Enfield Envy

East03

East03

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My dear old Da' was Home Guard in Britain (Please, no 'Dad's Army' jokes) from 40-42, I think, and he was issued an Enfield 'Pattern" as he called it. I believe that would be the P-17 model? Anyway, I am trying to get my hands on one, non-sporterized, so that I can make him put up or shut up about his shooting prowess. Can anybody point me in the right direction as to where I can find one?
 
considering his age, i would suggest you get him on the range and have him try something different like a 5.56 (223rem) the new stuff that anyone can shoot with good result ...never mind proving his former skills...I am sure this 5.56 NATO stuff woul thrill him...low recoil and good results at the target end...he deserve to have a taste of firearm evolution...just my taught....I love veterans but would not like to see one going through the firing sequence with a large caliber for sake of proving himself....that proving was well done long ago.
 
JacquesT said:
considering his age, i would suggest you get him on the range and have him try something different like a 5.56 (223rem) the new stuff that anyone can shoot with good result ...never mind proving his former skills...I am sure this 5.56 NATO stuff woul thrill him...low recoil and good results at the target end...he deserve to have a taste of firearm evolution...just my taught....I love veterans but would not like to see one going through the firing sequence with a large caliber for sake of proving himself....that proving was well done long ago.
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:agree: He doesn't have to prove anything. He was there & he did his duty.:)
 
seriously, get him a nice accurate modern gun - with iron sights perhaps - and take him out to the range for some fun and so he can shoot some good groups.

nothing wrong with milsurps, but giving him a random 70+ year old gun which may or may not shoot 5" groups at 100 yards and saying 'put up or shut up', then saying 'haha you fail!' if he doesnt shoot a sub-MOA group isnt very nice :)
 
Get him the real thing. This bit's and pieces tweaked P14 shoots sub minute of angle.

Feb08219.jpg
 
Many Thanks!

Everyone:

Thank you very much for your advice and leads. Spencer, that is one nice piece of iron. As for my dad, he and I used to take out my bastardized SMLE .303 a lot back in the '80s. Shot a really good game. Also not bad with a .45. Told me back in England he had a .32 Savage Model 1907(?) semi-auto. Got it from his uncle who had homesteaded in North Dakota at the turn of the century. Apparently, the land office gave these things away to new homesteaders! Anybody know much about that savage model? I assume they're prohibited now.

Keep Shootin'
 
Went out to the range one day when I was living Down East, took along my friend who served in the Nfld Reg't in the Great War (Dardanelles, France and Flanders, POW, March to the Rhine)......

I had along my 1907 SMLE Mark I***, asked him if he wanted to try it out.

He then proceeded to shoot my butt off, with my rifle, and did it in double-quick time. He was 83 later that week, I was 50 years younger.

NEVER put one of these old guys down. Not only have they already done their duty (as has been pointed out), they just might still be able to to make YOU look foolish!
 
I seem to have p.o.'d a few people with my "put up or shut up" comment. Wasn't being disrespectful, but my dad's maxim to live by was that. My father is 83 years old, 6'0" and works a rivet gun rebuilding airplanes as well as his MGB out here on the coast. He kicked my ass regularly with the .303 in his 60's, so today I'm sure he can still handle the 30.06 quite nicely. FYI, I think I have located a decent Enfield, so I am looking forward to getting my hands on it and watching him get back in the groove. His 15 year-old granddaughter is interested in taking up shooting as well. We'll start her on his Winchester .22. He's had that one since 1938!
 
Of course you know the original name for the Home guard was the LDV (Local Defence Volunteers) that was changed to the Home Guard after some wag said LDV meant Look, Duck, and Vanish;)
 
Since 1938?????
That'll be a 67 or a 69 or a 69A, I would think. Lord, but those things can shoot!
A multigenerational family picnic/range day seems to be indicated. Sounds fun!
 
East03 said:
I seem to have p.o.'d a few people with my "put up or shut up" comment. Wasn't being disrespectful, but my dad's maxim to live by was that. My father is 83 years old, 6'0" and works a rivet gun rebuilding airplanes as well as his MGB out here on the coast. He kicked my ass regularly with the .303 in his 60's, so today I'm sure he can still handle the 30.06 quite nicely. FYI, I think I have located a decent Enfield, so I am looking forward to getting my hands on it and watching him get back in the groove. His 15 year-old granddaughter is interested in taking up shooting as well. We'll start her on his Winchester .22. He's had that one since 1938!
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You know this rifle came in two calibers, .303 British and 30-06? The Pattern 14 was in .303, the P17( I have the terminology wrong I know) was in 30-06. Maybe before buying one ask him what he had before?
 
It was a 30.06. He's sure of that. I was a bit flummoxed at first. I have a copy of the Home Guard Manual dated 1941, and in it they only mention the SMLE .303, plus how to make great molotov cocktails. The secret ingredient is tar and adding sulphur "might be in contravention of the Hague Protocol" or some such dry English wit. I assume the stuff they were issued were Lend-Lease, or Lease-Lend depending on which side of the pond you were on.

His company photo has him seated behind a Browning M1917(?) .30 calibre water-cooled machine gun while the middle weapon is a Lewis gun! His younger brother is in the back with his forage cap at an almost perpindicular angle (the miracles of Brylcream, I guess) HIs cousin, is the company officer. His qualifications? He finished grammar school!
 
Hey there East03, if your present deal falls through here is one I have and I may be able to help you out. It's an all matching correct P-17 Eddystone Enfield in 30.06,

ebay2023.jpg
 
Finally got my Enfield and am very happy with it so far. Went to town on it with Hoppes 9 powder solvent and a tin of Brasso (love that stuff). Will take it to the mountaintop in PoCo this week to test it out. Pics to follow if anyone's interested in seeing it. Next stop, an unbastardized SMLE .303 and a Webley .455!
 
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