Selling old Enfields in the military.(Price?)

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twoblink

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Just had a chat with my buddy who's over in Afgn...

He says someone brought in a truckload of WWII Enfields.. and started hocking them off... auction style (err, I meant yelling from the back of a truck style)

He didn't ask how much, but asked me if I wanted one... He'll bring one back for me if I want one...

He asked me what's a "good price"...

As I'm no enfield expert.. what is a good price? And do I want one??:confused:
 
$100-$350 depending on make and condition, and YES you want one.

Who wouldn't want a WWII bolt action?
 
Well, it would sure outrange the M4 and do more damage to boot, so maybe not a bad rifle to have around. Old does not mean bad. I know a guy whose carry gun is a 1944 Remington-Rand M1911A1; last I heard he was guarding Kharzai, which is pretty serious stuff for a 60 year old weapon.

But I doubt your friend could get anything in the way of a weapon back from Afghanistan regardless of how it was acquired.

Jim
 
Note that twoblink isn't from the US, and that maybe his friend has different.. er... rules applied to him.
 
Old does not mean bad. I know a guy whose carry gun is a 1944 Remington-Rand M1911A1;
Click to expand...

My carry gun is a 1944 M1911A1, made by Ithaca. About the only original parts are the receiver and slide. Barrel, bushing, springs, magazines, grips, trigger, hammer, and various other parts are all new.
 
Mine is a 1911, made in early 1918. Carried in two world wars. I knew the man that carried it in WWII. He made several landings in the pacific. I've had it since 1967-8.
Had to replace the hammer, trigger, and disconnector, also put in a Bar Sto barrel, but still have all the original parts. It still wears the original diamond walnut grips. :eek:

It shoots great!!
 
Mike, any firearm that was supposedly issued to the current or former owner who was in the service and is still in his possession is stolen.
twoblink, do you really believe that?
 
I think the laws will get too messy for me to want one..

But maybe my friend will want to keep one.. I'm probably going to tell him, $250 or less, in decent condition, take it..

Is that good advice?
 
Quote Sunray"Mike, any firearm that was supposedly issued to the current or former owner who was in the service and is still in his possession is stolen."

The 1911 was replaced by the 1911A1 in general issue starting about 1925 or so.
The 1911's were then issued to National Guard units(where my friend was issued it). After the war, it would have been scrapped, sold as surplus, or sold outright to the person issued, if they desired.
Many arms, of all types were simply "liberated" by those that carried them.

Besides, it's not in his possesion anymore, but mine. :D
 
twoblink: IMO you might want to be a little more wary of these "Afghan Enfields". Many, if not most of them will almost certainly be handmade forgeries from Peshawar and other Pakistani border towns. Fine curiousities, but of very questionable materials and workmanship.

Some can be hard to spot on first exam, due to duplication of manufacturers, proof, and even unit markings on the knock-offs. They've been doing this for about 150 years in those parts, probably starting with jezails and progressing through Snyders, Martinis, Webleys, etc. A monkey copy of nearly anything that shoots can be had in the Peshawar bazaar for a price: AK, Skorpion, RPK - you name it.

While there may well be "truckloads" of genuine SMLEs floating around that region, there were never enough to keep up with demand in an area where the blood feud and intertribal warfare have been a way of life for centuries. Finding an example of the genuine article that's still in safe firing condition now would be a miracle on the close order of "loaves and fishes", IMO. Finding one of the copies that EVER was would be almost as amazing.

Don't know what your situation is in the RC, but I'd stick with whatever legitimate channels might be open to you for obtaining an SMLE, regardless of price difference. This "deal" smells.
 
It's ok to question the function, but jeez.... an Afghani *hand made* copy of a repeating battle rifle? That takes skill.... I've got to respect that :)

That's the kind of thing I'd be doing in my garage had I the tools, skill, and time...
 
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