Lee Enfield No 4 MK1

Mumbles Marble Mouth

Mumbles Marble Mouth

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I've been looking for a Lee Enfield No 4 MKI in military configuration for awhile now and have found a very large number of sporterized ones and no military cofiguration ones so and I got a bunch of questions.

What is the value of a sporterized Lee Enfield? I was under the impression they're worth no more than $150 in immaculate perfect condition regardless of year or type.

How hard is it to restore a No 4 MK1 to original military configuration? Most of the sporterized ones I've found are complete garbage but I have, however, found some that are in remarkable condition and look like they would make a good base for restoring.

Are they're any companies or people that make replacement military wood stocks for Lee Enfields? I'm assuming these stocks would be bare and would require fitting, bedding, and finishing job.

Are they're any step buy step videos or articles on restoring? Just would like to see or read something to see what's involved in the restoration. I understand its not as simple as buy all the bits and pieces and throw it together.

Finally, what is the value of a restored Lee Enfield No 4 MKI? Assuming the restoration is a well done job, is it the same as or less than one that is in original military configuration? I would assume not as much as one that is original but more then one that remains sporterized.

After spending a month looking for an No 4 MKI in military configuration and only turning up ones that are sporterized, I completely under stand now why guys hate it when someone sporterizes an SKS or Mosin Nagant and says, "Oh there is so many of them, they will never increase in value." Well, there was a bazilion Lee Enfields on the market at one time and everyone thought the same thing but now I see an add for an original military No 4 MKI in Ontario going for $575. I'm trying to find the gun locally so that's why I'm having a hard time turning up an original. I would rather visually look at the gun before buying it then buy one online. I may just say screw it and buy a Brno Mauser instead but would like to have a Lee Enfield well some are still worth around the $500 mark and not $1000 mark. I intend to use it as a target rifle to work up reloads for and has a part time heritage hunting rifle. Just love the idea of hunting with an old military rifle in military configuration.

Thanks in advance for all replies.
 
If just the stock is cut its not a huge job to restore, but if the barrel is cut back it becomes a different issue. Sporterized rifles are good for hunting and shoot well, but for collectors value I wouldn't pay more than 100 bucks for it. Every single hole or cut removes its value. I'd rather spend the cash on a good rifle, than all the extra cash and time to fix one thats been Babba'd.
 
Well, keep an eye out. I actually got mine at an auction. All the serial numbers match. I don't think the previous owner knew what they had. Mind you, it's a Savage (some don't like the "American Import" idea), but I think it's beautiful. It's in gorgeous shape. All my buddies and their black rifles (of which I am an owner, also), love my Lee more than anything. Now, I had to pay a pretty penny for it, probably more than it's worth on the market, I guess, but to me it was worth getting and I'm happy I did. Just be patient and keep looking. You'll find one. There's a ton of people on this forum who are excellent sources of information on this rifle. You'll get one.

Cannon
 
Well, friend, you have just opened up a whole big bag of worms for yourself. As a long-time Restorer of Junque (high-class Junk) myself, all I will say is "Welcome to the Club!".

My advice is very simple: pick up the best one that you can find. Look for a numbers-matching Bolt and Body, a good barrel... and the Bayonet Lugs NOT ground off or the barrel shortened. The majority of quick-chop conversions didn't remove the bayont lugs, so that is not too hard to do.

NOW tune that rifle as a deer rifle. If you want to scope it, go ahead... but be sure to use the S&K Insta-Mount for Number 4 Enfield rifles. You drill no holes, you tap no holes, it is a good SOLID mount and it HOLDS its Point of Aim well. Make sure the bedding is solid around the Action and the Chmbr, free-floating barrel ahead of that. Likely it will want a Pressure Point at the forward end of the Forestock. Tune the Trigger so that you have that crisp, double-pull letoff; hunting or sniping, it is still the BEST configuration for a trigger ever developed; you know exactly when it is going to go. NOW you are set up for hunting.

NOW you start sourcing the precise parts you will require to rebuild it into its former full-military condition.

KNOW precisely what your rifle IS and source NOS parts from THAT maker so they all will be marked alike. Fitting the Forestock CAN be PITA but they generally are VERY close; you will be dealing mostly with the effects of 70 years' storage. I use Acra-Glas to fine-tune bedding myself. I know a lot of guys won't use it because it is not "period", but the Army WOULD have used it if it had been invented. Otherwise we are back to Cork shimming and BLO-soaked cleaning patches to tune our bedding..... and NOBODY wants to work with those any longer.

When you get all your parts together in a heap, you can change-over the rifle from Sporterised to Full Military condition.

There are lots of guys on this forum who are happy to help. You will need proper specifications. The actual Armourers' Manuals are available for FREE DOWNLOAD over at milsurps dot com; there is a direct LINK to their fantastic Military Knowledge Library from the STICKY at the top of the Index for this Forum.

