What’s your Lee Enfield Holy Grail?

[No4Mk1(T)]

What is your Lee Enfield Holy Grail? That one Enfield you have or would just about give anything to have and why?
For me it’s the 7.62mm L42 sniper rifle. At one time it was a No4(T) but I managed to satisfy that desire a number of years ago. I have handled two or three L42’s so far but never managed to put the money together to acquire one.
Now as to why well I think the L42 is perhaps the ultimate evolution of the issue Lee Enfield. It was well past it’s prime when it was replaced in the early 90’s and for the most part did it’s job with WWII optics and actions that started there military service in the 40’s. Any rifle that can give 40+ years of service (if you count the time they spent as No.4(T)’s) and handle a caliber change can’t be all that bad.
Now how about you? This question has no wrong reply and everyone is entitled to there opinion so what is yours?

[Jollygreenslugg]

Good question. I've been extremely fortunate in the Lee-Enfield world, as the first SMLE I acquired was a rifle considered by some as an Aussie holy grail, namely a Lithgow HT sniper rifle. It was owned by a farmer who bought it in 1960 for use as his range rifle. He passed it on to me knowing that I was interested in looking after it.

After that, I picked up a couple more Lithgows, and my holy grail became a SMLE with volley sights. I picked up a 1912 BSA in close to original spec, even though it had a fairly tired barrel.

Then it became a volley-sighted Lithgow. That grail was achieved when I found a 1915 Lithgow with original wood, converted by the military in 1935 to a marksman's rifle with a heavy barrel.

I picked up more SMLEs and a couple of No4s, along with a No5. The holy grail became a pre-SMLE. A retired collector agreed to sell me his collection, which included a Lee-Metford I* and a Lee-Enfield I.

So, I've been very fortunate, I guess my current holy grail would be an Aussie experimental, either a Shortened and Lightened No1 or a No6.

Can't see it happening, but you never know. I've been lucky before; I just hope I haven't used my luck up.

Cheers,
Matt

[Riflechair]

My holy grail of enfields?
Tuff One

I was trying to place the enfield with the highest value or rareity associated to it. Then I looked at it from another angle. Something I would never sell.

It would have to be the SMLE my Scottish Grandfather carried all over North Africa, Italy, India and Burma. That would be THE enfield for MY collection. I sometimes wonder if it is in someone's collection, used for good, used for bad, neutered and deactivated like so many other rifles in the UK, or was destroyed....

[Claven2]

I'd like an ALH marked SMLE Mk1 that is not converted to grenade launcher.

[Amatikulu]

I've ben fortunate enough to acquire a lot of rare enfields including the L42A1 and No.1 Mark VI etc. The one rifle that continues to elude me is an early Longbranch No.4 Mark I, with the waisted front site protector................

Does anyone have a picture to make me drool?

[Light Infantry]

Tough one.

I have been very fortunate that I have acquired most of the ones I have been looking for including a Long Branch 1941 and an Enforcer.

I think the next one needs to be a No.4 T Long branch.

[No4Mk1(T)]

WOW these are some incredible replies. I'm obviously in the company of some very advanced (and well healed) collectors here! I asked the question as “what is your Hole Grail” because it doesn’t mater if it was the best Enfield ever or even the best of it’s era just which one is at the top of your list. Anyone else?

[Stevo]

A Lithgow HT and a Shortened and Lightened would be at the top of my list.

I've got kids to trade. Seriously.

[No4Mk1(T)]

I've got kids to trade. Seriously.

[303sniper]

Hi All,

An interresting question that would easy to be answerd....... but no!!

From the first glimps I got from an LE rifle I fell in love with these rifles. I encounterd my first LE on an 100 meter militairy range. The guy asked me if I wanted to try it out. So I did, and it hurt (my shoulder)!!!
This was my first encounter with an LE rifle by the name of L42A1. There also was that day another guy on the range who was also shooting an scoped rifle. The looks of that rifle pulled on me like an magnet. It was one of the famous British No4T's. The guy alowed me to shoot it (with original WW2 ammo) and I new I was in love.

It took me more than 3 years after that first shoot to get my hands on my first scope for the No4T, another 2-3 years to get an No4T (less scope, made by BSA). Both of them were British.
In the mean time I bought my first No4 (Long Branch), after the No4T I was lucky enough to to get my hands on an Canadian No7 (Long Branch off course).
It took me another few years to get my No8, and last year I won the big one and could get hold of an No4T made bij Long Branch.

Now about the question we started with. I can't tell which one would be my holy grail, but the No4T from LB and CNo7 could both be an winner.