Help choosing a Lee Enfield

[muffett.2008]

Good for you.

[Bindi2]

ENJOY, use often, keep it clean and plan to pass it along to another guardian.

[Aussie48]

A good buy you won't be dissapointed

[Mag Fed]

Don't forget, you may add your new 1950 LB S/N to this survey Thread : Do you have a 1950 Long Branch?
Cheers.

[Surpmil]

I have examples of both Maltby Attachment 38021
and Longbranch Attachment 38022
in pristine condition, (both 1942) the british one outshoots the others, is far slicker compared to it's overseas counterparts and for a clunky No.4 is a pretty nice rifle.
That, coming from me is a good recommendation, being anti No.4.

Interesting. What makes the Maltby "slicker" or the LB less so?

[muffett.2008]

Surpmil, that's an interesting question.
It's one I've asked myself a couple of times, even did a test with a couple of other rifle club members.
The agreement was the same, in favour of the Brit. Even tried using different lubes, the only one that came close was a silicon lube, but once you applied it to the Maltby, that was it, way in front again.

I guess it's the standard of finish, or maybe the guide rail, could be binding a bit with the side stress on closing, they just feel so much clunkier than their Brit. counterparts. (....and before you ask, yes we tested other rifles, Longbranch, Savage and Fazerkerley.)


Postscript. I will admit that the Brit's had much more use, maybe that's it.

[enfieldman]

I also own a 1943 Maltby and a 1950 LB
Both are in excellent condition, shoot great and are definite keepers.
The `43 Maltby definitely has more history behind it, but choose
either / or both!!! good luck.

[Peter Laidler]

There was a lot of upset at the end of the war about the closure of the Maltby rifle plant/factory for many reasons, mainly that it was in the middle of the steel industry and Country (hardly central I suppose....) with a good well trained workforce and product. But Theale had already got the chop so any further Sten gun manufacture would have to stay at Fazakerley which meant that as rifle production was already there, the fate of Maltby was sealed. It apparently stayed in a 'working mothballed' state for several years but was shut.
Hey............. That's got me thinking........ I wonder if this working mothballed stauts was when they were operating a small-scale FTR programme

It made it to Q's in Parliament but.........., well you know what it's like with politicians