Dang it bubba!!

[icehunter121]

In my quest to spend more money on Enfields( Bit hard by the bug,up to 5 now in the last month) I looked at a NO1 MK111 rifle. It was a Ishapore NO1 MK111 that had been sported. The bore was on the verge of being mint, it was a 5 number matching which really made me happy alas it was a Ishy rifle so that took some joy out of it. But the worst part was the front sight and dang drill and tap holes. The front sight was some big gaudy abortion that looked well like a abomination,but the drill and tap just killed it. Why oh why did it have to be this way with a price of under$200.00!!

Maybe I should have grabbed it and tried swapping the front sight out. But I wasn't sure if driving the pins out would release the sight or if it was soldered on top of that. Even thought about plugging the holes with screws and filing them down. Should I have grabbed it?

 

[SA85M1]

Yeah.. potential there to fix the mess its in..

 

[gaff]

No there are lots of good ones around

 

[Beater]

you have 5? that is just getting started, lol lots and lots in good shape around for that price in much better shape, I even have one for sale better

 

[englishman_ca]

Anything can be fixed if you throw enough time and money at it. But if you have $200 to spend on a LE rifle, you can find a sporter in a lot better shape.

Yes, sometimes I look at a cheap rifle as a parts donor. Even though a bargain(??) , there is not a lot that I could do with it. It is wot it is.
Sometimes there is nothing, and I mean nothing (ok, maybe some screws and pins, maybe) on that gun that hasn't been messed with, especially when Bubba gets cutting, drilling and filing.

It is hard sometimes, but you cant take them all home. Gotta cherry pick.

I have noticed, the price at which sporters are changing hands is going up. Not just stupid asking prices, but actual sales. What was a hundred dollar rifle is now trading at two hundred. That is a better and surer investment than the stock market or real estate!

There is an new interest in Lee Enfields from a younger crowd. Some are into the history and would like a full military spec rifle, others don't care and are simply into shooting the damn things. It is good to see.

Supply and demand. Demand is going up, but there is no steady supply. What is out there, that is about it.
Not many countries left trying to, or able to, unload their old war stores onto the world market anymore. The golden days of surplus are gone.

My crystal ball sees that now is the time to buy a couple nice sporters and put them up.
But maybe not with this rifle, check it out, then put it back on the rack. find the next one. That is what I do.

I live in bear, deer and moose country. I noticed last fall that there are a lot of young folks starting their love of hunting with a sportered Lee Enfield. It warms me heart!