Enfield Rifles

[Metalhead]

Going to display a little of my ignorance here.

 

I think that I want a wartime 303, but I know very little about Enfields. Do we have a resident Enfield expert? I understand that these rifles were in use in WW1 and 2, and several countries used them like the UK/Australia, and Canada I think? I have seen a few US marked ones as well, but do not know of the rarity of those. I'm not necessarily looking for a cream of the crop kind of rifle, but I certainly do not want a ruined (sporterized) one. I also am really not interested in a import marked one like a more recent CAI/Rguns import. I just do not know what my options are or really what to look for. MK1? MK3? /shrug.

 

Teach me!

[Guest PapaB]

You may get more responses in curios and relics.

[Metalhead]

I'm not going to make a duplicate topic. If the mods feel like this belongs somewhere else, they can move it.

[Guest PapaB]

I wasn't suggesting it doesn't belong in this forum, just that not everyone that reads the c and r forum will see it and you might get fewer responses than you want.

[1gewehr]

A summary of common .303 Enfields:

 

There are several basic models:

1)  US-made Pattern 14 .303 and US Model 1917 .30-06.  Really a modified Mauser action with cock-on-closing.  WWI manufacture by Remington and a Remington-run plant called Eddystone.  Here's a better description and some photos:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_1914_Enfield

2)  No1, MKIII Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield.  In the late 1880's the Brits adopted a bolt-action design by an American (James Lee) and it went through several changes, including changing the rifling to the Enfield pattern, and shortening it.  Thus, it was the Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield, or SMLE.  This was the main rifle of the British empire from 1904 through 1939.  It is easy to identify because the front bayonet boss looks like a barrel sticking out from the front nosecap, but lower than it should be.  The actual barrel does not stick out past the front sight.  It also has a tangent rear sight mounted just in front of the chamber.

3)  No 4, MKI.  Developed to be stronger, lighter, and more easily manufactured than the No 1.  Has a rear peep sight at the rear of the action.  Also has two small lugs at the end of the barrel to allow the short spike bayonet to be attached.  The barrel sticks out past the front sight for another two inches.

 

There were a LOT of variants of the Lee-Enfield.  One of the more common is the No.5 'Jungle Carbine'.  Most are converted No. 4 SMLEs that had a shortened barrel and hand, a flash hider with different bayonet lug, and some lightening cuts to the bolt, receiver, and barrel.  There are also .22 trainer versions of both the No1 and No 4 models, as well as sniper versions in .303 and 7.62NATO.

 

The Wikipedia entry is pretty good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee-Enfield

 

The British Lee-Enfield has a VERY fast action and a 10rd magazine.  At the beginning of WWI, the well-trained British troops were able to bring Germans under such accurate, heavy, long-range fire that they thought that they were facing machine guns.

[RichardR]

I have owned a MKI No.4 1942 for about 25 years or so, heck of a fine rifle, even for surplus, surprisingly accurate even with using just peep sights, which go up to 1300 meters btw.

The only other surplus rifles that I like better are the Swiss Ruben-Schmidt straight pulls.

[NRA]

some real SME here http://www.milsurps.com/

[LngRngShtr]

#1MKIII  has open sights and a flush muzzle cap looks rather clubbish but I love mine someday I will get the proper 18" of "cold steel" for her. 

 

#4 MK 1 has a short amount of barrel forward of the muzzle cap and usually has arperature sights..

 

I prefer the #1MKIII  very fast bolt action YOUTUBE Enfield Mad Minute they sound like MGs at one point it would be safe to say the sun never set on these rifles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOT0EqNDbC4

 

I guess the next question you would need to decide is Early wartime MKIII or later WWII  #4 ? of you could just get one of each

 

the charger clips are the same and must be loaded correctly or you can jam them up

[Guest tangojuliet]

also remember the us made lend lease enfields 

[dlm37015]

james paris lee designed them an american

i have 2 1 built by savage and marked us property

one built by holland and holland

[Guest tangojuliet]

james paris lee designed them an american

i have 2 1 built by savage and marked us property

one built by holland and holland

 nice very nice 

[JR2ATN]

You have to be careful when choosing an Enfield.  IMO the British and their allies tended to keep their long arms in service longer than the U.S. and they show it.  BDL is a good place to check for a nice one.  http://www.bdlltd.com/Military_Firearms_Curio_%26_Relic.html

 

and now for some eye candy...a Savage

 

[BryanP]

You have to be careful when choosing an Enfield.  IMO the British and their allies tended to keep their long arms in service longer than the U.S. and they show it.  BDL is a good place to check for a nice one.  http://www.bdlltd.com/Military_Firearms_Curio_%26_Relic.html

 

and now for some eye candy...a Savage

 

 

That is gorgeous.  :drool:   I have a No.4 Mk I, but it's nowhere near that pretty.  I still kick myself for passing up the chance to buy an unfired still-in-the-mummy-wrap post war No.4 Mk II for $400 (about 10 years ago mind you).  I thought that was too expensive at the time.  I want to kick my own ass every time I think of it. :cry:

 

I do want to reiterate what you say about being careful with what you buy.  The first one I bought turned out to be unsafe to fire. I'm lucky I didn't end up with the bolt sticking out of my forehead.

[Guest tangojuliet]

since we're on the subject of enfields does anyone know where i can get a mil spec barrel for one  cause im thinking of getting a sporter and restoring it ........

[dlm37015]

sarco had some a few years ago cause i bought one from thrm .it was brand new

[10ga]

I've got a Mark 4 No. 1 and it has 'OTK' in white letters on the stock, anyone have an idea of what that is? I was guessing it was some kind of inventory mark. I bought this rifle 25 years ago and gave $25 for it. I remember when they had these and other old military rifles at a local discount store for $50 or less. They had them displayed in a big garbage can packed full. Sorry about the Armslist pic, it's the only one I could find. Was going to sell it but changed my mind. This thing shoots too good to sell. 

 

Here's a pic

Edited February 21, 2013 by 10ga

[Guest tangojuliet]

well i i did it i finally got my smle it has been a long hard road of getting one but i got one its a 1948 NO 4 Mk1  ill post pics later on this week 

[50 cal]

since we're on the subject of enfields does anyone know where i can get a mil spec barrel for one  cause im thinking of getting a sporter and restoring it ........

You can find them at Springfield Sporters also.

[austin7.62]

I've got a Mark 4 No. 1 and it has 'OTK' in white letters on the stock, anyone have an idea of what that is? I was guessing it was some kind of inventory mark. I bought this rifle 25 years ago and gave $25 for it. I remember when they had these and other old military rifles at a local discount store for $50 or less. They had them displayed in a big garbage can packed full. Sorry about the Armslist pic, it's the only one I could find. Was going to sell it but changed my mind. This thing shoots too good to sell. 

 

Here's a pic

Ha! I was going to ask you on armslist if you would sell it, but you said you wanted a 10/22 :(