Favorite Lee–Enfield

Curator said:

Merle1:

Those are 7.62 Enfield magazines. The rifles are; top to bottom Long Branch 1/3 DCRA 7.62 NATO, 2nd from top, Parker Hale T-4 target rifle7.62 NATO, A.J. Parker "Excell" 7.62 NATO, and L39A1 military target rifle, 7.62 NATO. Contrary to what is posted all around the internet, these 7.62 NATO conversions can really shoot.

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That's what I thought - thanks.

Owned an Ishy 2A1 in .308. Hated it. Stiff bolt on mind, pretty sure it didn't match. Would never feed correctly either.

I have two of them. An SMLE and a No 4 MKII. Both are good shooters. Personally I prefer the No4. It handles and points better. I reload for both. Chambers are similar. Fired brass from one fits into the other. I nice size only.

dh1633pm said:

I have two of them. An SMLE and a No 4 MKII. Both are good shooters. Personally I prefer the No4. It handles and points better. I reload for both. Chambers are similar. Fired brass from one fits into the other. I nice size only.

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For me the No 1 holds better offhand; I believe that is due to the weight of the nose cap.

Merle1, good point. I went down to the Gun Room and got them both off the racks just now. Your right the No 1 does have a little more weight on the end. Has to be the nose cap like you said. When I head out to shoot I seem to always take the No 4. Personal preference I guess.

Funny story. I bought the No 4 and the SMLE from the same buy in New Mexico. We did the exchange in the basement of the parking garage in downtown Albuquerque. We did a quick swap from car to car. When I got home for the day, I looked and saw that the rifle was cocked. Hmmmm. I thought about just pulling the trigger to uncock the rifle. I thought better of it and opened the action. Out popped a live round. It was fully loaded.

my favorite is the No 4 MK1*. I own a savage * and my little brother pieced together a working longbranch sporter from a stack of old enfield parts. I tried doing the same thing but after he got done, there was barely enough left to have a donor T receiver for a 45ACP conversion kit, which was pure garbage. I wouldn't mind a longbranch * if we ever see the ones that the canadian rangers are about to either destroy or surplus out(I've heard both are likely). I wouldn't mind a number 1 MKIII but the peeps on the WWII models spoil a fellow.

My favorite Lee Enfield isn't a Lee Enfield - it's a Lee Metford Cavalry Carbine. Fun to shoot with hard lead/black powder loads.

My favorite actual Military issue Lee Enfield is a No. 4 Mk. 1/2 (F).

My favorite shooter is a Parker Hale De Luxe No. 4.

There are many others... .

Wow, really nice Enfields in this thread. I've always had a soft spot for No. 4s and at one time I had about a half dozen of them. I traded off most of them except these two fine examples both made in North America.

The top one is a Savage No. 4 Mk1* (unknown date of mfg)

At the bottom is a 1943 Long Branch No. 4 Mk1*

Here is my #1*** It was made in 1905 and the gun is all original except for the buttstock, which is off another rifle. A much later one. The bore on the old gal is absolutely pristine and she shoots into 3" at a hundred. It has obviously been around the block more than once. I don't know why the original serial# was stamped over or what all the markings mean. Any Enfield experts out there?

tark said:

Here is my #1*** It was made in 1905 and the gun is all original except for the buttstock, which is off another rifle. A much later one. The bore on the old gal is absolutely pristine and she shoots into 3" at a hundred. It has obviously been around the block more than once. I don't know why the original serial# was stamped over or what all the markings mean. Any Enfield experts out there?

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tark- This link may help you a little. Are there markings on the other side of the receiver? That area often is stamped with information. I think your rifle is export stamped and stamped to show modification from a No 1 to Mk 3. But I am definitely no expert...

These links may help, they're interesting reads at least.

http://www.allaboutenfields.co.nz/history/markings/

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewforum.php?f=27

Have several, two No. 4's (Savage and Maltby) and one No. 1, Mk. 3* SSA. Have to stop myself from acquiring more. All were restored to military condition from partial sporterizing. Along with the Krag, smoothest (and short) bolt throws of any of my military rifles and better than most commercial rifles. Plan on eventually accurizing the Savage as someone unfortunately drilled and tapped the receiver for a side mount.

Some of my favorite rifles and the Savage/Maltby micrometer type sights are great for aging eyes.

There were a good many Savage No 4's that were used as sniper rifles. They were D&T on the left side of the receiver.

Thanks, badvibes. I did learn some information. The "ER" on the front of the receiver means "Enfield Rifiling" There is this mark on the left side, and it looks like a proof mark to me. Gotta love that silly volley sight, too.

Gunny,
Thanks but unfortunately it appears to be a for a commercial job due to the tapped screw distances and position (three in a line equidistant)--the sniper versions involved pads that were semi-permanently attached--the receiver would also be marked with a T stamp). The tapped holes resembles that of a williams side mount for the No. 4 but the screw distances don't match (already tried it). Have been looking for the right mount for awhile on ebay and other places because I will not add more screw holes. If not successful in my search, there is a good description of using angle iron to make a scope mount for the Enfield on one of the collector web sites.

Have three #4/Mk. 1s and two authentic #5 "Jungle Carbines". To spot an authentic #5, compare the wood/metal outline shape around the magazine well with the contour of a #4/Mk. 1. It is different, but not very obvious.
I've never read any mention of this elsewhere.

