Just got back from the Big Reno Show...

[spinecracker]

..so I just thought I'd give a review. I was there looking for Lee Enfield No.4s, so pardon me if I didn't notice any other firearms. I did note 5 or 6 LE No.4s I was interested in. I even found a LE No.4 with the cutoff and the A suffix, but I did not notice the Royal Cypher, ENFIELD or a date on the butt socket strap (still, the guy was asking $500 for it, and I could bargain him down...what do ya think?). SMLEs were present, if not abundant, but 1 gentleman had 4 nice examples of World War 1 vintage. If I had enough cash, I would have bought them all.

I do have one question. When did Long Branch and Savage stop (start???) making receivers with the British style bolthead release catch, and when were they using the No.4 Mk1 designation instead of the No.4 Mk1* desingation? I saw several examples that were obviously US or Canadian made, but did not have the * and had the bolthead release catch and, as I am a newbie, I do not know if this is a good or a bad thing lol.

One funny thing was that 1 of the seller had 2 wrapped No.4 Mk2s dating from 1952-53 , and he sold them to another seller for, I think $750. The new, proud owner is now selling them on his stall for $950....go figure.

The show was huge, and it took me 3 hours to go through it twice, since I managed to miss some lovely rifles on my first pass through. It would appear that almost any type of firearm was for sale (I was perturbed when a gentleman walked passed me with a deactivated rocket propelled grenade), and there were planty of stalls selling accessories. If anyone has any specific queistions, I will be going back tomorrow and Sunday.

Information

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[tlvaughn]

Savage made approx. 130,000 +/- MkI's and Long Branch made approx. 18,000 +/- MkI's. The changeover from MkI to MkI* occurred in 1942.

[spinecracker]

That explains the 1942 date on the 2 examples I saw - thank you!

[tlvaughn]

I was watching an auction that ended last week for a Savage MkI that ended up selling for $305.00 plus shipping. What are they asking for the two you saw in Reno? Do you recall if they were Savage or Long Branch?

[spinecracker]

I am going back tomorrow or Sunday and I will be sure to check for you. I believe the Savage was going for $350 (but I think I could bargain them down $50 with my polite English accent), but I do not remember seeing any Long Branchs. If only I could bargain them down on that trial No.4 - it was beautiful.

[Amatikulu]

If that No.4 with the "A" suffix is there with the mag cut-off, check it out carefully. It sounds like an early trials rifle and $500 is not a bad price depending on condition. If it has markings on the left side butt socket, please buy it for me.................I need it for my collection

[spinecracker]

It did not, unfortunately All I noted was a serial number - there was no royal cypher, Enfield stamp or date. Besides, I only have enough money to get my own Lee Enfield lol

[Amatikulu]

Seriously, you need to go check it out carefully. The trials are marked on the opposite (LHS) butt socket and there should be a cypher date and Enfield stamped there. It might also have been a "gasp, choke" a No.1 Mark VI, the holiest of holies!



That's a blurred shot of my No.1 mark VI - trials are I believe marked in the same place

[spinecracker]

I looked vey carefully, and there was only a serial number, ending in A. Everything else about the rifle screamed trials rifle, but for the lack of the stamps (I double checked, honest, Guv'nor!)

[spinecracker]

Now all I need to do is work out which Lee Enfield I want (if it is still there, of course) and to see how far I can haggle down. It was interesting that many of the sellers with Lee Enfields didn't know anything about the rifles they were selling (1 gentleman didn't know that the 4 No.1 Mk.IIIs on his table were World War 1 vintage, even though it is clearly stamped on the butt stock strap of each 1), and I think their prices were a little (ok, slightly more than a little) inflated.