Help with Enfield MKII(F) serial number prefix "PF"

[Rjajr]

I recently inherited two Enfield rifles from my father. They were both originally in cosmoline, but my father cleaned one of them a few years ago, but never fired it. The other one is still in cosmoline. The serial numbers on both rifles are PF3391xx and PF3395xx. The side of the received of the cleaned rifle reads, first line "No.-4MK2(F)" and the second line reads "1/55 PF3395xx". The two rifles also include two bayonets with scabbards. Again, one is cleaned and one is still in cosmoline.

Can anyone give me any information on these two rifles?

 

[SDC]

These are No.4 Mark II rifles made at the Fazakerley Royal Ordnance Factory, near Liverpool; clean them up well, make sure the bores are clear, shoot them, and enjoy them.

 

[Rjajr]

Thanks for the information. I am going to sell both rifles. Do you have any idea on their value? If not, can you point me to anyone that might know. Thanks.

 

[KenWP]

If they are full wood and have the bayonets they are worth a bit. I sold one that was sporterized here recently and that had been drilled and tapped for a leatherwood scope mount and then had a Weaver scope mount put on it for a $100 bucks my cut as I consigned it and I had paid $15 bucks for it back in about 1977. It wouldn't hit the side of a barn so was happy with what I got for it.

 

[Radagast]

Rjajr: The 1/55 means that the gun was manufactured in January 1955. These were then put into storage and never issued until sold as surplus IIRC in the 1990s. They are sometimes known as Irish Contract rifles as an order was manufactured for the Republic of Ireland but never delivered. Whether yours are Irish Contract guns or not I have no idea, most sellers wouldn't either but the story keeps getting repeated. I guess all new unfired No4MKIIs have become Irish Contract through some sort of mental osmosis.

Don't clean the cosmoline, it helps guarantee the gun as being unfired, which may mean something to a collector. A few years ago these were being sold as New In Wrap as they came in a brown paper packet. There is one for sale over at the gunboards forum for $595 http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=119743

 

[MrFox]

Not to dig up a semi-oldish thread...but.

Yep. Those are Irish Contracts. The range is PF309348 to PF359347. If its a PF serial number and its nice and new looking, generally its an Irish Contract or close. The "UF" serials are Fazakerly.

If one is still in the wrapper, leave it there. Find a hiding spot and keep it safe. Don't be tempted. It is an evil evil thing, but you can do it. The market/street value of them go up and down, but just remember its only wrapped and mint once.

Shoot and enjoy the one that is already opened. I bought my Irish Contract for 150 from someone who had no idea what it was. At a gun show, even. It wasn't wrapped, but there was some cosmo residue in various places.