Price check: Enfield Long Branch #4 mk1
- Thread starter springmom
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crowsnest2002
Member
Depends
the condition of the rifle has a lot to do with the price
Century Arms Good W cracked stock $99
the condition of the rifle has a lot to do with the price
Century Arms Good W cracked stock $99
Chipperman
Member
Ballpark that I'd expect from an online auction would be $150-200.
joab
Member
Price is subjective.
Enfield generally go for between $100 and $200
LongBranches sometimes bring a slight premium.
One recently sold on GunBroker for over $300 but it was beautiful.
I bought a Brit made Enfield from AIM recently for $109 and a couple of US enfields from SOG for $160, I believe.
Enfield generally go for between $100 and $200
LongBranches sometimes bring a slight premium.
One recently sold on GunBroker for over $300 but it was beautiful.
I bought a Brit made Enfield from AIM recently for $109 and a couple of US enfields from SOG for $160, I believe.
Hm. Well, I may have paid slightly more than I needed to, but this is what I'm spending $255 on:
Thing is, DH got that WWII carbine in .30 caliber; and he has inherited a pistol his dad brought home from the war (that nobody in the family even knew existed until his mom died this summer). We're working on how to get that home legally (I hate BATFE regulations on shipping guns. Purely hate 'em. They are a pain in the BUTT). So I'm thinking Christmas present for him, something to go with and to start a real honest to goodness collection of WWII era guns, and I saw this, and....
I know. I need to get my C&R. At any rate, it's a done deal.
Springmom, who has a serious case of C&R bug....
Thing is, DH got that WWII carbine in .30 caliber; and he has inherited a pistol his dad brought home from the war (that nobody in the family even knew existed until his mom died this summer). We're working on how to get that home legally (I hate BATFE regulations on shipping guns. Purely hate 'em. They are a pain in the BUTT). So I'm thinking Christmas present for him, something to go with and to start a real honest to goodness collection of WWII era guns, and I saw this, and....
I know. I need to get my C&R. At any rate, it's a done deal.
Springmom, who has a serious case of C&R bug....
mustanger98
Member
Just out of curiosity, what was the seller's screen name? Reason I ask is there's this one business that keeps British Enfields listed on Gunbroker and they set their minimum bid on the high side and give a description much like the one quoted. From the looks of it, I think they get there's from SOG. If you have an FFL or C&R, or know a FFL who does transfers, you can order direct cheaper. I know because I did order two Mausers from them a few years ago. AIM has been the same way... sent 'em a money order for my Enfield No.4Mk2 and they sent it to the FFL of my choice. That was when AIM was running what they called "shooter specials" on the Enfield... they said they were in rougher shape and only cost $95 +shipping so I only had $107 in it through a buddy who owns a gun shop and didn't charge me for that transfer. The kicker that time though... when I unwrapped the rifle on the counter, it was a greasy mess. The owner's wife was working the counter that day and she thought I'd lost my mind... until I brought it back all cleaned up with the wood refinished and looking real purty.
joab
Member
If you had a C&R I would say that you paid a little too much.
But you would also be buying blind.
You have the option of returning a gun that does not live up to your expectations but that also costs money.
I asked AIM if I could handpick for a Long branch and they told me no.
Also from what I see on the cruffler forums LongBranches seem to draw a premium.
This thing probably did come from one of the surplus houses but it has gone through an extra level of handpicking before getting to you, plus you get to see a picture of the gun at least
All in all you didn't do too bad.
If you are going for the whole collection keep in mind that the Yugo Mausers are not true Mausers
Research the Japs thoroughly
And good luck finding an intact Carcano
Unless you want to make a habit of impulse purchases stay away from the 03 FFl
I just wanted a US made Enfield to sporterize into a hunting gun for the nephew.
I now have 7 Enfields in assorted flavors, 5 91/30s 3 SKSs and Nagant revolvers and CZ52s, and I also got that Yugo Mauser.
That was about two or three months worth of buying
Chipperman
Member
Post pics when you get it. 
arthurcw
Member
yep. this place is a bad influence.
I need to get off my duff and file my paperwork.
Limeyfellow
Member
It might be a little much for a Longbranch No4 Lee Enfield. Might be worth it if its the No4 Mk1 and not the No4 Mk1* and still had the original blueing and hadn't been parkerised when refurbished after ww2. Even with all numbers matching you should be able to find a Longbranch for about a $150 in similar excellent condition with shiny barrel, excellent stock with very few scratches on.
In the US the only Lee Enfields that tend to come up at $200+ tend to be Savage made ones where people pay the premium of having it built in your own country. Of course No5 Lee Enfields go for more than this or for instance one modified to a No9 or similar go for a very high price.
In the US the only Lee Enfields that tend to come up at $200+ tend to be Savage made ones where people pay the premium of having it built in your own country. Of course No5 Lee Enfields go for more than this or for instance one modified to a No9 or similar go for a very high price.
mustanger98
Member
It's from a fellow by the name of Carl Wolter in Pennsylvania. He has terrific feedback on the Gunbroker site.
I'm jazzed.
I won't buy a gun off of Gunbroker unless the guy has good feedback. I haven't been disappointed.
I hope it's everything you hope for and at least as good as described. The rifles I've bought there have been better than represented. I haven't had dealings with Carl Wolter though. That other outfit I was thinking of is "USWEAPONS" or something like that... they're a dealer, but I'm not saying that's bad either because for all I know, Mr. Wolter probably is too. However, I've bought from dealers and hobbyists both.
Chipperman
Member
armoredman
Member
I have a LongBranch No4Mk1*, and it is a wonderful rifle.
Coworker sold it to me for what he gave in hock for it 15 or so years ago...$50.
