New Enfield No.4 Mk2, Unwrap or Not !

sorry to hijack i read on a site in the USA about Garand's M1 unissued / factory rework going for $3500 and up and they were talking about not even working the bolt because it could reduce the value or removing the factory sight wrapings rack and racks of rifles with not even a ding in the stock, pictures of mint condition rifles

That will never be shot all being sold to collectors as Safe Queens

so about your Enfield just flip a coin and enjoy one way or the other or buy one to shoot
 
That is one hell of a situation you have their. Unwrap, and get the pleasure of being the first to see, handle and shoot the rifle in 50 years, and get the pleasure that you (apart from the factory test shots) are the ONLY one who has ever shot that rifle. But know that you drpped the value of it 50% Or keep in in the wrap and let in increase in Value, but nor be able to enjoy your fine, mint milsurp.

When I first got my PAL, All I wanted was an in wrap Mk2 to unwrap and shoot. Now, I if ever come across one and get it, I would most likely keep it wrapped, and try to find a Minty, unwrapped one. They are out their, people bought them, unwrapped them and just left them, unfired.

Of course, you could have avoided this situation if you just bought two in the first place. One to keep wrapped, one to unwrap and enjoy. SO yo only have yourself to blame lol.
 
Fact is, it'll kill ya' to always look at the minty wrap and not shoot it. It'll kill ya' to shoot it and know you've killed half the value.


That is until your rifle hits quarter-sized groups. Then you'll forget all about value and collector status.
 
How do you know what you bought if you don't unwrap the package for a look and see? It could be a big walking stick inside for all you know.
 
How many times in your life are you gonna get to unwrap, clean and caress, and be the first to fire a gorgeous rifle? It's like having a virgin man. nom nom nom. Have at 'er, but we want pictures of it all. ALL I say :D
 
I would love to own one in that condition, but I would ruin its collector value just as soon as I could ;-) Well, they were made to shoot....
 
A couple of years ago I found, on eBay, a plastic model of Cousteau's Calypso from the 70's. I got one like it for Christmas '76 but during some move or another it was lost.

Cousteau was something of my hero when I was a kid and, as a diver now, I still have a very soft spot for that ship. Said model was complete and still in the shrink wrap so I found myself in the same situation as you are in just with a different type item. I spent a fair amount of time carefully putting that ship together and it now lives on top of my gun cabinets, in fact. I got far more pleasure out of putting her together than I would have looking at the sealed box on some shelf. And I still do, when I look at the completed ship.

When all is said and done, the only value an object has is the value it's owner puts upon it. Obviously only you can decide in which capacity that rifle has the most value to you. For me that model was meant to be built. And if it were me, that rifle would be meant to be shot.
 
If you don't want to "mess with history", then leave it in the wrap, hold on to it for a few years, then make a handsome profit selling it to the next fellow.

I'd shoot the bejesus out of it, personally, but that's just me!
 
When buying a wrapped gun you are investing. You aren't buying a gun, because a gun is something fun that you shoot. Not something that might be ###y that you keep covered. If for some strange reason I would buy one I would keep it and then sell it a couple of years down the road. However I don't have the money to invest like that so.... it won't happen.
 
leave it wrapped

You have answered your own question. You bought it wrapped because it was wrapped. Buy another one and shoot the hell out of it. Keep the wrapped one awhile sell it, smile at your profit and just drive on!I've got one of those Irish contract rifles I got from Levers years ago with bayonet. Mint unfired. I take it out of safe, wipe it down then put it back in the back. I'll either sell it someday or give it to one of my son's and let him worry about it.I'm sure you are like most folks here and have lots of other rifles to shoot:)
 
Maybe that thing is worth $800, maybe not. Where does that number come from anyway? Dealers who advertise prices sit on the product often a long time, especially if it is a collector piece at a premium. A private seller will have a hard time to achieve the same price as a dealer (even if some fantasy prices on EE prove me wrong, lol). I have seen guns listed on the EE at $200 which are offered from dealers at $400 (and eventually sell).
 
I own a Korean-war ceremonial Enfield. Full chrome that is so bright you can see yourself in it, and wood that is impecible and beyond satin-finished. It sits in my safe, and have never seen a round. And it never will.
You can't ever go back on that first round, and it will be a horrible feeling to lose that unwrapped feeling.
An old and used Enfield will go bang just as well as that unwrapped one.
Keep that treasure that you've got, and go get yourself a "shooter" Enfield.
And before you even think of pulling the trigger on that beaut...sell it to me!
 
You shoot things that CAN be replaced. An wrapped and rare item is not replaceable. I sold one wrapped for $1400, this year. You cannot have the "I need to sell it" or "I have to shoot it" attitude because you will not get the full value that a true collector will pay.

I have collectables and I have shooters. I have sold a few this year so that I could purchase some other toys (firearms) that picked my fancy. I have kept some for over 30 years. The return on investment on everyone is far more than I could ever make with my RRSP, stock or mutual funds! Firearm collections are long term investment opportunities! It is buy something that is an opportunity that looks as if it going to be rare and sell when it is! IE, buying Armalite 180B. They are no longer made and probably won't be made again for some time, if ever!

Regards,
Henry;)
 
You know guys I have read every one of your posts more than once and I have to say I am overwhelmed at the response I have had on this topic:eek:
I believe I have made up my mind, I am keeping it wrapped. I am not doing it for the money but for the thrill and the enormous temptation that I get every time I pick it up. As others have mentioned I do own other rifles I can shoot and also own another No.4 so it's not the urge to shoot it that tempts me but the urge to see it and be the first to bathe the cosmoline off it's untouched frame, it's something that I have never felt before for a firearm, and I've owned a few and still do!
I gota stop now, because I am leaving for my annual Saskatchewan deer hunt in the morning..........long drive ahead :dancingbanana:
bigbull
 
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