I have a chance for a #4 mk l. It is full stock and looks like a arsenal refinish. The bluing is ex. and the stock looks new. The barrel and rifling look new. What should I be looking for, and pay? Thanks to all.
Enfield experts ?
- Thread starter a j cave
- Start date
Really need a bit more info on this and as ever, some pictures would be good. Lots of different things will affect the value...Assuming its a .303 as well...
So things to check which would affect value...Rifle has matching bolt / receiver numbers ? Is the magazine stamped with the same number..? Is this a restored sporter or is the wood / metal parts original to the rifle ? (the wood might also have serial number or manufacturer markings) Who manufactured this rifle...Savage / Long Branch / Maltby / Fazerkerley as this will determine value as well ? What was the year of manufacture ? Bore condition..? Headspace issues..? What do you know about the refinishing (if in fact it was)
Value could be anything from $450 / 500 for a British No 4, up to a $1000 plus for a very nice 1950 Long Branch.
So things to check which would affect value...Rifle has matching bolt / receiver numbers ? Is the magazine stamped with the same number..? Is this a restored sporter or is the wood / metal parts original to the rifle ? (the wood might also have serial number or manufacturer markings) Who manufactured this rifle...Savage / Long Branch / Maltby / Fazerkerley as this will determine value as well ? What was the year of manufacture ? Bore condition..? Headspace issues..? What do you know about the refinishing (if in fact it was)
Value could be anything from $450 / 500 for a British No 4, up to a $1000 plus for a very nice 1950 Long Branch.
Thanks guys! The bore is like new! It is an Interarms import from the 60s. No 4 Mk l (F) FTR made in 48. From what I read it was a reserve ware house sale. Serial # AS over 141##. The full wood looks like it has never been off the gun, a few minor marks and one small gauge. Not the original mag. A very nice condition 303, and I think I may have talked myself into it. He has some ammo too.
FTR explains why it looks like an arsenal refinish, because that's what that means. (F) is for the Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) Fazackerly, which made No.4 Mk.1 rifles during and after WWII and did lots of FTRs after the war on rifles in British possession (which included supply from all manufacturers) and they eventually made the postwar version, the No.4 Mk.2 and were one of two makers of the No.5 Rifle.
The collecting market prefers all parts from the same manufacturer so all else being equal that brings a higher price, but in war service these rifles could be repaired in field workshops with parts from different manufacturers and the FTR standard was to restore it to within original manufacture specifications so mismatched parts can be entirely authentic on a service rifle.
Magazines were not always numbered to the rifle and were the easiest part to lose.
Ummm that is quite and assumption. Canada sent thousands of stocks and parts to UK manufacturers to help them complete factory new rifles because their suppliers had been bombed. Canada and the US traded parts on a regular basis depending on need. My old aunt used to work at the Long Branch facility and hated it when they were using US, Savage supplied wood. It was mostly stained Birch and some Maple and for one reason or another was heavier than the stock parts made in Canada. She also talked about using the Savage made bands, barrels, and other bits which she claimed were very good and fit well into Canadian receivers. She also talked about sending stocks for different rifles, from Springfields, Ross, Brens, BARs, Lewis Guns, Pattern 14 rifles etc. Anything that couldn't be made or kept up with there as well as other nations. They also packaged up and sent all sorts of No4 parts as requested and a myriad of other things including ammo. They shipped the stocks finished and unfinished.
She knows her stuff. Sadly dementia is coming on so who know how long this information will last. I don't think it was any secret though and likely it is all in some records squirreled away somewhere. I recently sold a Savage No4 Mk1* that had Long Branch marked wood on it that was stamped with the matching serial number of the receiver and magazine. The rifle was unissued with a maple stock.
Like others have said without pictures it is difficult. I just got a 1918 no1 mkiii FTR (haven't received it yet) but I dropped 575 for it with a good bore, good wood. Perhaps some will say I'm crazy to drop that kind of money for an FTR but I find it really difficult to compare with discussions on US forums saying they wouldn't go over $350 TOPS and it better be a pristine all matching piece. I still don't understand why it's so hard to find LEs here especially since this was OUR service rifle not theirs!!
Again, always difficult to pin down a price without viewing pics (would like to see wood condition / match , rear sight, front bands, front sight etc.) but going with your description I would say $500-$550....I would guess the 48 is the date of post war FTR and not the original manufacture date.
Main thing is do YOU want it...Its not always down to plus / minus $100 here or there...If it appeals to you buy it....
