talk of the crime in the USA and compared to them the UK is totally out of control.

[bigduke6]

Just to throw a curved ball in -
How about a No1 MkV from a dealer who is trustworth and knows his Enfields and describes it as "immaculate and in original condition".
Considerably more expensive than the long lee (almost 2x the price) but its not all about the cost.

Uniqueness
Value for money
Collectability
Investment
Usable

Appreciate all the comments on the LL but can only have one more weapon on my licence so I need to make sure its the 'right one'.
The only way to get any more would be to sell something else - I guess it would have to be the 'excellent / immaculate condition' Savage No4,

The No1, The Enforcer, The No5, The No7 & The No4T are here to stay.

Go for the No 1 MkV,

Try to get a few collectors slots on your ticket you could put this on and shift your No4 T on , if it is original then price not bad, a few pointers to look for: Original fore end and rest of the woodwork, original correct sight, correct mag cut off "no hole" , the safety has a V on.

A few pics would go down well.

[RobD]

Alan,
The limit on most peoples' FAC slots, before one needs a strong room and a monitored alarm, is around 12-15 guns - so I reckon you are in very familiar territory. I think the police's main concern is for security. You might try taking your collection into the obsolete calibres; I have more obsolete than on-ticket. In fact, the larger the overall collection, the better, or so the police have told me - it reassures them that they can seriously consider you as having "good reason to possess" as a shooter/collector. Obviously, no target shooter uses as many as 12 different guns, so the collecting/studying aspect is important to demonstrate to them.

[Gingercat]

Hi Alan

To follow on from Rob, I'm just renewing my FAC (nice timing after this week!)and applying for another 5 'authorities' for .303 calibre. With 10 firearms already, my local constabulary were prepared to let me have another 2 before they want me to install an intruder alarm. They also recommend multi gun cabinets to 'split the risk'.

You are very knowledgeable on the subject, so I don't see why you couldn't qualify as a 'collector'. I pursuaded my local constabulary to give me that status last year (when asking for my 4th Lee Enfield), citing the associations I had joined, the reference books I had accumulated on the subject and participation in forums, such as this.

If you can accommodate an alarm and squeeze in an extra cabinet (some put them in the attic) - go for it!

Mike

[PrinzEugen]

I've got one seven gun cabinet and an ammo cabinet and I'd really struggle to find a space to get another one in for a variety of reasons. I've got on 7.62 slot left on my fac and I've got a gun lined up for it - and I wouldn't be that optimistic about convincing my local firearms officer about how I 'need' another one.
On the issue of collector's certificates - does anyone here have both? Ie a fac AND collector's? Do they shoot guns off both? I am a major military history buff and would be confident of convincing them of my interest in this, but I've never come across a collecting shooter as yet, and would like to hear of other people's experiences.

Oh and Alan - I'd got for the no1 mk5 - I love the smle and I reckon every enfield shooter should have at least one! (mind you, I love my long lee .22 conversion too...) In view of our nation's history a good wwI dated n1mk 3 or 3* would be my choice though.