Enfield No.4 Mk.2 "Irish Contract" Value Question

[wesman5060]

Hi! I dont usually fo this but i was wondering if i could get your opinion on an enfield no4 mk2 "irish contract" rifle im thinking about buying. The main problems are that the barrel is apparantly slightly pitted, the gun was in very poor condition but the seller had it refurbished, the flip sight area seems to be almost stripped of the blackening oil stuff, and the front crown area is pretty pitted. The number one problem is the original mag is lost. I have the seller at 420 from his 500 but ive never felt so unsure about purchasing a rifle before haha. Since yall are obviously smarter than i am on this kinda stuff i figured id ask your honest opinion on the matter. I attached the link. I would greatly appreciate any wisdom or advice yall can give me. Thanks!

https://www.theoutdoorstrader.com/threads/fs-lee-enfield-mk2-no-4.1705255/

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[Bigwagon]

Too high IMO. You'll spend another $40-50 for a replacement magazine and still have a pitted bore. For me, that's a $300 rifle in that condition.

[Gil Boyd]

Wesman5060,

Welcome to the site. Any chance of photos to help us answer your question for you?

[CowboyBillWatts]

two things. one, IMHO, the words "irish contract" do not add value to the piece. many of the "irish contract" (yes, i own one) didn't see much use, so many of them tend to be in good condition. therein is the value. IMHO, the words "irish contract" have nothing to do with it. two, the seller admits that the gun has been "refurbished"? ...meaning that even tho it is not sported, it is nowhere near its original condition. pass at any price. there are better examples out there.

[Gil Boyd]

OK done the link and had a look. From what you describe in your original post you have clearly seen it or at least held it if you have seen pitting etc and poor general condition!!
It is probably a rifle that needs some TLC to bring it back from where it has been locked up in a damp room from sometime.
No big shakes with that, but it is a $300 rifle anytime of day as stated.
Forget the Irish Contract, thats as appealing as saying Costa Coffee if you get my drift! So in short, worth having if you desire a project, and don't forget the parst to make one up would cost you that anyway at todays prices, so IMHO make an offer!

[mrclark303]

I would agree with Gil, the rest of the rifle 'looks' to be in pretty good order, ( pics aren't great though) so assuming we aren't talking badly corroded or shot out bore, $300 offer ... Good bore scrub and second hand magazine. Or add a few hundred and keep on looking for a really good example.

[CINDERS]

I could not make out if the rear tie bolt (if thats its name) is there as the pics are pretty poor, pitted barrel but the good news is the rifling is still there Phew!
Me I would pass as he gives no indication on how bad the pitting is and a pitted barrel is nothing but a copper magnet great if you do not mind spending hours cleaning it, no mag they are not a drop in fit and may require a bit of work but there is plenty of threads by one of the top gurus here on fitting up and getting them to feed correctly.
Unless your hell bent on grabbing a sorry puppy looking for a good home I'd pass been down that road and it cost me to get my '16 Lithgow back to almost as issued nearly 8 times what I paid for it (a sorry puppy!)

[Peter Laidler]

Remember this about cleaning a pitted barrel. You can scrub it so that it is bright and shining new. But to get there, you ain't replaced the corroded or pitted metal. Nope......... you've removed a bit more of the good metal surrounding it!

[Gil Boyd]

.............................Soon make a good 4/10, now that is Irish

[wesman5060]

Wow, thank you all for your advice. I ended up not going through with it thankfully. He for some reason insisted it was a $500 rifle. Went with a gorgeous 55 RAF contract instead. Got a few questions on it I posted. Thanks again yall!