Luck find!

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303 hunter

303 hunter

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Fayetteville N.C.
Today, I picked up this no. 4 mk II Lee Enfield. It’s like new and unfired, still has cosmoline inside. From what I’ve discovered so far, it was made around 1955, and imported in the mid to late 90’s. If anyone has more info on this rifle, I’d really appreciate it.
 

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303 hunter
Looks great, beautiful rifle.
Sadly, I have no info I do believe there are few Co. around world that still manufacture them.
Mostly ammo (surplus) available is corrosive unless new production.
I've wanted one of those SMLE for years.
Congrats and post more pics and tell us how it shoot.
 
czhen said:
303 hunter
Looks great, beautiful rifle.
Sadly, I have no info I do believe there are few Co. around world that still manufacture them.
Mostly ammo (surplus) available is corrosive unless new production.
I've wanted one of those SMLE for years.
Congrats and post more pics and tell us how it shoot.
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Thanks for the kind words. I don’t know if I’ll fire it, because it’ll only be in this condition once. 64 years without being fired is hard for me change.
 
303 hunter said:
Thanks for the kind words. I don’t know if I’ll fire it, because it’ll only be in this condition once. 64 years without being fired is hard for me change.
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Now you just hold on there.. that fine rifle was made to high old world European standards of excellent, its one of the finest Enfields made..it wants.. nay it needs to be fired... Someday somewhere someone is going to shoot that rifle again... You deserve to be that person...
 
Those MKII's were the best Lee Enfields, as a group, that ever came in. I was able to buy several that were out of the wrap, and one in the wrap. The local gun store had the new in the factory mummy wrap ones for $200.00 each. Easily twice the price of one out of the wrap. I am glad I got mine, because they were all sold within seven days. I kept my mummy wrap rifle, in the mummy wrap, and I heard current prices are ridiculous.

Based on your pictures, I would say yours was one of those that came in the mummy wrap. They were new. Proof tested and wrapped up till they arrived in the US. The importer had to cut the mummy wrap at the muzzle to stamp the importer mark, but other than that, they were new in the wrap.

These were the best made Lee Enfields that I came across. I never saw any original WW1 era Austrailian or British No 1 MKIII's, heard wonderful things about those. I did pick up what I think are the next best versions, which were new Long Branch No 4's. Those were still war time rifles and showed haste in chambering, sights, etc. Your MKII is to commercial standards in terms of fit and finish.
 
indy1919a4 said:
Now you just hold on there.. that fine rifle was made to high old world European standards of excellent, its one of the finest Enfields made..it wants.. nay it needs to be fired... Someday somewhere someone is going to shoot that rifle again... You deserve to be that person...
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Wife said: you’ll never get rid of it, so you might as well shoot it.... I’ll probably shoot it sooner or later, but will take a while to admire it!
 
I have a C-96 Mauser that is in the same condition as your Enfield; Probably never fired after proof testing. I have a second broomhandle that is well used but mechanically sound. That one is my shooter.

And there's your answer. #4 Mk 1 Enfields are not hard to find and not horribly expensive. Pick one up and shoot the snot out of it!!!
 
tark said:
I have a C-96 Mauser that is in the same condition as your Enfield; Probably never fired after proof testing. I have a second broomhandle that is well used but mechanically sound. That one is my shooter.

And there's your answer. #4 Mk 1 Enfields are not hard to find and not horribly expensive. Pick one up and shoot the snot out of it!!!
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I’ve got “T” marked #4 mk1, but it’s been sporterized beyond restoring. It’s an excellent shooter and I’ve hunted with it a lot.
 
Well done on a great find. If you paid anything south of $1,000 you've done well.

I have an unfired UF 55 just like it with serial number UF 55 A21700. I grew up shooting Lee-Enfields so always wanted one. Now I want another! I still haven't shot mine but maybe that will change this year. I bought 600 rounds of .303 Brit for $50 from the Remington store when I worked at the ammunition plant. I figured there were a couple of hundred in the box but was shocked to count 600 or so. The Lee-Enfields just look right with nice proportions. The bolts run smooth with cock on closing, and the two-stage triggers are excellent. The sights are outstanding for a battle rifle. We used to shoot them regularly, and two sighters at 100m followed by a 5-shot group inside 4" got you the marksman patch. I wore mine with a certain amount of pride since few had them.
 
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MCMXI said:
Well done on a great find. If you paid anything south of $1,000 you've done well.

