What’s your Lee Enfield Holy Grail?

[Seaforth72]

My Holy Grail not yet found: Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. I (T), Canadian, with service combat history, ideally from the sniper himself.

In the meantime I am content with my "bird in the hand" No. 4 Mk. I (T) 1943 BSA with No. 32 Mk. I scope (scope mismatch # to rifle and missing rear eye shade) and the accompanying Scout Regiment Telescope.

Biggest regret: I sold my No. 4 Mk. I (T) 1945 British sniper rifle, NOS in the chest, which I bought from Lever Arms in Vancouver, BC, Canada circa 1972. They were normally $100. I waitied for the January 25% off sale and got it for $75!

Above all - the one I would NEVER part with is my slightly battered 1918 Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III* which was carried by a member of the Essex Scottish Regiment on Red Beach in the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942, was brought back by a wounded survivor (one of only 51 Essex Scottish men who made it back to the UK) and was hidden under the floorboards of his tent. http://www.ekscot.org/index/history/dieppe-raid/

My Dad, as a replacement Lieutenant to the regiment found it. He took it to the armourer Sergeant. The butt was damaged and the bore was rusty. The unit had by then just switched to the No. 4 Mk. I Lee-Enfield. The Sgt. put it in the vice, took a straight chisel and went "bang, bang, bang", thus creating the /|\ facing another /|\ mark, the sign of being released from service and threw it in a corner.

Dad pointed to his two pips his shoulder (Lieutenant rank) and said "Sergeant, we are going to fix that damned thing!" They grafted on a butt from a No. 4 Lee-Enfield. Cleaned the bore which retained pitting half way down the barrel. Dad then carried the rifle in service with the Essex-Scottish and while he was attached to No. 4 Commando[/B], in preference to the heavy Thompson 1928A1 Machine Carbine (SMG).



Lieutenant A. H. Stevens with this Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III* in England in 1943.

The only other Dieppe Raid rifles that I know of are in the Canadian War Museum (no bolt, no magazine) picked up by a French family, and a stone encrusted one found in the ocean off Dieppe and now in the Dieppe Museum.

His father had been taught to shoot by one of Annie Oakley's co-workers. In WWI he was the Musketry Officer for the 2nd Canadian Division and later he was an MG instructor with the Royal Flying Corps (Canada) in WWI. Dad grew up as a marksman. One day after fixing up the rifle. out at the ranges in England, the Battalion snipers were practicing with their brand new No. 4 Mk. I (T) sniper rifles. Each put a shilling in a hat for the winner. Dad told his batman to get get that f_____g rifle out of his quarters. Using his old fashioned iron sights he took home the prize. When he was later wounded on a Commando Raid in 1943, he was sent back to Canada as an instructor. He brought his Lee-Enfield home (including sling, bayonet, scabbard and frog) and I now have these.

[AR15-M4]

the holy grail for me is the one I just acquired 1945 all numbers matching with carrying box 47c sniper rifle can't wait to get a round or 2 off at the range

[cooltouch]

My "Holy Grail" Enfield would likely be nothing special to most of you. Ya see, I shoot my Enfields. Actually, two that I own are already ones that I really wanted: a regular old No1 Mk III and a No 4 MkII. The No1 Mk III is in very clean shape with a shiny bore, all matching numbers -- even the magazine -- and has a beautiful set of walnut stocks. It's one of the prettiest No1 MkIIIs that you'll ever see. Built in 1942, it's actually a Mk III* and is apparently a "dispersion rifle," since no armorer's stamp is evident. The No4 MkII is one of the alleged "Irish Contract" rifles -- a 1955 Fazakerly that I bought in about 1995. It was still in the wrapper in unissued condition and came with a bayonet. But the one I'd like to have most right now is my first ever Enfield: a No5 Mk I, and I'd like to find one in the same condition that mine was in: unissued and proof fired only. My folks gave it to me when I was a young teen back in the 60s and like an idiot, I sold it a few years later. I'd like it back.

So as you can see, my preferences are nothing special, but then I like Enfields that I can shoot and not feel particularly guilty about it.

