Irish Army contract No4 rifles....

[Pblatzz]

Good for him. I've always wondered, if they're all wrapped up, how do you really know you got what you paid for? I'm in the camp of those that feel strongly about shooting your firearms, regardless of potential future value. After all, what are guns for? I shoot all my milsurps and enjoy that far more than watching the value of a gun appreciate, but that's just me. If you're in the other camp, that's fine too because that's what floats your boat obviously.

They sold for $265 ea back in the day. You could get consecutive serial numbers of up to a dozen rifles. These rifles came with serialized bayonets in the wrap too.

 

[kjohn]

The "Irish Contract" rifles are the subject of many different opinions and articles. I have spent some hours digging up what I could find on the matter.

I own sn PF301548, which, on one list I found, was the first rifle on the list of a contract for Egypt-Sudan, and second on another list. I also found that sn on a list that made it the first in a series of rifles in the Irish Contract.

I have saved the information gleaned from various sources, and if I had to vote, I would be inclined to vote that the Irish did, indeed, receive 50,000 rifles. Go figure!

 

[Chargerguy]

The "Irish Contract" rifles are the subject of many different opinions and articles. I have spent some hours digging up what I could find on the matter.

I own sn PF301548, which, on one list I found, was the first rifle on the list of a contract for Egypt-Sudan, and second on another list. I also found that sn on a list that made it the first in a series of rifles in the Irish Contract.

I have saved the information gleaned from various sources, and if I had to vote, I would be inclined to vote that the Irish did, indeed, receives 50,000 rifles. Go figure!

That's really cool. What shape is it in?

 

[kjohn]

Yeah. I was tickled to see the differences in the lists.

This one has seen some use, but is still in decent condition. I have an unfired one that I should check the serial number against my lists.

 

[RememberTheSomme]

I have one with some pretty good dings to the wood, drag marks on the butt plate, etc, but after I cleaned it the only mark on the internals was a very fine drag mark on the follower. It had apparently never chambered a round. Not bad for $135 - I still shoot it. When I bought it, Alan Lever told me they had come from a university cadet corps who had used them for drill, but when they went shooting they were given FN's to shoot. I sold the wrapped one I had to Rifle Chair, and I know he shoots it.

Mine showed signs of handling, possibly for drill as you described but bore,magazine, internal as new. A tack driver with hornady 174grFMJ at 2520fps. These bullets measure .3105". I told this story before but anyhow,..first three rounds through it I used our 50yd range from the bench. My son spotted. I fired one, he called it. I fired second, did not see, I fired three, did not see. WTF!!! Well I guess those .3105s don't shoot worth crap in this .303's bore. Stomped down to butt to look for strikes in the sand, well,.. all three rounds barely larger than .311 hole ..wow!
I didn't have .303Brit dies at the time, still don't except the Lee Loader(love it), so our club Pres at the time loaded 50 rounds for me. I said I want MkVII ball ammo ballistics, full power. Not sure what he used for powder/charge but they hustle and they could drive tacks, at least at 50 yards.
Oh yea it's a 1/54 316###, all matching and all for a $150 Canadian pesos lol.