Lee Enfield value

[D94R]

My coworker is selling a Lee Enfield Nr1 MkIII SMLE manufactured in 1942. He's asking $200 for it. The wood around the bolt below the rear sight is slightly damaged (chipped off) but can very easily be fixed with proper application of some adhesive as he still has that piece.

Stock otherwise is in great shape for the age. Bore is fantastic. Stock still has all the original cartouches and stamps.


Whats the usual going rate for these rifles, and is this a decent price?

 

[skidooman603]

His price is pretty much bottom end. $200 Rough-$800 New in Mummy Wrap

 

[flagg]

I've never seen a SMLE Mk III in the wrap.

 

[skidooman603]

My apologies, I was referring to Enfields in general. Enjoy

 

[skidooman603]

Also I noticed a few on GunBroker to compare..Enjoy

 

[Kernel]

That's a good price.

 

[chuckusaret]

$150 - $250 is about the average price in these parts if it has a good barrel. I have never seen a $800 one, I would like to see the pic's, must be like new.

 

[flagg]

I have never seen a $800 one, I would like to see the pic's, must be like new.

Here's mine. Not like new, but new and unfired. Bought it sometime around 1997 or 1998 I think.

 

[interlock]

rifle prices

The price of a lee enfield, a Garand and a moisin nagant when wrapped up in american industrial might and millions of gallons of blood.... is a free world

 

[wcwhitey]

I just picked up a 1918 SMLE No. 1 MK III* RSA (Enfield) that was FTR'd in 1943 this weekend for $125 with 100 round of PRVI ball on stripper clips. The gun is an all numbers matching gun except for the rear sight which was struck over and re-numbered. This one did have a crack by the bolt handle and looked like someone took 80 grit to the stock which is what I am sure turned people off as the seller was originally asking $250. Metal was in fine shape and bore is bright and shiney, due to the factory going over. Bottom line this one is not going to win any beauty contest and I have some wood work to do but a good shooter can be had for not too much money. Point is that for a numbers matching gun with good wood and nice bore that is a decent price. $200 for a great shooting rifle with the history and the reputation that is has is never a bad deal.

P.S. Look for the numbers to match on the receiver, bolt, nose cone the fore end and under the rear sight. The term FTR stand for Factory Thorough Repair and some of the guns have had this done several times, not a big deal except for a collector grade gun. In my mind this makes it a better shooter. Several websites will show you what markings to look for so you can better understand what you have. And always see what you can get thrown in with the sale like ammo. In my case this weekend 100 rounds of new PRVI is easily worth 60 bucks on it's own. Hope this helps. If you need any of the links PM me. Bill

 

[DougW]

That is a great deal. That rifle is a "Dispersal" rifle built after Dunkirk with spare parts and a few new parts to get weapons into the Army's hands quickly. If the rifle is authentic, it would probably be worth closer to $300 IMO.

Look at the numbers on the butt socket and post them if you would. A pic would be nice too. A Dispersal rifle is a great find. I would jump on it in a second.

 

[MrFox]

I would pay that much for it.

Then again, my Enfield buying is a little askew. I paid 150 for an Irish Contract. Brand spankin' new, only not in the wrap. There aren't even marks in the finish.

I paid 200 for my Lithgow No 1., with a 1917 bayonet (non-lithgow ).

 

[D94R]

I pick up the rifle in a week or so. I'll post pics then. It's not as clean and nice as flagg's, but that's part of it's character.

 

[MrFox]

Flagg's is probably an Irish Contract, or something similarly made post-war. They were made, never issued, and stored in the "mummy wrap" (kind of like brown paper bags and cosmoline).

Any World War Two rifle made during the war will not look as nice as a post-war never issued rifle. But, its expected that a '42 will show its scars. And thats not a bad thing.

 

[flagg]

Flagg's is probably an Irish Contract, or something similarly made post-war. They were made, never issued, and stored in the "mummy wrap" (kind of like brown paper bags and cosmoline).

That is correct. It was made in December of 1954 and was in the wrap. I couldn't stand looking at it wrapped up, so I took it out and cleaned it up.