In the wrap No4 Mk2

I agree that the rifles are better off being left in the wrap, however I can see the attraction of unwrapping one. By unwrapping the rifle and shooting it, you would have a rifle that only you have handled and shot since it left the factory, this is a very true definition of "MY" rifle to some and this increase in personal satisfaction is worth the lost in dollar value to some.

Wish I had at least one, even if it would kill me not to be able t unwrap it I would like to have one for the collection and if need be an investment.

On a related note there was someone who posted pics of them unwrapping there Irish Contract No.4 MK2 a few years back.


bearhunter said:
Without being negative or presumptuous why would you throw away close to a thousand dollars just to shoot a rifle that you can easily pick up in excellent, slightly used condition for around $900 and get exactly the same experience. The wrapped rifles were originally sold for $120 and included a wrapped bayone/scabbard/frog and sling in the package. A couple of years before a lot of 1950 dated No4 Mk1* Long Branch rifles still in the grease and unissued since manufacture were on the LGS shelves for $90. Many folks bought two of each. One to squirrel away as an investment and one to shoot. They all shoot very well to my knowledge.

I sold my wrapped No2 several years ago. Never regretted selling it because I had picked up two more at gun shows under $200 with all the accessories that were all clean and pretty but of course no wrapping. They shot extremely well but they were also sold when prices started to sky rocket. I kept the Long Branch rifles though.

I still shake my head when a seller tries to get close to $2000 for an unwrapped rifle without accessories and snivels when he's informed he threw away a thousand dollars worth of greasy paper. They have all sorts of excuses but like it or not, the WRAPPED rifles will always command a premium dollar.

I can remember the Long Branch and Savage rifles unissued in the grease from the factory coming in plain cardboard boxes. I doubt they were shipped that way or stored that way but that's how they came. The Army and Navy stores used to bring every variant of Lee Enfield made on pallets stacked in rows of 15 that were ten rifles high. Sometimes higher. Some of those rifles were not wrapped or in boxes but some were wrapped in a waxy cloth filled with grease. I guess it all depended on how long they were intended to be stored and where.

As far as rust???? I never saw a wrapped rifle that came fresh out of the wrap with rust. I have seen carefully unwrapped rifles that were re wrapped with rusty bores. I have seen wrapped rifles with damaged wrapping with scuffs and rust.

I personally wouldn't consider unwrapping a rifle that is collectible. BUTTTTTTTTTTTT if you just can't help yourself then fly at it.
Click to expand...
 
Anyone get any pics? I wonder if mine is still making the rounds. Sold it a few years ago for $1200. irish contract serial number. I miss my new in grease Savage the most. But they just sat there, all covered in grease, doing nothing. After a few years the joy of ownership kind of wears off. Mint shooters are more fun.
 
There is a chap with a Faz No.4 Mk.2 that he claims to have unwrapped himself. He might be along later.

The rifle has post 1954 BNP Birmingham Nitro Proof markings. RED FLAG!

That puzzles me, how could it be proofed if it was still in factory paper? Easy answer, I could'nt.
Slitting the paper to apply marks without actually testing?
They didn't Birmingham Nitro Proof at the factory, so how did it get proofed then wrapped?

Or was it proofed at the civvy proof house and then re-wrapped for sale? If so, by who?

If being wrapped in brown paper with official looking labels and cosmo increases the value of a rifle by $1000, a mummy wrap might be worth while faking, no?

I know of two mint unwrapped mummies right now that I could probably buy. Where's me bucket of cosmo and me turkey baster?....

With larger chunks of change changing hands, fakes are something to consider. Even if it wasn't mint, just gussied up and then wrapped, I can hear the gun show stories now. Yes, this is an Irish contract FTR, refurbished and put into war stores in Dublin.....
 
Sealed ammo

I have unopened packets of ammo. Paper wrapped tied up with string.

It is a battle of will power for me not to yank on the tail end of the bow tied in the string to open them up to take a look. I could just rewrap and re-tie right?

I have an unopened spam can of 303 on bandoliers. Looks easy to open....
 
Last edited:
englishman_ca said:
There is a chap with a Faz No.4 Mk.2 that he claims to have unwrapped himself. He might be along later.

The rifle has post 1954 BNP Birmingham Nitro Proof markings. RED FLAG!

That puzzles me, how could it be proofed if it was still in factory paper? Easy answer, I could'nt.
Slitting the paper to apply marks without actually testing?
They didn't Birmingham Nitro Proof at the factory, so how did it get proofed then wrapped?

Or was it proofed at the civvy proof house and then re-wrapped for sale? If so, by who?

If being wrapped in brown paper with official looking labels and cosmo increases the value of a rifle by $1000, a mummy wrap might be worth while faking, no?

I know of two mint unwrapped mummies right now that I could probably buy. Where's me bucket of cosmo and me turkey baster?....

With larger chunks of change changing hands, fakes are something to consider. Even if it wasn't mint, just gussied up and then wrapped, I can hear the gun show stories now. Yes, this is an Irish contract FTR, refurbished and put into war stores in Dublin.....
Click to expand...

First off, you would have to find that paper, which is very specific to anyone that is familiar with the rifles. Then of course there are the identification tags. Usually one on the left side of the butt and one smaller tag on the butt. The cosmolene wouldn't be hard to find. The wrapped bayonet/scabbard and specific paper for those would also be unobtainable, especially with the light green grease proof lining. The sling in its sealed plastic bag might be hard to duplicate as well.

