Irish Contract Enfields

[sdh1911]

My guess would be a Mahogany stained maple, it's a kissing cousin to a desk I made for my wife a few years ago. Best bet is to remove the top wood and give it a real small scratch. If by chance the gun was stored in direct light for awhile it would indeed darken an oil finish, but, it would be a different shade, HTH-SDH

[scanursector]

can someone guess the value of an unissued "Irish" MK2?

[Alan de Enfield]

can someone guess the value of an unissued "Irish" MK2?

Depends which country you are in.

[krinko]

Back to the wood question---
It's going to be dyed Beech, dollars to donuts. The Brits were dying Beech and sapwood Walnut in WW2 and kept up the dying practice* in postwar production.
Dye instead of stain, because Beech, like Birch, will not absorb the pigment in stain very well at all.

The photos below are of an issued Irish Contract rifle of 11/54 vintage. (I have another, dated 1/55 that's a blonde as a Swedish Cheesemonger.)
The Macro shot of the grain shows typical European Beech flecking, or "rays" in the quartergrain. Something like this form should show up on your rifle, too.

So why is this one Brown?
Would you want to be hiding in the bushes, waiting to ambush the Red Menace, clutching a Blonde that fairly glows in the dark?
-----krinko

*"How could it be a 'dying practice' if they kept at it?" I hear you ask. Well I would do, if I hadn't got my fingers in my earholes.

[scanursector]

Depends which country you are in.

oh yea, that certainly clears that up. once again, anyone else have a guess?

[bearhunter]

There are so many factors involved in pricing. Country is definitely a consideration. Other things that will effect pricing are the accessories that accompany the rifle. The last batch of unissued "Irish Contract" MkII rifles came in a waxed paper money wrap in the grease. They also had new in grease, paper wrapped no9 bayonets and scabbards along with a new sling in a plastic bag. In Canada, one of these complete sets will sell as high as a $1000. The price will drop $250 if the rifle is unwrapped and knock off another $150-$250, if the accessories are missing. If the rifle has been degreased and fired, knock off another $100. An obviously used rifle sell in the $400 to $500 range, depending on circumstances and buyers interest.

[Alan de Enfield]

oh yea, that certainly clears that up. once again, anyone else have a guess?

This board is manned by members from all over the world, unless you put your country of origin in your profile how do we know where you are from ?

Unfortunately you are not going to make many friends here with that sort of attitude, we do try and help but there could be as much as 100% difference in prices from one country to the next.

As Bear hunter says - the detail counts, is it in the wrap,has it been used etc.

There isnt such a furory over the "Irish Rifles" in England, maybe as they never went to Ireland anyway and just stayed in a big warehouse.

UK price would be in the order of £600 (used) to maybe £1000 still sealed up in the mummy

As you obviousy dont wish to reveal where you are in the world I'll make a guess at Australia - there are AUS$ 1.64 to the GB £1 if you want to convert it

[fenian]

Hey Scanursector. A dealer at a Richmond Va. gun show, had a few of these in the wrap no.4 mkII Irish contract Enfields with bayonet. I think it was about six months ago and he was asking around $650, if memory serves.

[madcratebuilder]

In the wrap 01/55 Irish with No9 bayonet $650. I have seen asking prices as high as 1k, no buyers.


Unwrapped 1955 UF series $400 w/No7 bayonet


I found this 11/54 Irish contract that was been in service for $250.


This 09/53 Burma contract for $160


All four appear to be Beech wood.

The 'Irish Contract' was the largest of all the 'contract' rifles. You would think there would be more interest in the small number contracts, like Kenya, Zambia or Hong Kong.