Spotted an L39A1 this weekend

[Mk VII]

They are of no value for competitive shooting, outclassed by modern actions, and the number of people who collect firearms of this type is tiny. Indeed, the police don't like collectors of any description and don't see why you should be allowed to accumulate semi-modern firearms which you have no intention of using, merely because you want to.

[Peter Laidler]

Spinecracker mentioned a deact L42 a few notes back. If anyone in the UK (or elsewhere) wants a UK spec one, let me know. It was one that had been on open display so had to be dewatted............ Until someone stole the telescope! We put an unuseable telescope on it but the decision had already been made to withdraw it for an L96. And we de-watted that too.........

[spinecracker]

They are of no value for competitive shooting, outclassed by modern actions, and the number of people who collect firearms of this type is tiny. Indeed, the police don't like collectors of any description and don't see why you should be allowed to accumulate semi-modern firearms which you have no intention of using, merely because you want to.

That is a terrible state of affairs, and it can only get worse after Mr. Cameron's recent comments in response to the recent massacre in northern England.

I have the strangest luck - I emailed a seller last night who helped me with getting an Enforcer, and he has a couple of L39A1s and an Envoy or 2 in various states of repair. Not sure how much interest there might be for these rifles in the States, but I will try and find out what condition they are in and how much he wants for them (all my money is now tied up in a possible male heir lol).

[PrinzEugen]

There's one for sale now on guntrader.co.uk for £1150 which would fit in more with the US prices...although whether it sells at that remains to be seen.
The problem in the UK is where it falls within the 'slots on licence'. Many of us end up saving up for the 'dream' gun as there's only so many our police forces will allow us to buy. A 7.62 slot, even for an enfield enthusiast, might be taken up with an all singing all dancing f class gun, or they might splurge on an Enforcer or even an L42.
However, I love shooting my L39. If you want to drive tacks down the same hole why buy an Enfield at all? On the other hand, an L39 is much more of a challenge and for me an excellent gauge of how 'good' you are. A decent shot with an L39 is an amazing combination. Do well with an L39, which don't forget has a military pedigree, and would have been issued to a unit, (and as such, is at least on the same ball park as the 'proper' sniper rifles), and you can cock a snook at all those people who lie on the range with mega expensive rigs. After all, they make it about as difficult to hit a bull as it is to find an anti-gun uk politician [not very].

[spinecracker]

So true - I love going to the range with my old-fashioned rifles, being given depreciating smiles and comments by the guys with their tricked out AR15s, Remington 700s, etc, then hitting targets at the same distances as they are. More than once I have seen guys leaving the gun range in a huff because they can't hit poop with their brand spanking new "tactical" and/or sporting fireams. I think I will stick with Enfields and an occasional Mosin Nagant.

I do like the idea of the challenge shooting with an Enfield. Modern rifles do not hold any interest for me. If the rifle comes out of the box already able to shoot sub-MOA, then where is the challenge?

[Mk VII]

depreciating smiles and comments

sounds just plain rude. Do you have many people like this in your country?

[enfield303t]

You would think that "logically" the UK gov't would make it extremely easy to export firearms out of their country. That way they could eliminate all firearms from England sooner than later. Of course why would anyone be so nieve to think any gov't thinks logically????? When the new firearms legistation was introduced into Canada years ago there was absolutely no logic to them. Now our current gov't is try to bring some logic to the act and of course the Liberals are "crying foul" and showing their lack of "logic". SORRY BADGER IF THAT IS POLITICS, LET ME KNOW AND I WILL REMOVE THE PART YOU DEEM TO BE POLITICAL.
I would really like the opportunity to import some of the Lee Enfields I see for sale in England, just too much effort required so I will have to find them here in Canada.

[spinecracker]

sounds just plain rude. Do you have many people like this in your country?

A couple. I did go into 1 local gun shop earlier this year to see if they had any Lee Enfields, and the owner asked me why I wanted to buy "that old sh^#" for, then tried to sell me a mummy-wrapped No.4 Mk.2 for $1100. I have not gone back.

I do get some compliments from time to time at the gun range, and several of the people I talk to had Lee Enfields as their first gun - but that was when you could buy them for $10 out of a barrel at Woolworths...times have changed. One local gentleman apparently has a No.4 T, but I have yet to see it.

[Alan de Enfield]

I would really like the opportunity to import some of the Lee Enfields I see for sale in England, just too much effort required so I will have to find them here in Canada.

I sold one of my Enforcers to a guy in Canada, the export side (for me) was very, very easy and as far as I know he had no problems with the importing. Just a bit of paperwork but no hassle (AFAIK)

[spinecracker]

Saw the same gentleman today trying to sell the same L39A1 for the same price - $2500. He never responded to my email, either. He looked away when I went to say hello. Oh well lol.