IMHO, if the rifle doesn't come with these accessories I would be skeptical. Mind you a lot of dealers separated the rifles from their accessories for later sale to increase their profits.

My LGS in Vernon BC has a reputable bunch working there as well as the owner and he didn't separate the rifles from their accessories. Did the same with the K31s/M38s/M96s and Yugo Mausers.
 
englishman_ca said:
I have unopened packets of ammo. Paper wrapped tied up with string.

It is a battle of will power for me not to yank on the tail end of the bow tied in the string to open them up to take a look. I could just rewrap and re-tie right?

I have an unopened spam can of 303 on bandoliers. Looks easy to open....
Click to expand...


I have one of those spam cans dated 3/45. I used to take it to gun shows but there was usually some moron at every show on the other side of the table that insisted he had to open the can to see what it all looked like inside. I don't take that can to shows anymore. Same goes for the wrapped in paper and tied with string ten packs of ammo.
 
englishman_ca said:
If being wrapped in brown paper with official looking labels and cosmo increases the value of a rifle by $1000, a mummy wrap might be worth while faking, no?

I know of two mint unwrapped mummies right now that I could probably buy. Where's me bucket of cosmo and me turkey baster?....

With larger chunks of change changing hands, fakes are something to consider. Even if it wasn't mint, just gussied up and then wrapped, I can hear the gun show stories now. Yes, this is an Irish contract FTR, refurbished and put into war stores in Dublin.....
Click to expand...

This is a possibility, especially when prospective buyers keep it wrapped to protect the collector's value.
There might be quite a few in circulation as we speak.
Just imagine the surprise when the wrap is finally removed and a put together Savage emerges from the greasy paper.
 
I have a couple of "In-the-Wrap" Longbranch Enfield rifles (consecutive serial numbers) that I have no intention of removing from the wrap. They will become part of my RRSP some day.

Wrap1.JPG


Wrap2.JPG


Wrap3.JPG


Wrap4.JPG


Wrap5.JPG


Wrap6.JPG


Cheers!

B
 
I have a No4 MK2 in my closet. Where would one go to find a rough value? The only thing missing is the magazine. It has N1925 stamped on the receiver along with many other small stamp marks. I had no idea that it may be a collectable item. I also have an original 1896 in 45-70 in excellent condition.
 
I bought one of the paper wrapped Enfields' back in 1990 (Still have it). It was being sold for $99.95 and I got it for $96.00 because that's all I had. I bought it as a hunting rifle and probably should have gotten a few dozen knowing what I know now.
Mine is a 1942 No.1 Mk.IV* Savage that was FTR'd in 1946. It sports a new barrel (has about 30 rounds through it now) and I believe it to be a No 2 bolt head and a friend hooked me up with a sling, action cover, oil bottle and pull through. It is in amazing shape, with quite a number of battle bruises on the woodwork. I remember stripping the wood off it and putting it in the oven at 250 F for an hour to get the cosmo out of it. Must have held 2 cups of the nasty stuff!
Anyways, I've recently purchased dies to make some reduced power loads for it. (the full power loads are awfully hard on brass, which is getting scarcer these days)

Cheerz!
 
Freedom- What some people do is knock apart 7.62x39 cheap corrosive ammo, and just transfer the powder charge and bullet into primed .303 brass. Light loads at the lowest possible cost.

Combine that with the elastic hair band around the base trick and neck sizing only to get max case life.
 
Ramzzz said:
I have a No4 MK2 in my closet. Where would one go to find a rough value? The only thing missing is the magazine. It has N1925 stamped on the receiver along with many other small stamp marks. I had no idea that it may be a collectable item. I also have an original 1896 in 45-70 in excellent condition.
Click to expand...

It's not that any No4Mk2 is valuable...it's the mummy wrapped, all matching, brand new ones that are.

A well used one is just a garden variety Enfield.
 
freedomintheskies said:
I bought one of the paper wrapped Enfields' back in 1990 (Still have it). It was being sold for $99.95 and I got it for $96.00 because that's all I had. I bought it as a hunting rifle and probably should have gotten a few dozen knowing what I know now.
Mine is a 1942 No.1 Mk.IV* Savage that was FTR'd in 1946. It sports a new barrel (has about 30 rounds through it now) and I believe it to be a No 2 bolt head and a friend hooked me up with a sling, action cover, oil bottle and pull through. It is in amazing shape, with quite a number of battle bruises on the woodwork. I remember stripping the wood off it and putting it in the oven at 250 F for an hour to get the cosmo out of it. Must have held 2 cups of the nasty stuff!
Anyways, I've recently purchased dies to make some reduced power loads for it. (the full power loads are awfully hard on brass, which is getting scarcer these days)

Cheerz!
Click to expand...

Do you mean a No4 Mk1* ?
 
Ramzzz said:
I have a No4 MK2 in my closet. Where would one go to find a rough value? The only thing missing is the magazine. It has N1925 stamped on the receiver along with many other small stamp marks. I had no idea that it may be a collectable item. I also have an original 1896 in 45-70 in excellent condition.
Click to expand...

You don't give enough information. Was your rifle issued, what is the condition??? As for the mag missing knock at least $200 off no matter the condition because the mags were serialized to the rifle originally.

The 1896, is it original or a reproduction???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom