Fazakerley

[Anzac15]

I've read this entire post, many good points made. I have more than a few of these wonderful old war horses, I love to shoot them, and I absolutely cherish the history they have. I have YET to run into a wrapped LE, and if I ever do, I'm buying it, and it will stay wrapped. It will be my one small attempt to truly preserve a piece of history, and as a collector/shooter, I feel that it would be a logical part of the collection. As Peter said, once you've shot one, you pretty much have had the experience!
It's a hard call, to unwrap or not unwrap. I recently ran into an Arisaka that was still mummy wrapped, supposedly brought out of a cave somewhere in Japan shortly after the cessation of hostilities, and believe me, I did a whole lot of thinking about what I would do with it had I indeed bought it. I finally decided not to, because it would have absolutely driven me nuts trying to decide whether to take it out of the wrap or leave it as is.
I guess what I'm trying to say after much rambling, is that if you do manage to find an undisturbed example of one of these historic pieces, really take into consideration what you have. But if you do decide to unwrap one, that's fine too. Just treat it well. We all have a common interest in these rifles, and that's what really is important.
But if someone unwraps one just to Bubba it into a 'cheap' deer rifle, then we gots problems!

[Peter Laidler]

Off subject a bit, but I wouldn't mind betting that when the new in wrap rifles were (relatively.....) cheap, that some dealers and a one or two bubbas got them, opened them up and did just that! Turned them into bubba specials or made attempts to sporterise them. Just as Anzac states.

As a matter of interest, has anyone seen aUF 55/56 Fazakerley sported or Bubba'd

[Frederick303]

Yes, in the US. Back when they were around 200 dollars I saw two of the 55A series rifles that were bubbaed. One the guy still had the original wood (he had stocked it in one of the plastic sporting stocks) and so it could be restored. The other had the blonde would destroyed as it was cut down, but not in a particularly nice way. The only part that could be saved was the buttstock and aft

At the time there were original bands and F55 dated forends available so I picked a set up, along with the correct F53 bands. Since then I have not seen a bubbaed rifle to pick up cheap. It has been at least 6 to 8 years.

[newcastle]

I have a 55 Mk2 which is Bubbaified - not by me I hasten to add. Shots very well though. It would be my go to zombie gun as it's light and easily carried with a shortened barrel.

[Charlie]

I bought a well screwed 55 Faz a few months back. Housed in a hideous black plastic stock. Still haven't figured out why Bubba drilled that big hole in the side of the receiver. i bought it cheap for usable parts.