This gives you a GREAT competition rifle for MilSurp shoots and a wonderful historic wall-hanger. In Hunting Season, though, you put the Scope and the sportered wood back on..... and go blast Bambi's Mommy or something. Your TOTAL investment likely will be around $600.... and that INCLUDES all your parts, your original Rifle and a pretty decent scope. (For just another $14,400 you can get a used AI with an SuB scope!!!!!) You won't make any money, you likely won't lose any, but you will derive enormous satisfaction from preserving a chunk of our heritage.

Have at it, Sir, and have fun!
 
smellie said:
In Hunting Season, though, you put the Scope and the sportered wood back on..... and go blast Bambi's Mommy or something.
Click to expand...

Be careful using this line. Even if it is just a joke, Its an offensive one to those who take great care and pride in hunting.

That said, I do appreciate the response and the time it must of took to write that out. I don't intend to run the rifle with a scope. I just want a plain Jane military Lee Enfield No 4 MK I. It wouldn't see much hunting action as my CZ 550 is much better suited for that but I would use it for a one a year whitetale or mule deer hunt with just the iron sights. Hunting with iron sights is rapidly becoming a lost art.

I have a Mosin, I like it, but I like the Lee Enfield a lot more due to the fact that Canada used it. I wish the #$%ing government would sell the Ranger Lee Enfields on the surplus market but the @#$%ers are going to melt them down. I guess since this rifle is being some what of a challenge to locate one, I'll like it a lot more when I actually get one.
 
Dear Lord! Now I'm being slagged in a GUN forum for making an anti-ANTI-hunting joke.

I have finally seen them all!




Heck of a lot easier to find and restore a Number 4 Mark 1*, especially if you want Canadian. Do you know the differences?
 
Mumbles Marble Mouth said:
Be careful using this line. Even if it is just a joke, Its an offensive one to those who take great care and pride in hunting.

That said, I do appreciate the response and the time it must of took to write that out. I don't intend to run the rifle with a scope. I just want a plain Jane military Lee Enfield No 4 MK I. It wouldn't see much hunting action as my CZ 550 is much better suited for that but I would use it for a one a year whitetale or mule deer hunt with just the iron sights. Hunting with iron sights is rapidly becoming a lost art.

I have a Mosin, I like it, but I like the Lee Enfield a lot more due to the fact that Canada used it. I wish the #$%ing government would sell the Ranger Lee Enfields on the surplus market but the @#$%ers are going to melt them down. I guess since this rifle is being some what of a challenge to locate one, I'll like it a lot more when I actually get one.
Click to expand...

Do you really think the Canadian government will replace the Rangers .303 anytime soon? They will melt down all the Inglis's before they do that.With the current state of affairs the CF will be issued a Colt rifle and a Sig pistol.Make those work at minus 40.
 
If you're looking in gun shops you should quit wasting your time. There are no commercial distributors of milsurp firearms. Go to the gun shows if there are anywhere you are.
"...opened up a whole big bag of worms..." Yep. An expensive bag of worms at that. Parts are not exactly easy to find and aren't cheap when you do. Before you do anything to any Lee-Enfield check the headspace. Thousands have been assembled out of parts bins with zero QC.
"...government would sell the Ranger Lee Enfields..." Not a chance. The CF hasn't surplused anything for eons. Every firearm they don't want any more gets chopped.
"...all the Inglis's..." Yep. Some of 'em are BNIB and have never seen the light of day since 1944.
 
That's news to me about da gubmint and the Rangers Lee Enfields. I remember them trying that before by replacing them with the E.A.L. Then they had to buy back the No4's from the surplus dealers because the replacement couldn't stand up to the rigors of service.
I have two EAL's and while they make nice deer rifles, as a military firearm they just don't make the grade.
 
I've been looking online on Vancouver Island Buy Sell & Trade. Strange now are local island classified adds allows firearm adds but Kijiji and Crags List have nothing for a firearms section yet you can sell your baby on Crags List. True story by the way. I was already well aware that there are no Lee Enfields on the distribution market.

Anyways, enough about the Rangers Lee Enfields. I know I bought it up but, there is a whole forum already for this discussion.

A few people have preferred to PM with some very useful advice on restoring a No 4 MK 1. Even though this thread is being derailed fast, at least some usefulness has come out of it. I may end up just getting a Brno Mauser instead.
 
smellie said:
Dear Lord! Now I'm being slagged in a GUN forum for making an anti-ANTI-hunting joke.

I have finally seen them all!




Heck of a lot easier to find and restore a Number 4 Mark 1*, especially if you want Canadian. Do you know the differences?
Click to expand...



I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding...internet forums and all. Makes you kinda miss man-to-man conversation, eh ?

....that being said, don't you dare change a bit..we like you just the way you are !
 
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