No4 Based Target rifles - Collectable?

[Bindi2]

Well, Tbone, it's probably because here in Australia, we've allready got one.

Or moore
No1Mk3, No4mk1*, No4Mk1, P14, Plus some other lithgow, Sportco ones as well.

[tbonesmith]

I really only bought it for parts myself, but it was just to nice to rip apart. I'm going to shoot it this weekend, and see how she goes.

[Peter Laidler]

Let us know TBone. I suspect that like these specials based on No4's, that it probably won't shoot any better than a properly set up standard rifle

[jss]

Someone who shall be nameless said to me today that he bought 2x 7.62mm P-14's just to machine the meaty barrels to L39/42 spec for needy Enfields

Would those "needy Enfields" still be considered Enfields in collecting terms or just parts rifles, Enfields with already 3rd party P14 barrels "adjusted" to look like the original, effectively assembled from what seems to be deemed scrap. Would it not be better to machine a new barrel. At least then it could still be called an Enfield with a brand new part fitted.

[bigduke6]

Would those "needy Enfields" still be considered Enfields in collecting terms or just parts rifles, Enfields with already 3rd party P14 barrels "adjusted" to look like the original, effectively assembled from what seems to be deemed scrap. Would it not be better to machine a new barrel. At least then it could still be called an Enfield with a brand new part fitted.

I guess its down to cosmetics ( the snake skin finish ) and price, you can get a far greater price for an L39/ L42 than a P14 Target rifle.

The P14,s possibly just barreled actions etc and whole lot cheaper than a new barrel, makes sense to shift the L39 or L42, with a recycled barrel, with correct finish, very little cost and pleasing to the eye.

The P14 actions can be kept for parts or rebuilt at some statge, and are excellent for a wide range of calibres......

[Peter Laidler]

Getting off the subject a bit now, but don';t forget that not all the heavy L39/42 barrels were the snakeskin finish. The later ones were lathe/machine finished with a 'centre' portion. Certainly those that I, er..... 'set aside' for want of a better word were the later sort.

[bigduke6]

Getting off the subject a bit now, but don';t forget that not all the heavy L39/42 barrels were the snakeskin finish. The later ones were lathe/machine finished with a 'centre' portion. Certainly those that I, er..... 'set aside' for want of a better word were the later sort.

Thought someone may mention the later barrels, but I dont think u see many of these on a £50 special.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

I have two "range rifles" from OZ and am quite happy with them. Still part of the history.
Also a L39A1 and a copy of one from Ms Parker of of AJ Parker. ( bought that before the government released the L42's and L39's)

[Frederick303]

As a US collector of Enfield based target rifles I have noted that it is very difficult to find 7.62/308 variants here in the US. Most of the examples we have drifted south from Canada unless they were part of the 1994 Navy Arms L39A1 import.

At the same time they do not go for that much money when found. A few years ago I was able to get a 1982 Palma Omark and 1974 Musgrave Palma rifle for 1500 for the pair, out the door price (both compete with sights and the provenance as Robert Jensen’s rifles). Now I bought them at Camp Perry and as they had sat for a few days before I saw them I was surprised in an environment like that no one bought them. The 1971 and 1976 Winchester Palma rifles for sale at the same time were 1.5 times the cost each of the British target rifles combined price. A year ago I bought a 1979 Omark NZ Palma rifle with sights for 900; it sat 6 months before I saw it.

The same is true of No 4 based 7.62 Target rifles here, with the exception of DCRA rifles, for some reasons they and L39A1 rifles over 1000 dollar rifles. The cut back .3908 No 4 based rifles are dirt cheap if you see them. My Canadian No 4 conversion with a like new heavy LBS Omark barrel was about 500 dollars. My 7.62 hammer forged beat up sported target rifle was 270 dollars in 1999.

I think a lot of it has to do with the decline of fullbore NRA type shooting; the young guys want to shoot AR-15 rifles and AK-47 pattern arms and make a lot of noise. The market for obsolete target rifles is really quite flat. At a .local collectors show there is a really nice M1903 .308 Norma magnum target rifle with mint barrel, dies and 40 pieces of brass that has not sold in over a year at an asking price of 750. It is a really nice rifle, an ideal starter rifle for a fellow that wanted to try out NRA mid-range or long range shooting. Very nice complete set of target sights, with a on it as well. No interest.

As a comparison, a tube gun set up in 7.62, 30-06 or 6.5-284 is at least a 1500 dollar rifle by the time you get done, without sights. These seem to be the rage these days with the competitive shooters I know.

[superbee]

A lot of palma rifles for sale here

No4Stuff | Just another WordPress.com site