I have an unfired UF 55 just like it with serial number UF 55 A21700. I grew up shooting Lee-Enfields so always wanted one. Now I want another! I still haven't shot mine but maybe that will change this year. I bought 600 rounds of .303 Brit for $50 from the Remington store when I worked at the ammunition plant. I figured there were a couple of hundred in the box but was shocked to count 600 or so. The Lee-Enfields just look right with nice proportions. The bolts run smooth with cock on closing, and the two-stage triggers are excellent. The sights are outstanding for a battle rifle. We used to shoot them regularly, and two sighters at 100m followed by a 5-shot group inside 4" got you the marksman patch. I wore mine with a certain amount of pride since few had them.
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It was actually a gift. I had to drive 250 miles to get it, but it was a good drive with my 13 year old daughter(and hunting buddy). Just proves there are still good people out there.
 
303 hunter said:
It was actually a gift. I had to drive 250 miles to get it, but it was a good drive with my 13 year old daughter(and hunting buddy). Just proves there are still good people out there.
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Definitely south of $1,000 and a very generous gift. I think there are many similar ones squirreled away by speculators i.e. people that don't really care about or have much interest in the rifle but are hoping to supplement their income at some point in the future. They show up on Gunbroker and similar so infrequently now that they command high prices for the unfired versions. Congratulations again.

There's a group of ornery "old" men that show up at a local range to shoot battle rifles at steel plates offhand and with no sling allowed for bragging rights. Some of them are really good shots so I think I'll take my Lee-Enfield out this fall and see if I can keep up with them with a battle rifle from across the pond. I'll need to clean out a bunch of cosmoline first though …. urghhhh.
 
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Those "mummy" wrapped rifles have always cause me great angst, So do I pick one up wrapped, pay more for it being wrapped and then do I leave it that way??? What do you have then, a brown paper bag wrapped around a rifle form. No Way to fully enjoy the rifle.. Do you unwrap it, enjoy the beauty of the rifle and cut the value of the rifle in half?? (also you have the real possibility that the gun may have not been stored correctly and there could be damage under that mummy wrap :( )......The original OP got it perfect, Mint rifle, unwrapped and he can enjoy it, show it to others (like he did, thank-you-very-much) and all can enjoy.. Trying showing one of those mummy wraps to any one but a fellow gun nut and all you get is a blank stare..
 
indy1919a4 said:
So do I pick one up wrapped, pay more for it being wrapped and then do I leave it that way??? What do you have then, a brown paper bag wrapped around a rifle form. No Way to fully enjoy the rifle.. Do you unwrap it, enjoy the beauty of the rifle and cut the value of the rifle in half?? (also you have the real possibility that the gun may have not been stored correctly and there could be damage under that mummy wrap :( )
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If you have someone to leave the unwrapped rifle to I say buy two, shoot one, and keep the other pristine in the wrap. It's like finding a mummy in Egypt. If you find two you can leave one in the wrap for future generations, and unwrap one to learn something and enjoy. Win, win!! :D
 
MCMXI said:
If you have someone to leave the unwrapped rifle to I say buy two, shoot one, and keep the other pristine in the wrap. It's like finding a mummy in Egypt. If you find two you can leave one in the wrap for future generations, and unwrap one to learn something and enjoy. Win, win!! :D
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Sir, I bow to your genius.. Now my accountant may be calling you things under his breath, but that tightwad been needing a comeuppance for some time..
 
Bought one about a couple of years ago, and it also has the 1955 engraved on the stock, I've taken mine out and shot it quite a bit, and BTW I do reload for it. Incidentally I paid $220.00 for it off an older gentleman here in the neighbor hood that never had a chance to shoot it. I offered to take him out to the range and take a few shots with me. He actually did go out to the range with me but declined shooting it, and just watched me, unfortunately he has since passed away. I had no idea what it was worth during our dealings.
 
loose noose said:
Bought one about a couple of years ago, and it also has the 1955 engraved on the stock, I've taken mine out and shot it quite a bit, and BTW I do reload for it. Incidentally I paid $220.00 for it off an older gentleman here in the neighbor hood that never had a chance to shoot it. I offered to take him out to the range and take a few shots with me. He actually did go out to the range with me but declined shooting it, and just watched me, unfortunately he has since passed away. I had no idea what it was worth during our dealings.
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From what I’ve seen, the unfired rifles are in the $1000 range right now, and appreciating. Haven’t checked on those still in the wrap, but I imagine they’ll end up being very pricey. I think you got a great deal on a fine rifle, and had an opportunity to make a senior citizen happy!

I’ve never reloaded 303, but have the stuff to do it. I’d appreciate some of your load data if you don’t mind. I’ve got PPU brass, 180 gr PPU JSP bullets, and CCI regular and magnum primers.
 
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