Lee Enfield Expert Needed

[sheep100]

Lee Enfield Rifles

These rifles are part of an estate I ended-up with and I am trying to find out some history on them and what their value would be. I know all these rifles were sporterized. Any help would be appreciated. Please feel free to PM me if you need more pictures or would like to know something specific. Thanks.

Rile no.1

This rifle has a magazine but serial numbers don't match.
No. 4 MK1 Long Branch. Brass tag on the stock is B.A. 572




Rile no.2

This rifle is top loading with a stripper clip.
Serial # 382281 R.A.2





Rile no.3

This rifle had the receiver drilled for an aftermarket scope mount.
G.R. E.S.A. Co. 1940 SHT L.E. III Brass tag on the stock is R.A.F. 11 57





Rile no.4

Minimal Markings. Also a top loader. Stock was repainted.

 

[Potashminer]

I am certainly no expert, but might be able to help a bit.
Rifle No.1 is a 1942 Long Branch (made in Canada) No. 4 Mk.I* - as a sporter, perhaps $200?
Rifle No. 2 is Model of 1914 (made in USA)- also known as P14 - the "RE" in the oval says it was made by Remington. Similar price as above, perhaps $50 or $100 more?
Rifle No. 3 is a Lee Enfield No. 1 Mk. III, I believe. Similar value to first one?
Rifle No. 4 is a Savage (made in USA) No. 4 Mk.I*, so would be a contemporary to that first rifle, and shares most all parts. I would place it less value than the first rifle.

All should be chambered in 303 British - from what I can see, all have original metal that would allow them to be "re-built" by fitting into original full length stocks with hand guards, and the associated metal fittings.

Rifles No.1,3 and 4 all used a 10 round magazine - First rifle and last rifle essentially interchangeable - the No. 1 (Rifle no. 3) magazine was slightly different. Rifle No. 2 - the P14, has an internal magazine. For the detachable mags, I had read that the mags were not numbered at their factories, but many did get a serial number when "tweeked" for that rifle by the unit armourer - until after WWII, when some factories started to "stamp" their mags. I believe all of these three are from during WWII, so "matching" serial numbers on the magazines would be almost surprising!

Should be four instances of serial number on that Remington P14 - on receiver, on barrel, on bolt handle and on the top of that rear sight (the side facing down in your picture). I can not tell from your pictures, but P14's underwent a change part way through production - rear end of the barrel around chamber slightly different - the "altered" ones got an "*" "asterisk" stamped on the receiver front ring, the bolt handle - I have a couple with the asterisk also on the extractor.

Sold as a "batch" I think you might get $800 to $1,000, but then, what do I know....

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Rifle No.1 is a 1942 Long Branch (made in Canada) No. 4 Mk.I* - as a sporter, perhaps $200?

This one has the "economy" flip rear sight. Can't see the serial number or other distinguishing marks. The table in Charles Stratton's book says LB used these in 1942 and 1943.

Rifle No. 4 is a Savage (made in USA) No. 4 Mk.I*, so would be a contemporary to that first rifle, and shares most all parts. I would place it less value than the first rifle.

It is in the first 10,000 rifles Savage produced. The serial number is 0C0###x. It could be late 1941 or early 1942. That alone distinguishes the metal.

The valuation on no-wood Lee Enfields is a hard guess. A lot depends on how much of the original rifle there is to start with. By those serial numbers and early features, I wouldn't sell short.

 

[Potashminer]

"Is a hard guess". I think that is pretty accurate. Price results from a buyer who wants to and is able to pay - so what might be important to one guy, may not matter to another. No valid "price list" to refer to, just guesses, I would think?

 

[Mk VII]

On the forth [Savage] one it looks like somebody has tampered with the bolthead slot, reducing its attractiveness.

 

[granite]

Rifle No.1 is a 1942 Long Branch (made in Canada) No. 4 Mk.I* - as a sporter, perhaps $200?

This one has the "economy" flip rear sight. Can't see the serial number or other distinguishing marks. The table in Charles Stratton's book says LB used these in 1942 and 1943.

Rifle No. 4 is a Savage (made in USA) No. 4 Mk.I*, so would be a contemporary to that first rifle, and shares most all parts. I would place it less value than the first rifle.

It is in the first 10,000 rifles Savage produced. The serial number is 0C0###x. It could be late 1941 or early 1942. That alone distinguishes the metal.

The valuation on no-wood Lee Enfields is a hard guess. A lot depends on how much of the original rifle there is to start with. By those serial numbers and early features, I wouldn't sell short.

The savage is late production. Early Savage 0C receivers have the bolt release not the notched rail like this one does. Plus the rail is chipped badly. Early have 4 digits after the C late like this have 5.

 

[Potashminer]

Rifle . No. 4 - the Savage - I did notice big chips missing on the bolt removal slot, and the missing front sight "ears". Rifle No. 1 - the Long Branch - has the "ears", but could not see the condition of the slots. I wasn't aware about the 4 digit versus 5 digit serial number thing...

 

[bogusiii]

Six screws to hold the scope on the SMLE, maybe more on the charger guide? I sure won't fall off. The ejector screw is missing however.