Enfields which was best?

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Kenny

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I'll be the first to admit I know little to nothing about this. So thought I would ask the people that know.
There are more models and marks of the enfield .303 made by a host of companies
Which one was the all around best gun?
 
Long Branch, and not just for national pride.

I really like the look of the No1mk111, the wood, how it looks with the bayonet attached. Just classy.

The Long Lee's are sweet as well.

The No4's do grow on you.

So some of the above had nothing to do with your question.

No1's all makers are excellent, but in order (IMHO) Brit/Australian/Indian

No 4's once again all the makers are excellent, in order (IMHO) Canadian (Longbranch/Brit (Maltby, BSA, etal)/American (savage)/Pakistan (POF)
 
The best one is the one you like the most, or the best condition.

But, If you are asking which is the best due to a lack of bombing? or post war modifications? There's allot of criteria and, well options. Saying that, I love longbranch rifles, being Canadian. I love the look & feel of the SMLE No1MkIII*. They are all great, Lee Enfield's that is.

Pete
 
The best for what? There are, I believe, somewhere in the neighbourhood of 75 different versions of the "Lee Enfield" rifle system, many of which were purpose designed. What do you wish yours to do?

Neal
 
Kenny said:
I'll be the first to admit I know little to nothing about this. So thought I would ask the people that know.
There are more models and marks of the enfield .303 made by a host of companies
Which one was the all around best gun?
Click to expand...

Long Branch might be the one you'll find you like the most as it's Canadian and also damned good. They're all great though...best bet, start accumulating the best condition Enfields of various types you can find. They're out there.
BTW, look for original full wood versions with all parts intact, perfect shiny bores and matching numbers.
 
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.... As a generalization, and leaving out the very first models/foundation versions of the SMLE. Try for ones produced between the Wars, as the fit and finish is better. Now, for accuracy , given the better sights and longer sight radius the No.4 ( The Long Branch being the top of the line.. better metal and quality control ) ... If the No.3 is your choice, and it really epitomizes the British infantry Rifle and peak of the Colonial Empire etc. the "best" are probably, the Lithgow's. Again, the ones produced between the Wars exhibit a better fit and finish and may even have the walnut "furniture" rather than the softer "Coach-wood/Boxwood " .... The P14 is right up there with the No.4 for accuracy, but, it doesn't really look like an Enfield, and doesn't have the 10 round magazine . .... anyway, basically, grab what you can, if worse comes to worse, you can always trade up to a better specimen ! Which is best really is a subjective choice, and there are just so many variants !!! Good Luck, and be warned, Lee Enfields are highly addictive !!! .... David K.
 
tough question.

I would have to go with a comercial B.S.A.Co the fancy grade :)

bsafancy.jpg


but good luck with finding one now.

a nice post war No4Mk1* Longbranch or No4Mk2 Fazackerly would be my next choices
 
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All of them are good rifles, it's just that some factories were more consistent in production than others were, for obvious reasons.

So I wouldn't turn down a British rifle made during the war years just because it was a British rifle made during the war years... if you get my drift. As long as the parts are matching, the bore is .311 and shiny, the rifling is in good condition, and the head space isn't too long, you'll have a great shooter on your hands.

I have read that Longbranch and Savage No4's were of the best quality and consistency throughout WWII. Our factories weren't the targets of bomber or rocket attacks, mind you.

I'm also told that the Australian Lithgow No1's were the best quality No1, as they had good machinery from Pratt & Whitney, and produced some of the best quality steel for receivers and barrels. Someone else might pipe up on this though.
 
I would say the Lithgow No.1 Mk.III*. Of all my Enfield's I consistently shoot best with it.

That said, my actual favorite is my Canadian-marked 1896 Lee-Enfield Mk.I.
 
true Lithgow did make some fine rifles. And some interesting post war shortened and lightened versions.

I don't think that I would ever pick the No5 as a first choice. I've owned a few but now only have one.

Parker Hale did some nice rifles but not really a manufacturer of enfields. So you clearly can't pick Parker Hale.

Having owned or handled many enfield rifles, I will say that the Longbanch rifles on average are the nicest. But a Post war production rifle is going to be superior, and that narrows down the field Considerably.

There is always the EAL to consider :) but not my personal favorite.

And then there are the Envoy and Enforcer rifles, too bad the British government chopped most of them up.

But I still like the look of the Comercial Sporters, I have a reproduction flyer from B.S.A with the different sporters and grades, and since officers still bought their own kit there were officer carbines as well offered. Some nice rifles there and quality was important.
 
I guess that the answer largely depends upon what you're looking for in a rifle. If you are after a handy hunting rifle for whitetails in thick Eastern forests and not too recoil averse, I'd go for a #5 Jungle Carbine. For target shooting, stationary hunting (esp if at longer ranges of 100-200 meters) a #4 with the better peep sights or a no-gunsmithing scope mount would be my first choice. Similarly however, if you have access to a nice example of a #1 mk 3 SMLE and want to fit it with a no-gunsmithing scope mount, then the less desirable open sights won't be an issue, but rather it will boil down to which rifle you can find in better condition for a similar price. There's lots of variables that effect the possible answers to your question, so it really boils down to your priorities.
 
Enfields

Thanks for all the replies. Interesting reading to say the least.
I guess what I meant by best is best combat gun. I realize some models had inherent problems. I read the jungle carbine kicks too much and was inaccurate. Some other models were found by soldiers to be too long. There were a lot of changes in the types of sights used.
I guess it only makes sense that the later versions were improvements on the earlier models. I seems the Enfield was a on going evolution of the combat rifle, that died with the auto loader.
Neat old guns anyway, piece of military history.
Thanks again
 
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