Wire Wraped Enfield Mark III

[Flyboy73]

I was at Dunhams and they have a pretty good looking Enfield Mark III. Price is $149.99. However the stock is wire wrapped in two spots. The guy said it was wire wrapped for grenade launching??? Has anyone took the wire wrap off one of these enfields? And if so how does it look underneath?

Also is the price good?


Brion

 

[cracked butt]

It might be a good price if you just want a wire wrapped enfield to round out a collection. FWIW, I've heard that the wire wrapped enfields were used for grenade launching which amounted to getting extra mileage out of a rifle with a shot out barrel.

Aim has n01 mk3s (not wire wrapped) them for $100. add in $17 for sipping and find a FFL that will do the transfer for less than $30 and you will get roughly the same price and a better rifle.

http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/copy_of_No_4_Mk1_Lee_Enfield__303Brit_Rifles.html

 

[Dionysusigma]

Hm. The only Enfields I've ever seen in OKC are wire-wrapped and cost ~$150.00...

 

[Okiecruffler]

I've got a wire wrap, and it certainly lends weight to the old shot out barrel story. It's lucky to hold 6 inches at 50yrds. But hey, you gotta have a wire wrap.

Oh, and I think Brigadoon's in Del City had a few decent Enfields last time I was in there.

 

[Rebar]

The wire-wrapped rifles were for grenade launching.

The british system was a grenade on a steel rod, the rod was placed into the barrel, and a blank cartridge used to propel it. The wire helped reinforce the areas of highest pressure within the barrel. Needless to say, this didn't do anything good to the barrel.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

Better Enfields are easy to find and I would not spend the money on one that was wrapped.

From what I heard, the Brits only wrapped the worst and most shot out rifles to begin with because they knew how much damage the grenades did to the barrel.

 

[B.FRANKlin]

wire wrapped rifles

Many Brit rifles were wire wrapped as reinforcement to launch grenades. It doesn't necessarily mean the barrel is bad. Some were wrapped tighter than others which could cause them to shoot off-target due to a slight bend in the barrel. You just have to shoot it enough to know where it's going to hit, getting used to it. After many, many years of storage, there may be some unsightly marks on the stocks and barrels if you remove the wrapping. The old saying "know your rifle" is true to any old military surplus weapons. Most can supply years of fun shooting. Here's a trick you can play; learn to shoot it well, then let a friend shoot it. It's fun for you to hit things with it and others can't even come close. Say "What's wrong with you? Can't you shoot?" Unwrapping the barrel might improve it, but maybe not. Some wraps were used to "repair" cracked or split stocks, too, so be aware of that. As with any used firearm, inspect it before you buy. And it don't hurt to try to talk 'em down on price. Most reputable salesmen will come down with a little griping about condition. Sometimes you can find a great bargain. Have fun.

 

[Moonclip]

150seems high but wire wrapped ones I've seen actually tend to have nice bores. Don't remove it, it's part of the history. There has been discussion on these on www.gunboards.com you may want to do a search on the Lee Enfield forum.

 

[Gun Wielding Maniac]

I want to say something about this nonsense of wire wrapped rifles always having shot out barrels. I've seen many of the wire wrapped rifles and few of them have shot out barrels. I own one myself and the barrel is pristine. If a rifle has a shot out barrel, its because its bloody 90 years old and was fired with corrosive ammunition most of its service life, with questionable maintenence.

Beneath the wood on many of these rifles, the wire has left impressions. Supposedly, you can use an iron and a wet wrag to steam out these dents, but I've never done it myself. Personally, I think the wire wrap adds personality and history to a rifle for which it was an original accessory.

 

[stan in sc]

Re: Wire wrap nonsense

Gun Weilding Maniac has it exactly correct.The shot out wire wrap story is nonsense and promulgated by people who "have heard".Stop and think about how much a normal rifle will be fired during it's service life and how many times a grenade will be fired in relation.The trurh is that wire wraps have usually better bores than regular rifles.
I have one that I paid $50 for which was all matching and had a perfect bore.
I use it hunting more than I do my Remington .308.It is more accurate.
The most recent one I bought several months ago was in the $150 range and had beautiful very smooth wood and a mirror bore.It shoots great.
Wire wraps are the Cinderella of Enfields.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I'm not one of those who "have heard". The bore on mine is barely passable as a shooter. And I correspond with an awful lot of collectors who have more examples than I do who have the same stories. I have seen a few decent wire wrapped shooters, and I'm glad you guys are having good luck with your's. But unless you can really closely check the bore before buying, you're better off passing on the wirewraps if you're looking for a shooter.

 

[GunGoBoom]

when you say 'closely check the bore', do you mean visual inspection, or bore scope?

 

[Gun Wielding Maniac]

I'd just take a .303 cartridge with me and drop the bullet point downward into the muzzle. If the casing touches the barrel, pass. If the bullet stops about 3/4 or 1/2 way in, you should be fine. The crown is the most important part. A little pitting in the barrel isnt a big deal.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I had a friend loan me his bore scope once to look at a new M44 I had bought. I couldn't believe how many pits and flaws I found. It looked like a whole army of bore gnomes had been in there banging away with hammers. I was devestated because it was a really nice looking piece. Then I actually took it out to shoot. Dang thing shoots 2 inches at 100yrds. I think bore scopes are best left to those who know not to obsess over every little bump, not anal retentive guys like me. But I do always take a bore light with me if I'm buying a gun for a shooter. With milsurps that doesn't always matter since many of them come with the barrel crammed full of cosmoline. But I've seen rifles with elliptical bores and more than a few that were completely void of rifling in spots.

 

[GunGoBoom]

It looked like a whole army of bore gnomes had been in there banging away with hammers.

 

[SMLE]

Rebar;
The rod grenades were only used in WWI, they went to using a "cup discharger" that threw a standard Mills bomb.

Look for the letter "EY" on the barrel. Rifles with this marking were for "emergency use only" with ball ammunition.

Personally, I only want a wire wrapped rifle to fill out my collection, but I know of several that ARE good shooters. You just have to take your chances when you buy one.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Look for the letter "EY" on the barrel.

That's two letters, isn't it?

So if a steel rod on a grenade truly does that much damage to a bore, then why didn't they just use wood? IIRC, steel's more expensive, and has a great many more uses.

Maybe because of relative strength?

 

[SMLE]

Dionysusigma;

If ya didn't know what I meant, how could you correct me?

The amount of force acting on the rod would have shattered wood. It became a moot point as the rod grenades were done away with all together.