Enfield 303 No.4 Mk1 Question

[jos2f]

Hey guys,
I'm looking at purcashing my first mil-surplus rifle. I have come across a "WW2 British enfield 303 bolt action,peep sights, sporterized stock, 10 shot mag". I have been told it is 1941 production and has a "thick black paint-like coating on the barrel".
Price is $150 and have been told the action is smooth and it's quite accurate.
Since it has been sporterized and has paint-like coating on the barrel, I realize it won't be a collectors piece.

Is this a good enough of a rifle/deal where I could buy it, strip the metal down and re-blue it for a decent cheap rifle?

Thanks!

 

[Grey Morel]

It already IS a decent cheap rifle sir. I see no need to do any work to that gun, unless ofcourse it tickles your fancy to do so.

 

[Bill B.]

Is this a good enough of a rifle/deal where I could buy it, strip the metal down and re-blue it for a decent cheap rifle?

Personal taste is that I would like one not messed with. Nothing at all wrong with that one but I would not pay $150.00 for and then start trying to reblue it. If it's worth the $150.00 to you I would use it as is.

 

[jdh]

How do you re-blue somethng that was never blued?

The rifle is worth what is being asked for it.

 

[jos2f]

How do you re-blue somethng that was never blued?

Forgive my ignorance; I had assumed the original finish was blued with the gun having been re-coated with some other finish in the last 60 years. Did these guns use a different type of barrel finishing at the time?

Thanks!

*edit*
Also, I thought I would be able to strip down the barrel and blue it from there. Is this feasible?

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Avoid sporterized military rifles. Barrel bedding is never done right, crowning is seldom done right, sights are seldom calibrated correctly if at all to any particular loading, and passersby might think it was YOU who butchered a fine rifle like that.

For $150 you can get an unbutchered Enfield. My 1945 Long Branch Enflield Number 4 Mark I* is among my best shooters, is in excellent condition, and cost $150 (albeit in 2000).

Leave that piece of junk alone.

 

[Robert]

I disagree with Duke. For $150 I think it is a good buy as long as the bore is in good shape. A new stock can be had that will either return it to original looks, what I would do. Or one that is of good enough quality to provide a decent bed for the action. I am still looking for the right No1 Mk3 that I can sneak into the house...

 

[84B20]

I inherited this one from my FIL. He used it for hunting. It is my understanding that it is good for game up to elk in size. It probably can be used for larger but some that I've talked to don't recommend it. The only thing I did was add the scope and bipod.

 

[Macmac]

Well I too think the price is too high fir a bubba gun... 50 bucks would be my tops but Il'd like 35 bucks better.

There were black metal to begin with, by a parkerizing treatment and that gun just might be black from the factory, but I can't tell from the picture. If it is a "Truck Bed Liner" improvement by bubba gun run away.

I had a mess of these as original, and didn't really care for them much. They were like a swiss army knife of the gun world.

Part club, part paddle, and it shot, but not that well.

I used them in NH in a canoe for deer hunting on the rainy days.

The Mk III is another whole ball game and that little jungle carbine is a desirable collector you can still shoot.

 

[84B20]

The Mk III is another whole ball game and that little jungle carbine is a desirable collector you can still shoot.

Fortunately, mine is a MK III.

 

[longrifleman]

That is about the usual asking price for one of those around here. If it is a good shooter, you would have a hard time finding anything better cheaper. IF If it goes bang the bottom price seems to be $100.

Depending on the stock it would almost part out for that price if the barrell hasn't been cut off. If it has then there isn't any way to restore it in the future if you decide to.

The .303 is capable of taking any game in N. America and pretty much everywhere else. Documented kills in most older hunting literature. Whether it is a good idea to take dangerous game with it is another discussion. Personally I want something bigger, like a Ma Duce.

It would make a good project gun if you want to learn different techniques. Can't lose much if something doesn't work. Hiring someone else to do the work is a good way to lose money fast.

