Need help with first lee enfield. Green painted 1944 longbranch.

[Brian Dick]

Jeez Ridolpho, how do folks get away with selling firearms up there not knowing whether they're shootable or not. I go to extremes here to make sure that firearms purchased are safe and range ready sans a detailed cleaning and cosmetic work if desired by the purchaser. I'm careful to check everything for safety before it rides out of here to the client by courier or post. Brian

[Peter Laidler]

I was thinking the same too Ridolpho! If anyone hjere sold one, especially when it was already known that there was something major wrong with it and it all went pear shaped, well I think that they'd throw the key away.

Maybe they should start tomorrow............. with the bankers. NO....., that's Bankers - with a B! those with a W are already in parliament!

[jmoore]

how do folks get away with selling firearms up there not knowing whether they're shootable or not. I go to extremes here to make sure that firearms purchased are safe and range ready sans a detailed cleaning and cosmetic work if desired by the purchaser.

AND you may be the only Lee Enfield specialist in the US who does so! Most everybody else sells "pigs in pokes".

[CanadianAR]

I fired it today. I know was against advisement, but I am a diesel tech, and used to inspecting metal for fatique and cracks. i know that its not a gunsmith, but lots of similar concepts. I went over it with a fine tooth comb, cant find much other then that guide rail. I had sand bags on top of it and anchored down, pulled the trigger with a string. Shoots well, no explosions. Maybe a little sticky on extraction.....I have pics of the fired cases and locking lug contact pattern I will upload in a few mins. I fired 10 shots. All cases look exactly the same.

I will probably keep the rifle. I wanted an unrefurbed Lee for my world war two collection, and I wanted something a lil different. I thought the green paint was cool, and if brian says its rare, then I will have to believe him as Ive never seen one either. Always just a tiny patch or whatnot.

---------- Post added at 03:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:35 PM ----------

The only complaint Id have is that the ZF mark should have been listed. Maybe he installed a surplus butt, either way it should have been noted, ZF marked or ZF marked but butt is mismatched.

I, too, would keep this as an interesting piece even if not comfortable with shooting it. If you're at all like other Lee Enfield collectors you'll rapidly have many more rifles than you can hope to regularly shoot! There are several on-line sellers of collectable guns here in Canada and mail order purchases are extremely easy. Needless to say, none of these folks can warranty their rifles as "shootable". Many of them present very useful photo collections of their items which help make a decision and the ones I buy from will gladly answer questions about specific mechanical issues but- I never, never ask them if it is shootable. That's for me to decide once I've received it (in the big red Canada Post truck). Good reference manuals and, of course, the collected wisdom of experts on this forum will help. What we don't want is for any of these sellers to stop selling do to unreasonable expectations of mechanical condition.

Ridolpho

[CanadianAR]

Pics of lugs and empty cases. The brass looks slightly expanded, not sure if this is normal, for and enfield or good or bad. Any insight is appreciated. Hopefully last owner gets back to me and tells me he swapped the butt, if not Ill have it gone over by a gunsmith.

[muffett.2008]

Sit your brass on a flat surface and rotate them 90 degrees at a time, do the stay straight? or do they lean one way? if they do you may have a stretch problem, usually caused by excessive headspace and uneven setback on bolt lugs.

Brian, you have done it know, your comment regarding the rarity of painted rifles will see a plethora of rapidly aged, newly painted rifles at rediculous prices, well it will be a change from all the fake T's.

[Ridolpho]

Brian and Peter: Surely there are companies (as well as individuals at gun-shows) in your respective countries that simply sell on "surplus" with no stated guarantee of mechanical condition? The outfits I purchase from seem to have gone to great pains to sell quality items but I suspect if they had to sell their products as certified safe to shoot they'd be out of business (or prices would be a lot higher and our friends the lawyers would be a lot richer!). They are not sold as safe to shoot and the responsibility rests with the purchaser to seek proper advice when needed.

Ridolpho

[Peter Laidler]

I'm just saying how it is Ridolpho. If a gun company here sold a rifle that was recorded as being defective and sold it on and it went pear shaped, then the proverbial would certainly hit the fan in no uncertain terms. Much the same as if it sold a previously written off car that was known to be defective. It's all called the Sales of Goods act of 1893 as amended in 1972. Don't blame me...... As I said....., I'm just saying as it is here!

[jmoore]

Brass looks OK from a couple of thousand km's away. Can't for sure make out the details of the bolt lug mating, but it seems to have plenty of contact. But if the rifle "lets go", it's not my head in the vicinity!

[CanadianAR]

I rotated them. They dont seem to tilt in any direction. If it makes any difference this was 150gr Federal Premium soft point. Only option the store had that day.

Sit your brass on a flat surface and rotate them 90 degrees at a time, do the stay straight? or do they lean one way? if they do you may have a stretch problem, usually caused by excessive headspace and uneven setback on bolt lugs.

Brian, you have done it know, your comment regarding the rarity of painted rifles will see a plethora of rapidly aged, newly painted rifles at rediculous prices, well it will be a change from all the fake T's.

---------- Post added at 05:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:56 PM ----------

I know what you mean. Waiting on previous owner to see about butt. Then find a ontario smith to look her over.

Brass looks OK from a couple of thousand km's away. Can't for sure make out the details of the bolt lug mating, but it seems to have plenty of contact. But if the rifle "lets go", it's not my head in the vicinity!