With Christmas and my birthday coming up, Iv decided that a Lee Enfield will be my next purchase, but having trouble deciding which one to get and where I might look to find one. I'm possibly looking to get a Long Branch Number 4, which has the British connection, WW2 connection, and the Canadian connection. Also interested in a Number 1, which will go to my WW1 collection, with British, and Canadian connections, plus a Newfoundland connection. I'm curious if the Newfoundland Regiment might have gotten a specific Number 1 rifle with regards to Mark and production factory etc. Also, other then the EE are the any good online dealers that might be worth keeping an eye on to find what I want. When I find a good shooter grade rifle I like I'll snap it up, will eventually own both of these but can only afford one now. Thanks.
Help decide next purchase, which Enfield to look for?
- Thread starter BigC396
- Start date
- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
I think you are in luck, as far as finding out about the WWI Newfoundlander rifles anyway. Smellie on here knows the story well and has told it a few times. He knows of only one such rifle if I remember correctly, and the story with it is a good one!
I've heard a few versions of the Canadian No1 tale. I've been told that the WWI rifles Canadians were issued would not be C^ marked and only the ones used by Canadians in WWII were stamped with it.
The Canadian No4 is easier. Look on the ee here or at P&S guns and militaria.
I've heard a few versions of the Canadian No1 tale. I've been told that the WWI rifles Canadians were issued would not be C^ marked and only the ones used by Canadians in WWII were stamped with it.
The Canadian No4 is easier. Look on the ee here or at P&S guns and militaria.
When I lived in Newfoundland, first on Fogo Island, then Lewisporte in Notre Dame Bay, I saw in total about half a dozen Newfoundland-marked Lee-Enfields.
All the rifles I saw were Mark III or Mark III*.
In each case,the only marking was on the Butt Marking Disc, where a Newfoundland rifle will be marked NFLD. Of the rifles I saw, only TWO had not been chopped. One of those was in a Museum (LSA-1915) and the other an Enfield which still was in the hands of the man who liberated it personally in 1919.
You MIGHT have a chance to get an NFLD-marked rifle if you talk REALLY nice to some of the guys who actually live IN Newfoundland. Likely it will have been chopped for a Moose gun, but THAT is repairable.
There are ALSO the rifles which came from the HMS CALYPSO/HMS BRITON while she was busy being the entire Newfoundland Navy. These were primarily Lee-Metford Mark II rifles, many of them commercial rifles marked LEE-SPEED. There were only a couple of hundred of these rifles and most of them were shot to death because (1) they had to train an entire Army (although a small one), (2) the ammunition in use was Cordite Mark II and VI, both loaded with highly-erosive Cordite Mark I, (3) the barrels were Metford-rifled and Metford rifling did not tolerate high flame temperatures very well. They MAY also have had some (Long) Lee-Enfield Mark I or I* rifles, but I have not seen any. Check out the old photos which hang in most Legions. These rifles will NOT have the NFLD Butt Marking Discs because (1) Newfoundland had NO armed forces at all before the outbreak of the Great War, and (2) the LM Mark II marked on the Butt Tang. Being that they were, officially, NAVY rifles, you MIGHT find one with the Naval N on the left side of the Body, but my rifle is genuine and it is unmarked.
Hope this helps.
All the rifles I saw were Mark III or Mark III*.
In each case,the only marking was on the Butt Marking Disc, where a Newfoundland rifle will be marked NFLD. Of the rifles I saw, only TWO had not been chopped. One of those was in a Museum (LSA-1915) and the other an Enfield which still was in the hands of the man who liberated it personally in 1919.
You MIGHT have a chance to get an NFLD-marked rifle if you talk REALLY nice to some of the guys who actually live IN Newfoundland. Likely it will have been chopped for a Moose gun, but THAT is repairable.
There are ALSO the rifles which came from the HMS CALYPSO/HMS BRITON while she was busy being the entire Newfoundland Navy. These were primarily Lee-Metford Mark II rifles, many of them commercial rifles marked LEE-SPEED. There were only a couple of hundred of these rifles and most of them were shot to death because (1) they had to train an entire Army (although a small one), (2) the ammunition in use was Cordite Mark II and VI, both loaded with highly-erosive Cordite Mark I, (3) the barrels were Metford-rifled and Metford rifling did not tolerate high flame temperatures very well. They MAY also have had some (Long) Lee-Enfield Mark I or I* rifles, but I have not seen any. Check out the old photos which hang in most Legions. These rifles will NOT have the NFLD Butt Marking Discs because (1) Newfoundland had NO armed forces at all before the outbreak of the Great War, and (2) the LM Mark II marked on the Butt Tang. Being that they were, officially, NAVY rifles, you MIGHT find one with the Naval N on the left side of the Body, but my rifle is genuine and it is unmarked.
Hope this helps.
So I might be best off to try picking up the long branch No 4 now, and put a WTB on the EE for the Nfld marked No 1. Maybe look into a restoration project for next year. Any other retailers other then P and S that might have a Long Branch for sale now, the one that's there looks a little rough.
I would love to have a long branch no4! I think having something canadian built.. with pride and purpose (war effort!) is about as good as it gets in collecting militaria.
My Fazakerly no4 is the only non-canadian weapon in the collection.. caviar tastes and cat food budget lol
My Fazakerly no4 is the only non-canadian weapon in the collection.. caviar tastes and cat food budget lol
