Lee enfields , the beauty and the beast

[bushhogger]

Ill start with the beast, I was in a local sporting good store and spotted an old mk4 no1, it was a long branch ( Canadian) the stock was pretty beatup looked like someone tried to sporterize it, anyway I gave 75 bucks for it, I put an ATI stock on it, got a b-square scope mount, put a Nikon fixed power scope on it, a harris bi-pod, then took it to a local rifle builder and had him cut the barrel down to 16in, did a camo job on it and I had a perfect truck gun, we have alot of wild hog and coyote around here, the old gun will group a 1.5in at 100yds with Remington180 gr core low, this thing will smoke a big hog , great truck gun.
Now the beauty is a mk4 no1 made in the UK@ 1945 I believe, I bought this gun from my cousin, the gun looks unissued , the furniture on this gun is beautiful, the blueing is great, it has the flip type rear sight, my cousin has another one but this ones rear sight Is like a micrometer type, he wanted to hold onto that one, ive never fired this gun, just to nice to shot looks like it needs to be in a display cabinet, my question is how much would this gun be worth, not going to sell it just figured some one would know the value of it , thanks for your feedback

 

[bentongunclub]

I have seen two types of micrometer sights for this firearm. I have seen both available from vendors in Shotgun News. They sell for about $35-$85 for the sight. I think I remember reading that these sights were issued to specialized personnel and not your average grunt (or whatever the Brits call them).

 

[Jeff F]

Those micrometer type rear sights were standard issue on No4 Enfields. The two aperture flip sight was designed to speed production during WWII. All the factory rear sights for No4 Enfields are interchangeable.

 

[Critical J]

I recently "inherited" a scopeless Lee Enfield .308 british war rifle. I know it has been retooled, but with all period appropriate parts. Bolt actions are simply not my thing so I wouldn't know much about it in the first place, but there doesn't seem to be a serial number present which was my instinctual starting place to look for answers concerning an unfamiliar firearm, any suggestions?

 

[bushhogger]

I was wondering about the value of the Enfield I own, it has the regular rear flip type sight, like I said earlier this rifle is probably 95 - 100 percent

 

[bigedp51]

The "value" has more to do with collectors and and rarity and condition, as an example the American made Savage No.4 may be more valuable to an American but the Canadian Long Branch No.4 may be worth more to a Canadian.

Where you live or location also plays a part in gun value. Therefore the condition of the Enfield means everything to a collector, matching numbers, ownership markings, etc. BUT this means less to a "shooter" and none collector.

Without seeing your Enfield there is no way to place a value on it without knowing more about it. If your Enfield has the flip Mk.2 rear sight it was a WWII war time expedient (simplify and speed production) this sight would have been removed after the war if it had remained in British or Commonwealth hands. This means it might have been sold out of service after the war or had been given to a foreign country and not upgraded.

I just sold seven of my Enfields at Gander Mountain and got far more than I thought they were worth but it has been several years since I bought an Enfield and it was less than $100.00

Please take a close up photo of the left side of the receiver and the wrist socket on the same side and I will be able to tell you more.

Below is a No.1 Mk.3 that I sold made in 1916 BUT it was completely overhauled in 1953 and the only original part was the receiver. This Enfield has less collector value because it lost all its history in the overhaul when 90% of all the parts were replaced. (FTR Factory Through Repair or in American English "overhauled")







If you need any help contact me and feel free ask any questions, I have been collecting Enfields for over 8 years. and have a large collection of Enfield military manuals.

 

[BrocLuno]

How about a picture of the beast? We all know what the actual military rifles looked like, but I love to see what folks do to make "work" rifles

 

[madcratebuilder]

Now the beauty is a mk4 no1 made in the UK@ 1945 I believe, I bought this gun from my cousin, the gun looks unissued , the furniture on this gun is beautiful, the blueing is great, it has the flip type rear sight, my question is how much would this gun be worth,

If this rifle is blued it's been refinished. These were oil blackened at the factories, and many received a coat of Suncorite in later life. A photo is needed to know what the value is.

Here are the different backsights for the No4.

 

[bentongunclub]

Ill start with the beast, I was in a local sporting good store and spotted an old mk4 no1, it was a long branch ( Canadian) the stock was pretty beatup looked like someone tried to sporterize it, anyway I gave 75 bucks for it, I put an ATI stock on it, got a b-square scope mount, put a Nikon fixed power scope on it, a harris bi-pod, then took it to a local rifle builder and had him cut the barrel down to 16in, did a camo job on it and I had a perfect truck gun, we have alot of wild hog and coyote around here, the old gun will group a 1.5in at 100yds with Remington180 gr core low, this thing will smoke a big hog , great truck gun.
Now the beauty is a mk4 no1 made in the UK@ 1945 I believe, I bought this gun from my cousin, the gun looks unissued , the furniture on this gun is beautiful, the blueing is great, it has the flip type rear sight, my cousin has another one but this ones rear sight Is like a micrometer type, he wanted to hold onto that one, ive never fired this gun, just to nice to shot looks like it needs to be in a display cabinet, my question is how much would this gun be worth, not going to sell it just figured some one would know the value of it , thanks for your feedback

I bought my LeeEnfield with the micrometer sight about two years ago and paid less than $200 for it. The barrel is ok and outer parts show some wear and tear but I don't expect too much for something that was last repaired in the year I was born.