The favorites might be the so-called "Jungles". Why?
Despite the recoil (similar to my 8mm Yugo Mauser), they are handy, the original 'scout rifle'.

Kaeto said:

I'd like to find a length of No 4 barrel with the bayonet lug that I could make into a attachable grip.

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To make a handle for the No. 9 bayonet, you could use an entrenching tool helve that has the bayonet lug. These were used with the spike bayonets as mine probes. That might be easier to find than a length of barrel.

Incidentally, with the No. 9 bayonets, the scabbards are harder to find and more valuable than the bayonets themselves. That's because the same scabbards were used with the No. 5 and No. 7 bayonets as well as the No. 9. No.9 bayonets are plentiful because tons of them were made by the Pakistan Ordnance Factory (marked POF).

My personal opinion is that the No. 7 and No. 9 bayonets were poor concepts. The regular No. 4 spike is better, as a bayonet, and these other ones made neither good bayonets nor good knives.

My No 9 bayonet has it's scabbard, but I do want a frog for it. I'd also like to get No 5 and No 7 bayonets for my Enfield (I'm a completeist. I like to get every accessory made for any milsurp I have) .


I looked up the helve. I would think I can get a piece of shot out barrel cheaper than the $85.00 I found a helve for.

Kaeto said:

My No 9 bayonet has it's scabbard, but I do want a frog for it. I'd also like to get No 5 and No 7 bayonets for my Enfield (I'm a completeist. I like to get every accessory made for any milsurp I have) .

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Frogs are very common and cheap. They come in several different styles.

You do realize that the No. 5 bayonet is for the No. 5 rifle (jungle carbine)? The No. 7 bayonet is for the No. 4 rifle, but is one of the stupidest bayonet designs of all time. They were dropped quickly by the British, which is why they are so rare and expensive.

What you need to do is get a complete set of Pattern '37 web gear to go with your rifle.

tark said:

Thanks, badvibes. I did learn some information. The "ER" on the front of the receiver means "Enfield Rifiling" There is this mark on the left side, and it looks like a proof mark to me. Gotta love that silly volley sight, too.

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Actually "ER" means "Edwardius Rex", which, of course, stands for King Edward. Look on the left side of the butt socket, there should be stamps that will tell you when it was upgraded to MkIII standards. For instance on my 1903 Mk1** the left side has the following marks:


This means that it was upgraded at the Royal Factory at Ishapore and the date (1915).

AlexanderA said:

Frogs are very common and cheap. They come in several different styles.

You do realize that the No. 5 bayonet is for the No. 5 rifle (jungle carbine)? The No. 7 bayonet is for the No. 4 rifle, but is one of the stupidest bayonet designs of all time. They were dropped quickly by the British, which is why they are so rare and expensive.

What you need to do is get a complete set of Pattern '37 web gear to go with your rifle.

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Thus far I've only been able to get frogs that fit the spike bayonet.

I didn't know that the No 5 bayonet was the one for the carbine. What does the No 7 look like?

Thanks, Hipower, but the "ER" I was referring to is the one stamped on the top of the receiver ring. Mine has nothing at all stamped on the left side of the butt socket. I assume that it was never upgraded to a Mk III (?) all I know for sure is that the butt stock assembly is from a much later gun. Darn. Too bad.....or not.! That means it's a shooter and a fine one it is. The chamber is very tight and the fired cases show little evidence of stretching. They run into a full length die with very little effort. Those silly volley sights are amusing, but probably useless. But they are rarely found on an Enfield these days. Like that backwards magazine cut-off. I have seen a lot of Enfields with the cutoff removed. Too much potential for disaster! Bump the gun against something and the cutoff is engaged without the soldier knowing it......The later MkIIIs appear not to have one at all. Smart move.

Kaeto said:

Thus far I've only been able to get frogs that fit the spike bayonet.

I didn't know that the No 5 bayonet was the one for the carbine. What does the No 7 look like?

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There are a couple of No. 7 bayonets on Gunbroker right now:
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/602546008
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/601795427

The blade is the same as your No. 9. The No. 7 has a conventional handle, but to attach it to the rifle, the buttcap must be swiveled up and locked into place. That means that the bayonet is left hanging off the muzzle of the rifle mostly unsupported. Unless the alignment is just right, there's a danger of shooting the bayonet crossguard off. That's why these were supposed to be used only for ceremonial purposes. These No. 7 bayonets were also used for certain late-model Stens.

British bayonet frogs can be a subject of study in themselves. But there's a lot of interchangeability here. Frogs originally designed for the long 1907 bayonet were used for the spikes, and then for the No. 5/7/9 series. If the spike was too loose in the frog, then a little brass and leather adapter was used to tighten the fit. Some of the purpose-made spike frogs would be too tight for the No. 5/7/9 series.The color also varied, with a transition from khaki to OD. Anyway, here are some on Gunbroker:
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/602457350
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/586899585
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/582037922

Thank you for the links. The No 7s are out of my price range, but I'll be getting a frog for my No 9. And I'll see about getting the No 9 that was made for South Africa. It doesn't have the clip point, but a spear point instead.

The No. 7 bayonet can cost almost as much as the rifle it goes on.

I have a No4mk2 Enfield, which I bought on impulse for $400.

I really love the design of the action and rear sight, especially the rear sight.