Brought home an Enfield

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fyrfytr

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My Grandfather passed away when I was about 17 and left me some of his rifles. One of them was a No 5 mk 1 Enfield. There was something about that rifle I always liked. Sadly, my parents got rid of them all when I was away. Lately, I've been thinking about that rifle and admiring some of the other flavors of Lee Enfields.

At the gun show yesterday I saw what I wanted, made the deal, and brought this home.

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If I read the markings correctly, it's a no 1 mark 3* made in Australia in 1942, right? Need to find some ammo and take a trip to the range.

BTW, the earlier story isn't a complete tragedy; I still have Pops 1st generation SAA.:)
 
Sweet!
I really should have kept a couple or three of these back when I was selling them in my shop!
 
I have a No. 4 MK1 US Property marked rifle and like it quite a bit. They are pretty darn fun rifles.

Looks like you got youreslf quite a nice example....nice markings, good and crisp...pretty good score.
 
fyrfytr

You have a beautiful Australian Lithgow Enfield rifle "BUT" someone has applied BLO or boiled linseed oil to the stock. Only raw linseed oil was applied to issued Enfield rifles used in combat, parade ground rifles and rifles used in competition had "real" BLO applied and not the fake American made BLO made today which is not "boiled".

Below a center bedded target rifle on the left that has BLO applied and a standard issue Enfield rifle with raw linseed oil on the right.

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Below a Lithgow with only raw linseed oil applied.
 

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Privi ammo shoots well in these rifles. Surplus ammo has pretty much dried up. If you do find surplus, it most likely is corrosive so clean accordingly right after shooting. Nice find.....chris3
 
Thanks for the replies. Found Privi ammo at Cabelas relatively cheap, and free shipping. Going to get 200 rounds to start.

As far as the finish, I had a feeling it was redone at some point. What's the consensus, do it correctly, or leave it alone?
 
Forgot to mention.....

Privi is good brass for reloading too.................chris3
 
Leave it alone, looks good and it will get less glossy over time.

I have exactly that rifle, a 1942 marked receiver with a 1943 marked, but numbers matching stock. Fun and NICE! enjoy.
 
I have a numbers matching 1941 Lithgow that I use for reenacting as well as shooting. Nothing like showing up to a S Pacific display and have people ask, "What are you?".

Be careful with surplus ammo. I had some Iraqi or Egyptian that broke the little guide piece near the cocking piece at the rear of the bolt. Locked up the bolt tight but it did not blow up. I got it open and found the broke piece. For blanks I am not worried, but I need to get a new bolt and have it head spaced...
 
Alright, I'm going to leave it as is and shoot it with a big dopey grin on my face.

Hope the ammo gets here for this weekend. :D
 
DO NOT Modify it, sell it and get something else if thats what you want. Those are harder to find nowdays than No4s. I too have a sickness for Enfields, I prefer using S&B ammo
 
Nice Aussie Enfield ya got there and it was made when Japan was knocking on our door step. Enfields are by far the most common ex mil (surplus) rifles here in Australia. After the war it was illegal to own a military caliber so alot of them you get here are wildcats like 303-22, 303-25, 303-243, 303-270 (all by necking down a 303 round) and a shorter 303 round and quite a few were even made into 410 shotguns.
 
I have one just like it that belonged to my Dad.

BTW I hope your parents PAID for it to replace the one that they disposed of while you were away.
 
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