[JerryEAL]

I just picked it up today.Been watching it for weeks. 1945 Long Branch No4 Mk1* All Matching #s with a Parker Hale SMLE rear site in almost new condition. I am as much afraid to shoot it as the previous owner.


Edit 16/09/2013. sold the PH sight.bought a No 32 Mk 2. What 7 months of hanging around here will do to your perception of a HOLY GRAIL. Thanks to all the experts!!!!!
No4 Mk1 T is the right choice!!!

[JerryEAL]

I called my wife in to look at the very fine example of a great collection and told her that it will take time and money(hint hint) to find nice rifles worth collecting. blah blah blah is all she heard. First thing she said was "Hey we have the same couch!"Figures I put some pics on my gallery. Seriously that is by far the nicest collection I have seen. Well done!

My first post. I have been lurking for a bit, but have been so impressed with the collections and knowledge of the members here!

Mine has got to be an Enforcer!!

Also, I have yet to come across a nice Long Lee!

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_0913-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_1724-1.jpg

I have a couple more to add to this picture, but it takes alot of effort to get everything out of the safes and assembled for a picture. Added a Longbranch and an Indian rework since this picture.

I have been lucky to have added the lens cloth, brush, container and sling to the L42A1 with the help of some new friends across the pond. Still need the IWS mount. Anyone?

Brian

[aussietomcatter]

My Enfield holy grail has got to be a a Lithgow HT Sniper, followed up by a Lithgow No6.

One day

[therno]

1950 Long Branch C No7 .22 trainer and scope for my BSA1944 No 4 (T) rifle that came with out a scope, but is otherwise in mint condition.

[Seaforth72]

My Holy Grail Lee-Enfield is my father's No. 1 Mk. III* that was used on the Dieppe Raid in August 1942 by an Essex-Scottish soldier (one of 50 whop returned from the raid) and then written off. It was salvaged by my Dad, Lieutenant A. H. Stevens of the Essex-Scottish Regiment and carried by him in training and on a Commando raid when he was attached to No. 4 Commando. When the unit received their No. 4 Mk. I(T) sniper rifles, he competed against the battalion's snipers using this rifle and he he won! When he was wounded, he brought it home with him as it had been written off by the Canadian Army! He also brought home his Pattern 1907 bayonet/frong/scabbard for this rifle, his S&W Model 1917 .455" (which his father had carried in WWI while attached to the Royal Flying Corps) , his Wilkinson F-S Fighting Knife with his name and hometown etched on the blade etc.

http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/a_h_stevens.htm

I also have 1943 No. 4 Mk. I(T) with No. 32 Mk. I scope; 1896 MLE (Lee-Enfield Mark I with Canadian 88th Regiment (Victoria Fusiliers) issue markings; No. 4 Mk. I Stevens-Savage (being a Stevens I pout the Stevens in ;-); No. 4 Mk. I* Longbranch.

[Sawfish]

When I was a kid, I used to pour over issues of Argosy, True, Sports Afield, and whatever other outdoor related magazines that I could glean from my Dad and Uncles. There was a company called Klein's that advertised all manner of military rifles at ridiculously low prices. Even for the early sixties. The rifle that I longed to own was the Mk 5 Jungle Carbine. Most of those that I knew of were owned by whitetail hunters that prized them for their quick handling in the Southern Swamps. None wanted to get rid of them. The years passed, and for some reason, I never found one. Although, I passed a number of Mausers, Arisakas, and other military rifles through my hands, trading my way through college. Last year, my BIL contracted lung cancer, and was told he was past the point of being cured. He came up to spend a few days with us, and we all knew it would most likely be his last visit. He asked me if I would help him get his things out of the car. I obliged, and he told me "that old blanket is for you, but be careful because there is something in it". That something was a Mark 5 No.1 Jungle Carbine in VG to Excellent condition. He said "I knew you wanted one of those so, I traded it out of a fellow who lives down the road from me". Over fifty years had passed, and I had my Holy Grail from an unexpected source. I was speechless. Tom died a few months later very pleased with himself that he finally had the last word on me.

[Aussie48]

My Holy Grail is a 1945 Lithgow No6 MK 1/1 and it looks like I have finally tracked one down, will supply some pictures once it is safely in my hands.