What’s your Lee Enfield Holy Grail?

[Squirlee]

This is mine only because it is my only one. Well, actually I do have another Enfield No1 Mk3 but it is junk because it is missing the bolt, the barrel has been cut and the receiver has been drilled and tapped for a scope.

1916 Enfield No1 Mk3 Sht LE



And this is before getting some love.

[Omark]

My holy grail down here in NZ is a fultons regulated no4mk2 with central sights and a beautifully polished walnut stock, a New Zealand carbine (supposedly one of only 1500
Made) and if course for accuracy my long Tom

[JimbobRVA]

I'm sure it wouldn't satisfy the purist collector, but I'm very happy with the No4 that I recently found here in the US. A 1941 Long Branch No4 Mk1 that ended up a Mk1/2 after FTR at Fazakerly in '54. I love the idea of this early war Canadian rifle still being in service with the British Army through the '50s and wish I knew its story. The bolt serial doesn't match, but appears to be a LB Mk1* from '44 judging from the serial no.s listed on this site.

Unfortunately the barrel looked rough, and this was confirmed after tumbling 10 rounds over an impressive area at 75 yds! After some online searching I discovered BDL Ltd in South Carolina and was amazed that there seemed to be an Enfield guru here in the US who might be able to help. Within a day my No4 was on its way to Brian Dick, who by chance had a '50 Fazakerly barrel on the shelf! New barrel, bolt-head, complete service and now she's ready for the ranges next weekend. Fantastic work by Brian, and I can't wait to put her through her paces.

As I said, not the most collectable rifle, but definitely my favorite.

[André]

The only Lee-Enfield I own : a N°4 Mk I* (Stevens-Savage 1943) FTR'd at Fazakerley in 1953 (new barrel and stock and center bedded). It's a good shooter though, it groups 174 SMK in 1.6 MOA.

[limpetmine]

My Holy Grails: a L-42A1and a Trials (T) sniper.
I'll add, too, an Enforcer, since nobody said anythinga bout cost!!!!

9 year update. Got the Enforcer, got the L-42A1, one that BDL brought in.
Got the Trials (T) but it was "sportered" into a hunting rifle. So still need a Trails T.
Found a rare rare Long Branch No. 4 Mk 1/2. Neat find. Have a LB No. 4 Mk 1/3.
A No. 9 Mk 1 .22 found a home here, but at the opportunity cost of a 1934 Lithgow
that I had to pass on for lack of funds. Same show, table across from each other! z
A LB No. 7 .22 and BSA No. 8 .22 somehow found there way here. Need the jags and rods for the cased No. 7.
One, then another 1953 Lithgow has found a spot in the room as well. One has a mis-matched bolt, the other is matching.
Also added a No. 1 Mk VI, an L-39, a couple L-59's, and most fortunately was able to find
1 of 73, 1943 trails Long Branch (T). BDL and Captain Laidler did a great job for me on the rehab of the rifle and the scope.
Got a butchered Envoy that needs total restoration. Still looking for a good one of these.
Most recently added a 1941 two digit No. 4 Mk 1 Long Branch. First day of production!!

[gundoc2112]

9 year update. Got the Enforcer, got the L-42A1, one that BDL brought in.
Got the Trials (T) but it was "sportered" into a hunting rifle. So still need a Trails T.
Found a rare rare Long Branch No. 4 Mk 1/2. Neat find. Have a LB No. 4 Mk 1/3.
A No. 9 Mk 1 .22 found a home here, but at the opportunity cost of a 1934 Lithgow
that I had to pass on for lack of funds. Same show, table across from each other! z
A LB No. 7 .22 and BSA No. 8 .22 somehow found there way here. Need the jags and rods for the cased No. 7.
One, then another 1953 Lithgow has found a spot in the room as well. One has a mis-matched bolt, the other is matching.
Also added a No. 1 Mk VI, an L-39, a couple L-59's, and most fortunately was able to find
1 of 73, 1943 trails Long Branch (T). BDL and Captain Laidler did a great job for me on the rehab of the rifle and the scope.
Got a butchered Envoy that needs total restoration. Still looking for a good one of these.
Most recently added a 1941 two digit No. 4 Mk 1 Long Branch. First day of production!!

Wow. I need a fraction of your luck.

[limpetmine]

Wow. I need a fraction of your luck.

Make your luck! Stop at every gun shop and pawn shop you see. Get an 03 FFL for road trip gun show weekends. network. Never quit. Have a buy list in order of priority. Study. I had the chance for a mint Parker Hale T-4 for $700.00 and bought something else because I didn't have enough knowledge. Buy books. Study. Make your luck!!!!

[No4Mk1(T)]

Wow that one nice update limpetmine!!

[limpetmine]

Wow that one nice update limpetmine!!

Thanks. It's been fun. I need to find a Long Branch L-42. I found a Savage not 15 miles from me, he wanted 7K for it. Full kit.

Here's a pic I've got on my phone from the last display I did in 2014. It was a hard weekend moving all that stuff! The two table to the left, not in the picture, had all the 7.62 stuff, Enforcer, and the like, and a training/aiming tripod. I was proud to have taken 1st place.


In the far right, bottom of the picture, you can see the sporting rifle stock. That is the 1930 Trails No. 4 Mk 1 that was converted to a (T), then into a sporting rifle. :barf:

I found the other picture that had the left side of the display. Here it is. The far right was Paki No. 4's and Indian, 1950's-1960.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

De Lisle