Fazakerley

[jmoore]

I've bought wrapped and kept them that way, but other folk have kindly provided me with "new" out of wrapper rifles at quite the discount. So "both" IS an option!

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[mtbikerwvu]

Guess you could go have the package x-rayed to see what's inside and enjoy it that way. Realize that some folks use an item, enjoy it that way and get far more perceived value from using an item in it's intended fashion. Nice weapon, nice cardboard enjoy them both and if when you're done with that rifle I hope you have shot it so much that the barrel has melted off. What's cool is you have the freedom and choice to do whatever you desire with that rifle. Kudos!

PS The Mona Lisa wrapped in paper would have been just another old painting wrapped in paper. The first addition Silver Surfer comic book sealed in plastic is unfortunately unread. Babe Ruth's rookie card still in the wrap with the gum would have been thrown away as unsold 80 years ago. JMHO, chastise away.

[jrhead75]

Stringing together a bunch of bad analogies doesn't change the fact that an old military rifle in the original wrap straight from the factory is an historical artifact in it's own right. The idea that anyone has the right to do with their own property as they will is axiomatic, but doesn't alter that fact any more that someone's desire to sporterize that old military rifle does. That you can doesn't always mean that you should.

If you want to use sports memorabilia metaphors, then think on what that Babe Ruth card would be worth after a few trips in the spokes of some kid's bike. Condition is often everything, and "mint in the box" carries a lot of weight in any number of collecting "disciplines"...including this one.

It is an inarguable fact that, in comparison to a wrapped rifle, it will lose a great deal more than "a couple of hundred" dollars of value over the years by the fact of being unwrapped and fired. Whether or not that matters to you is entirely your call.

Nobody else has the right to say that you can't, but the fact that you did isn't anything to gloat about either (IMO).

[Peter Laidler]

Wise words there JR........ VERY wise words. Additionally, once it's been opened and used, then the next buyer only has your word that it's only fired, say, 12 rounds since! In an Armourers world, once it's been fired, it's in its what we call '.....first quarter of life'. thats anything from 2 to approx 2,000 rounds

[Clash77]

Personally, I don't see the sense in owning a rifle that's just going to sit in the safe wrapped up in grease paper, never to see the light of day. But I see where some of you are coming from in the sense of it's ever growing value. I would honestly probably never buy a NIW gun due to the fact that it would just sit in the safe wrapped up in paper until I sell it, and IMHO they're just not as interesting to me.

[Amatikulu]

Without trying to minimize the opinions of anyone, I have an offer to make to those who may come to this site and want to unwrap their NIW 1955 production Lee Enfield No.4 Mark 2 rifle.

I will trade you for a No.4 Mark 2 , 1955 production rifle that I bought at a gun show a few years ago. The previous owner thought it was a good idea to remove the wrap just prior to entering the show so that potential buyers could see what he had. He carried it around in a plastic case and happened to come to my table. It was and still is covered in the original sticky cosmolene but he had thrown away the wrapping material. Apart from removing the stickiness from the stock so that I can move it around, I have not cleaned it any further.

I will gladly trade it with anyone that wants to give me the equivalent rifle, untouched and still in the original wrap. That way you will get what you want, and I will get what I want

[newcastle]

Thats a great offer Folks. He mad ethe same one to me when I was talking about maybe unwrapping mine, but I was talked down from the ledge and it still sits in the wrap, in fcat not only in teh wrap but presently in a Z-Corr preservation bag as do all my other rifles too as they're stacked in boxes at the new house un touched unloved and unopened. Stupid me for buying a fixer upper.

[Peter Laidler]

What a great idea from Amatikulu. Anyone who has a sealed up rifle and advocates slicing it open ought to take this offer.

Any takers?

Nice one Amatikulu!

[mtbikerwvu]

Just saying, through my bad analogies that the OP has what is a fine rifle and was in my opinion looking for some comfirmation to that fact. You all can grind on him all you want and play it as being direct and forth right but it comes off as someone who wants to bring down a person's Holy Grail rifle. Sometimes being direct, forth right and clobbering someone for what you perceive as a mistake kills their love for the hobby whatever it may be. A simple wow, glad you are out there and that is a fine looking rifle and oh by the way some collectors really prize the original wrapped guns, so if you ever get another you may want to keep it wrapped would have been good. But hey I am just so me rookie gun forum a$$ hole that really dosen't have a right to question the gun Gods.

[Badger]

But hey I am just so me rookie gun forum a$$ hole that really dosen't have a right to question the gun Gods.

With all due respect to your opinion....

I think the point you're missing is that we are primarily collector's site, dedicated to the preservation, research and knowledge gathering surrounding old military rifles. So, when someone rips open one of the few remaining Enfield Rifles in it's original packaging, then of course serious collectors are going to point out the devaluation mistake of that move.

At the point that it was opened, obviously, the monetary value of it as a collectible went right into the toilet and if the point of doing so was to experience shooting an Enfield rifle, then there were cheaper ways to accomplish that goal, with less destruction to a historical artifact in its original condition.

Regards,
Doug