 

[jdh]

They were finished with a flat black bake on enamel. Very durable. less harmful chemicals involved in the process. Easier to repair.

 

[alemonkey]

Looks like that one might just need a new forend and handguards, and maybe a front sight hood. That stuff shows up on fleabay sometimes, or you might be able to put a want ad on surplusrifleforum.com and find some for a decent price. Might be a good candidate for restoration to it's original glory IF the barrel hasn't been cut.

I would try to talk him down a little. $150 probably is ok if all numbers match. I paid $180 for one with a mismatched bolt.

The enfield is a great rifle, and if you want to scope it the ATI no-gunsmith mount works well. With the factory peep sights they're plenty accurate. The .303 is a mild recoiling round that works great for deer sized game.

 

[mickeydim468]

If metal is un-touched, then it may be worth $150.00 as long as the bore is in good condition! I wouldn't buy it at any price if the metal has been modified in any way for any price. They are good shooters and as others have said, they will take large game without a doubt. They do not kick quite as much as a 30.06 but they are very close. The metal butt plate hurts after a while and will leave a bruise on your shoulder after 40 rounds or so. At least it did mine!

If you look around and don't jump I am sure you can find an unaltered rifle for around the same price. I hear tell that the Jungle carbine is a very nice shooter, but I have never shot one myself. I really liked my No. 4 MK2 which was an excellent specimen with all matching numbers ETC... that I only paid $135.00 about 5 months ago. The guy advertised it in the local paper at $150.00 and all I did was ask if he would take less and he dropped the price on the spot to $135 so you may be able to get that one for less too!

Good luck

Mikey!

 

[DougW]

$150 is OK IF the bolt and reciever have matching serial numbers. Also, ID the rifle (serial number and markings on the butt socket). It can be restored. I found a matching Savage cut down the same way, with all matching parts. Some bits and pieces from Springfield Sporters and wood from my inventory, I have 1943 matching Savage #$mk1* with no import marks.

I iust finished "restoring" a #5mk1 BSA (1946). Pitting was deep, barrel is near perfect. I cut down some #4 wood (temporary) and have a nice shooter to go with my all matching Fazakerly.

Some #4's were blued, parkerized, or oil blackened. Removing the paint, you may find a nice parkerized finish. My BSA #5 was refinished with AlumaHyde II and cold blue. Not an actual "restoration", but I have a nice shooter.

Your call on refinishing back to military guise. Going rate for #4mk1's is closer to $250 and higher these days. And, they are definately getting harder to find.


Light rifle is the 8/45 Fazakerly.


Top rifle is the restored Savage (all 4 are Savages)

 

[shinz]

Looking at Jos2f's pic, that is an unchopped barrel, so restoration may well be possible. Frankly though, I wouldn't bother, far better to pick up a complete & original mil job if thats what you want. If you just want a cheap hunting rifle this will do the job just fine as thousands of young (& not so young) Kiwis found out after WW2. The cut down Lee Enfield, both in No.1 Mk3 & No.4 Mk1 persuasion, was the firearm of choice & saw many thousands of Red deer shot in the decade following WW2 until more modern arms became readily available & the supply of LEs dwindled. If this one has a decent barrel & is otherwise in good nick, then it is good to go as is. There are some options for scope mounting out there for the No.4s too.
Steve

 

[JWF III]

I agree with shinz. It doesn't look as if it's had any work done on the metal. So it would be a prime canidate for restocking back to as-issued. And btw, the black paint is as-issued. These guns weren't commonly blued, at least from a rearsenal.

Wyman

 

[DougW]

JWF III, I would generally agree about the blueing. I have a BSA #4mk1 FTR'ed at Maltby that is blued. The #5 Fazakerly is also blued. Most everything else I have are parked, blackened, or even painted (a #4mk1 Fazakerly via Ishapore, completely "screwed"!).