Pics of a brand new, 50 year old, military rifle.

[Trebor]

Here's some pics of a brand new, 5o year old, Enfield Mk. 4 No. 2 I got from a local shop. The gun is going to stay in the wrap until I get a chance to document it with some better pics. These are just some quickies I did on my lving room floor. Eventually though, I will unwrap it and shoot it. Btw, I practically stole this gun for $250.

Here's a full length shot:


A detail of the mummy wrap on the receiver. I'm torn between looking forward to unwrapping it, like a kid on Christmass morning, and dreading cleaning all the cosmo out. They were serious about preserving this thing.



This tag is on the buttsock:



This one is on the handguard:

 

[TrafficMan]

i've seen those before. i want one! lucky man!

 

[MAUSER88]

That's very fairly priced. I bought three consectutivly serial numbered back in 1991 when Century first imported them. Price was $175.00 each back them. I recently saw one for sale at a show for $500.00 They were made for Ireland.

 

[Trebor]

I didn't realize how good a deal this rifle was until I asked around on the net. People were reporting seeing them go for around $400 or $500 bucks recently. Once I heard that, I called the shop to hold the rifle and drove down as soon as I could to snap it up. I've wanted one of these since they were imported the last time, about 8 or 10 years ago, but I didn't have the moeny then.

From what I understand, not all #4 Mk 2's were actually made for the Irish contract. Someone on Gunboards was saying that most Irish contract guns were never issued or even delivered, which is why they are often found NIW, but not all guns made were for that contract.

Funny thing, I haven't seen one of these in years and now Dennis Kroh from Empire Arms just had two of them in his latest e-mail mailing list. They both sold for $550.

 

[Kurush]

Nice find! If it's packed in the same preservative that was on my Enfield I'd recommend plugging your nose before you unwrap it. I think the "mummy" in mummy wrap refers to how it smells like it's been dead for 4000 years.

 

[TheEgg]

Btw, I practically stole this gun for $250.

I will take it off your hands for $251, thus clearing your conscience. No, No, no need to thank me.

Nice find -- put up some pictures when you get it cleaned up!

 

[brickboy240]

I bought one of those...enarly identical to yours a few years ago for 200 bucks. it is a 1954 Fazakerly made rifle - one year older than yours. Yes, it took quite a bit of mineral spirits and rags to get all the cosmoline off, but what was underneath looked like it was never fired at all.

You would never guess it, by the stories about British Enfields by others, but the truth is that Lee Enfield is one accurate and very pleasant rifle to shoot! It will group bullets as good as my 98k Mauser, Garand and 03 Springfield. Actually, I really enjoy shooting the Lee Enfield. The peep sights are ten times better than the dinky blade sights on Mausers and Springfields and it has hardly any recoil. The bolt is light and fast to cycle as well.

Clean it up and go shoot it with some good surplus Mk7 Ball...the groups on target might surprise you!

- Brickboy240

 

[jefnvk]

Seen them for that a while back, though they were expensive. Guess I was wrong.

 

[Sactown]

I got one of those new in wraps a couple of years ago. Cleaning that snot off the rifle was a PITA!!!, but a real beauty emerged.

 

[jobu07]

Alright, I know the No 4 Mk 1 quite well, but someone refresh my memory as to what the Mk 2 is.

 

[Sewerman]

Sweeet!

 

[Polishrifleman]

Basically the same thing just the MK 2 is a post war production of the MK 1, some will say the fittings are better but that is up to the rifle and the user.

 

[Mk VII]

trigger pinned to the body, not the trigger guard

 

[DMK]

WOW! Very nice rifle and an awesome price. I'd have paid $300-$400 for an unissued No.4 Enfield. I wish I could come across a NIB Enfield of any mark, but the Mk2 is definately one of the nicest variations.

Please do post pics when you get it cleaned up.

Those Brits didn't spare the cosmoline did they? I've ordered spare parts that were dipped in grease, wrapped with paper, then more grease globbed over that. I guess being an island nation, they had their battles with rust.

 

[CBX]

how much are the no4 MK1's going for now?

