[ballistic gelatin]

I have an opportunity to purchase an "American Enfield" chambered for 6.5mm. The purchase is from dealer > friend > me. It is sight unseen to me and I don't know anything about Enfields. All I know is the rifle looks good and is chambered for 6.5mm.

Cost is still being negotiated. Somewhere in the $125 range.

Any advice on Enfields in general. I realize this one must have been re-chambered/converted at some point.

Any advice on the 6.5?

[Dave Markowitz]

6.5 what? Etc. 6.5x55, 6.5-06, etc.

I'm going to guess that this is based on an M1917 "Enfield" not a Lee-Enfield. The M1917 is a big, strong action, FWIW.

[J Calhoun]

The M1917 "Enfield" got it's name from the British Pattern 14 Enfield made by US companies for WW1. When the USA entered WW1, there were not enough M1903 rifles to go around and the makers of the P14 rechambered the design for .30-06 ammo. There were more M1917s built during WW1 than any other US weapon.

A good place to find out about M1917s and Lee-Enfields is the Culver page on jouster.com.

[ballistic gelatin]

Here's what the guy tells me. 1914 Mk3 Enfield.

A. Chambered for .303
B. Chambered for 30-40 krag.

$115 The guy with the connection now wants the .303 and I can have the 30-40 krag or I can get a Mauser in one of the following calibers. 8mm, 30-06, 6.5mm...what to do, what to do?

[Destructo6]

If it's a 1914 Enfield, shouldn't it be chambered in 30-06 or .303? Wasn't 30-40 Krag gone by then?

[ballistic gelatin]

Yes.
But for some strange reason the previous owner had it chambered for 30-40 krag.
Who knows?
Who knows where I can get ammo for 30-40?

I may just opt for the 8mm Mauser.

[Andrew Wyatt]

well, if it's a number1mk3, then it's not worth it.


the sights are bad, in comparison ot the number4mk1.

[ballistic gelatin]

Number 1 Mk 3
Number 4 Mk 1

What in the world does that mean?

[Andrew Wyatt]

a world of difference.


the number1mk3 is the ww1 SMLE, with tangent sights.


the number4mk1 is the british WWII standard rifle, with excellent peep sights and a freefloated barrel. the number4mk1 is the ultimate bolt action battle rifle.

[ballistic gelatin]

supposedly looks like this...

[Andrew Wyatt]

okay, that's a completely different animal.

that's a pattern 14, which is a mauser action'd gun. it's worth that much just for the action, i think. unmodified ones go for upwars of 600 dollars in these parts.

[Ian]

It'd take a lot of work to convert a P14 to .303 because of the rim, wouldn't it? Something seems goofy here. If it were me, I'd wait and buy a rifle I could see firsthand before paying.

[Andrew Wyatt]

pattern 14's were originally in .303

m1917's were the pattern 14 modified to .30-06.

[Ian]

Ah. Thanks, Andrew.

[ballistic gelatin]

Yep, one is .303 the other is 30-40 krag. I have ZERO interest in a 30-40 krag. I think I'll opt for an 8mm Mauser.

[Detritus]

for $125 get the P14 in 30-40 and then have it re-barrelled!!!

unless it's in VERY sad shape the ACTION is worth more than that!!

[ballistic gelatin]

What's involved in having it rebarrelled and approximate cost?