What’s your Lee Enfield Holy Grail?

[Lithy]

I got lucky and found one of my Lithgow Holy Grails.

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[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Well, There is no more room in the walk in closet, have to take guns out to get to the back. A P14 sniper, or a P14 .22 would be nice but not much chance of it around here. Now there are a couple of odditys I wouldn't mind having.
1. SMLE with bipod and carry handle. Some were done because there was a shortage of BRENS and used for training.
2. No1Mk3 with anti-aircraft rear sight (like the jap rifles.)
3, Pakistani No4 (in the realm of possibility)

Now for an oddity, Have a Carcano bayonet modified to fit a No1Mk3
Apparently when the Italians were rearmed with smle's they used their own bayonets.
Even if I don't get what I am looking for, there are about 175 Enfields I already have. (not sure of exact number as I have lost count, could be more than that)

One more, A burmese No1Mk3 reworked to take the Arisaka bayonet. I remember the guy at a gun show walking around with the nosecap from one trying to find a bayonet for it. If I had known what it was, I would have tried to buy the rifle from him as he obviously didn't know what he had either

I do get a laugh when someone asks what he needs to have a complete Enfield collection. Even the Pattern Room doesn't have a complete collection!

[Ian]

My grail rifle would be an L-42, in the meantime however there are so many that I want to add to the collection that I'm pretty sure I'll be hard up for at least the next 10 years - ah well, it's only money

[spinecracker]

My Holy Grails were 1941 Long Branches and Enfield Enforcers, both of which I have had, and have had to sell to pay for bills. I am in the process of packing up my (ok, no longer my...) Enforcer to ship it off to the new lucky owner, so all I will be left with is a 1941 Long Branch that apparently has seen service in Indonesia. My ultimate Holy Grails now would have to be a 1941 Long Branch with the original forend (the rest of the parts I can find, scrounge, beg or borrow), an Enfield Enforcer with correct bipod and an L42 (yep, hooked on sniper variants and Long Branches lol).

John Sukey has 175 Enfields??? Ok, I then only have 174 to go to match him lol.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Just thought of another one, The smoke discharger built on a No1Mk3. For the folks who remember "Star Wars", its the one that the jawas used to immobilize R2D2. Never going to happen, because its an EVUL ILLEGAL short barreled rifle even though it was only used to discharge smoke cannisters.
as for my having 175 Enfields, that was the last time I counted them, there were more after that. but it's just too damm much trouble to haul them out for a recount. I won't be adding more because there is no more ROOM
The last one I bought is a Martini-Henry Fencing musket. Had been pleading to IMA for one since they first showed pics of the Nepal cache. They finaly decided to sell the 10 they had and I got first pick.

[DocLee]

My holygrail although not a real Lee Enfield is No.3 (T) sniper rifle, maybe because it is so very limited. Mind you a No.4 Mk.1 (T) with its complete transit case with all it's assesories is still on my wish list, But here in the far south items like these are very scarce. To import one of these rifles into the country is not easy, not with our firearm legislation as it is.
My current collection consists of the following: ERA P14
SMLE No.1 Mk.111
SMLE nO1 mK. 111*
No.4 Mk.1
No.4 Mk.2
No.5 Mk.1

[jrhead75]

Excellent thread, and some REALLY mind boggling rifles!

It would probably be quicker for me to list the L-Es that aren't on my "Holy Grail" list...

I did recently come across one of them though. A CLLE MkI converted from an 1893 MLM MkII by Vickers in 1911 and issued to the 8th Hampshires (Isle of Wight Rifles) a unit that fought at Gallipoli, and later with the EEF at Gaza. It's in remarkable condition, and the only reason I don't plan on having it buried with me is the loss it'd be to future civilization.

It's on top in the picture...

As for the pending list:

Any of the converted rifles put into use during the early years of the Great War.
Any WWI L-E sniper rifle
An LEC or Metford Cavalry Carbine in original condition
An un-modified MkI ShtLE
Any L-E marked to the North Irish Horse (family connection)

I'd better stop now...I'm already in enough trouble with the wife.

[BeaverMeat]

My holy grail... would have to be both WWII sniper variants.

SMLE No1 Mk III*(HT) and Enfield No4 Mk I*(T)

and it seems Marstar has one for sale for $3500. Bottom of page
http://www.marstar.ca/gf-usedguns/n-rifles.shtm

[bergen]

Hello to each and everyone of you. I joined the site about an hour ago looking for some advice, so I guess that makes me the site Sprog. I stumbled across this thread whilst exploring and here's my two penn'orth and an introduction of myself.

I did the last RM Snipers course that shot the No. 4 (T). The course was issued with both the No. 4 and the L42-A1 and we were allowed to choose which one we used for final badge-test shoot. I always stalked with the No. 4 but I shot on finals with the L-42.

I carried the No. 4 on active service and when the L-42 went on general issue I carried that. So. Lee Enfield Holy Grail would be a No. 4 (T) and an L-42.

I have been looking for both of these weapons for a few years now and finally located and bought an excellent No. 4 a couple of months ago. It's dated 1944 has all the correct marks and stamps and has a T/S with matching numbers although dated 1945. It might even be genuine :-)

I'm now looking for an L-42 and for all the paraphernalia associated with the No. 4 [Box / Scout Reg. / Sling / Cuddly Toy etc etc]

I will keep you informed of progress.

[bouletbill]

One more Lee-Enfield would be great , don't care which one 'cos they've each got their own character, anyway , I'm skint so beggars can't be choosers ! mind you , a mint 1955 No4 Mk2 would be very nice . Rats , this thread has got me dreaming again .