 

[mustanger98]

I just got a No.4 Mk2 today- I ordered a No.4 Mk1 "shooter special" with the micrometer rear sight from AIM, and they sent me the Mk 2. Markings are kinda hard to read. I'm trying to figure out what I got.

Questions that come to mind:

Were all No.4 Mk2's made at Fazakerly?

Where is Fazakerly?

My rifle isn't NIW and it's etched with FTR. Is this an Irish Contract rifle?

Regardless, it looks like the fun's fixin' to start with this one.

 

[Mk VII]

Were all No.4 Mk2's made at Fazakerly?

Where is Fazakerly?

Suburb of Liverpool. All postwar No.4 Mk.2 were made there. Factory closed in the early '60s, partly due to labour relations problems.
They also made Stens and Sterlings, and some SLR parts.

 

[mustanger98]

Suburb of Liverpool. All postwar No.4 Mk.2 were made there.

Okay, thanks.

 

[DMK]

I just got a No.4 Mk2 today- I ordered a No.4 Mk1 "shooter special" with the micrometer rear sight from AIM, and they sent me the Mk 2.

Wow, lucky break!

Markings are kinda hard to read.

A lot of these latest imports have most of the markings scrubbed and then they were repainted with poor paint that just fell off. However on the plus side, every one of these Enfields I've gotten lately, while looking real rough, have beautiful shiny bores.

My rifle isn't NIW and it's etched with FTR. Is this an Irish Contract rifle?

'FTR' means it was arsenal reconditioned. It probably has(or did have) a letter or code next to the FTR that indicates what arsenal did the rebuild.

I'm not sure what indicates an Irish Contract rifle though.

 

[swingset]

If I were you, I'd keep it in the wrap.

You could find an unissued '50's Faz for $200 or so, and let that one sit and appreciate. You haven't even done anything yet, and already it's tripled in price. Just saw one go on an Enfield forum just like yours for $650.00.

What will it be in 10 years?

I have a few myself, and I'm hanging onto them for dear life. Those Irish Contract guns were the last of the Brit No4's, and will be worth a pretty penny down the line.

 

[swingset]

Were all No.4 Mk2's made at Fazakerly?

My rifle isn't NIW and it's etched with FTR. Is this an Irish Contract rifle?

No4's were made by the Brits at BSA Shirley, Fazakerly, Maltby, Longbranch (Canada), and Savage (US).

The FTR on your rifle means Factory Thorough Repair, and designates a rearsenal job on your gun, when it was taken from service and rebuilt.

 

[ScottsGT]

Saw one this weekend at the gunshow just removed and cleaned up for $500.
Too much for me. I'd rather have another Garand at that price.

 

[Trebor]

If I were you, I'd keep it in the wrap.

I thought about it. But, the rifle came from the estate of a guy who did just that. He died and never got to enjoy the rifle. I think I'm going to shoot it.

I do reserve the right to change my mind, especially if I find an already unwrapped rifle at at good price before I unwrap this one.

 

[DMK]

I thought about it. But, the rifle came from the estate of a guy who did just that. He died and never got to enjoy the rifle. I think I'm going to shoot it.

I'd agree with that wholeheartedly.

On one hand, I appreciate Swingset's point, they aren't making new military Enfields anymore. It's a real treasure and NIW Enfields are near extinction. However, it just seems wrong to leave such a fine rifle all wrapped up in a dark corner. Reducing a fine rifle like that to just an investment value seems to me like putting a price on a family pet. Take it out in the sun and play with it!

 

[Edgeofthewoods]

Nice rifle. Looks like a twin to mine. I picked it up two years ago from a guy that didn't like it, couldn't shoot it and was broke. I asked what he wanted and he said a 100 bucks. .303 is getting hard to find as surplus but it is a easy round to reload. Wouldn't. trade mine for all the tea in China!!I'll try to post some pics after work. Fine rifles where designed to be used. Not abused by being left in a dark closet covered in grease. This old Enfield of mine has already been claimed by my oldest, since this year he took his first deer wih it.

Chuck