Her at 100 yards, before I started really tweaking the handloads. I know, not that impressive, but I am reasonably happy with that as a starting point.
If he doesn't reload, this is a GREAT opportunity to start, as factory 303 ain't cheap at all, and the surplus stuff is junk.
Nice rifles, lots of fun, and not bad at all for SHTF.
Coworker sold it to me for what he gave in hock for it 15 or so years ago...$50.
Her at 100 yards, before I started really tweaking the handloads. I know, not that impressive, but I am reasonably happy with that as a starting point.
If he doesn't reload, this is a GREAT opportunity to start, as factory 303 ain't cheap at all, and the surplus stuff is junk.
Nice rifles, lots of fun, and not bad at all for SHTF.
Interesting. Thanks for the worldguns link. They have a link back to Impact Guns http://www.impactguns.com/store/RI1177-G.html that has one of what I am getting. Suggested retail is $269, so by that, I didn't get taken, anyway. And they are out of stock on them.
Yes, we have reloading stuff, and although I have YET to get the flooring put down in that room (one way or another, it's getting done before the new year OR ELSE) when it is, we'll be starting reloading for many of our goodies. ESPECIALLY the rifles. Can't believe how much 20 rounds of .243 goes for.
Thanks, all. I will indeed post pix after Christmas. (Did I mention this is a secret, BTW? DH will get this under the tree )
Springmom
Yes, we have reloading stuff, and although I have YET to get the flooring put down in that room (one way or another, it's getting done before the new year OR ELSE) when it is, we'll be starting reloading for many of our goodies. ESPECIALLY the rifles. Can't believe how much 20 rounds of .243 goes for.
Thanks, all. I will indeed post pix after Christmas. (Did I mention this is a secret, BTW? DH will get this under the tree
)Springmom
Limeyfellow
Member
The difference between the mk1 and the mk1* is the way the bolt is removed.
The first has a little button you press down when pulling back on the bolt to release the bolthead. The m1* was however simplified and has a notch in the reciever half way down to release the bolt head. Longbranch switched over from the mk1 to the mk1* design in 1942, in the middle of the 1L8xxx serial number range.
For the No4 mk1
You see how he presses a catch down as he pulls back on the bolt. This allows for the bolt head to be lifted up so the bolt can be removed from the reciever. Heres a close up.
Then to make production more simplified they did this.
This is the m1* modification. You see the slot where you move the bolt head to, to lift it up so you can remove the bolt. Now the vast majority of Longbranch Lee Enfields have the second reciever, so if you find an original unaltered one with the No4 Mk1 bolt release its much rarer.
(pictures from surplusrifle.com and http://enfieldrifles.profusehost.net/ where I was to lazy to take photos from my own. Both pages are well worth a look.)
The first has a little button you press down when pulling back on the bolt to release the bolthead. The m1* was however simplified and has a notch in the reciever half way down to release the bolt head. Longbranch switched over from the mk1 to the mk1* design in 1942, in the middle of the 1L8xxx serial number range.
For the No4 mk1
You see how he presses a catch down as he pulls back on the bolt. This allows for the bolt head to be lifted up so the bolt can be removed from the reciever. Heres a close up.
Then to make production more simplified they did this.
This is the m1* modification. You see the slot where you move the bolt head to, to lift it up so you can remove the bolt. Now the vast majority of Longbranch Lee Enfields have the second reciever, so if you find an original unaltered one with the No4 Mk1 bolt release its much rarer.
(pictures from surplusrifle.com and http://enfieldrifles.profusehost.net/ where I was to lazy to take photos from my own. Both pages are well worth a look.)
Cool! Thanks.
One of the things I love about getting into guns at my age is that I *always* have something new to learn. And one of the cool things about specialty forums like this is that there are always great people who are willing to teach.
Springmom
One of the things I love about getting into guns at my age is that I *always* have something new to learn. And one of the cool things about specialty forums like this is that there are always great people who are willing to teach.
Springmom
armoredman
Member
I pooh pooh'ed Enfields for years, and then discovered how wrong I was...
mustanger98
Member
In my case, a No.1Mk3 was the first bolt action rifle I ever had a clue about. That was a long time before I knew the No.4Mk1/Mk1*/Mk2 existed. It just keeps gettin' better and better.
kennedy
Member
I have a 1944 all matching long branch, when I thinned the herd a few years back this is the only enfield I kept.
At the age of fifteen in 1958, I was issued Long Branch #4 Mk1* serial number 85L7408 for my summer at an Army Cadet training course at Camp Dundurn, south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Eight weeks of learning soldier skills at an early age, a thousand miles from home!
If anyone should stumble across 85L7408, I'd pay double whatever the owner paid for it.
It was the first of many #4 Rifles to come to my hands, and I love them now as much as I did then....which is a LOT. The Long Branch rifles are the very best of a fine breed....maybe the fact the Canadian factory wasn't in danger of being bombed had something to do with it.
If anyone should stumble across 85L7408, I'd pay double whatever the owner paid for it.
It was the first of many #4 Rifles to come to my hands, and I love them now as much as I did then....which is a LOT. The Long Branch rifles are the very best of a fine breed....maybe the fact the Canadian factory wasn't in danger of being bombed had something to do with it.
armoredman
Member
I'll check the serial...sorry, 51L
Limeyfellow
Member
My only Longbranch is a No4 Mk1* from 1942 serial numbered 5L8***. About 40000 rifles after they switched the design, though it is my favourite of the No4s I own by far. Its was in excellent condition, and cleaned up nicely. Mighty accurate and I probrobly used it more than most my other firearms. These pictures are a bit old now so its really starting to turn red with the BLO I been adding on the finish and I guess I should really update it but its my Lee Enfield pride and joy.
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