Lee enfield shoot or keep in the safe

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Curtbrookes

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He guys was just hoping to get some of your thoughts. I just bought a lee enfield number 2 mark 1 from a friend that is still packed with the greese from the factory in perfect shape and never been shot. My question to you Is do I clean it up and shoot it. Or keep it in the safe thanks in advance
 
I would shoot it.

But that is just me. your guna have to decide if you want it as a collector's item or want a shooter thats in top shape.
 
Curtbrookes said:
He guys was just hoping to get some of your thoughts. I just bought a lee enfield number 2 mark 1 from a friend that is still packed with the greese from the factory in perfect shape and never been shot. My question to you Is do I clean it up and shoot it. Or keep it in the safe thanks in advance
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What is it? To tell the truth most "unfired" guns are just refinished...

A No2 is a .22 trainer.

The most common "unfired" Lee Enfield is a no4mk2.

Either way, if it is "unfired" it is much more valuable to remain that way. All the people who foolishly fired theirs will tell you differently though mostly because they have to defend their own wrong decision.

If you want a mint gun that you can shoot without the messy moral questions, watch the exchange and Gunshows. One of the people who foolishly decreased a long term storage gun will be selling it because they realize that now its just another used gun, having lost its cache.
 
If it's really an unfired gun then you should preserve it that way. They don't make any more of those, you know.
It may also quite possibly be a armoury refurbished rifle, in which case you can go ahead and shoot it. Make sure first, though.
 
If it's packed in the original wrapping and is in fact in unfired condition you'd be better off to keep it as is. Firing it will only devalue the piece and take away from its collectability. If you want a shooter simply sell it on the EE for a premium and buy yourself a mid range shooter grade model instead. That way you'll have something to play with while coming out on top financially.
 
There once were a lot of these in-the-wrap No.4 Mk 2 rifles. Slowly over the years, guys' curiousity get the better of them and they unwrap them. There are fewer and fewer of these rifles now. Supply and Demand.
 
OccasionallyOnTarget said:
Keep it wrapped up until you die and your relatives can find it and sell it for less than it is worth.
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you are on target on this one....:)



here are some pictures from one of my firearms, which I purchased new, unfired.

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The previous owner bought it as an investment, and paid over $350.00 in 1974. He put it away, and kept it in his safe until he died.
The estate got sold and I purchased this firearm still new for $600.00, about 10 years ago.
Do you guys think it was a great investment?
Now make no mistake, this will never happen to me. I came across several brand-new guns still in the wrap. They became unwrapped very quickly and went to the range at their first occasion. :)

It is up to you to decide what to do with your rifles, should you shoot them, or store them only to loose money

PS sorry, just realize how lousy the pictures are...
 
if you plan to sell it down the road, or use it as an "investment" don't shoot it.
if you bought it for you... to shoot..... shoot it.....
 
How do you know it's unfired? You can put it in a gun case, take it to the range, fire it, then take it home and clean it. You are NOT going to carry it through the surf on the coast of France, or drag it up the rocks on Monte Casino. You will also NOT drag it through the jungle. If you take care of it, it will always look the same as it does today.
Hiding it in the closet prevents you from using it for what it was made for, and after you are gone, it will be sold to someone who will enjoy shooting it. Oh by the way, it has been fired at least once before it left the factory!
 
Unwrap it, and throw away $300 minimum. That's the premium for a wrapped rifle over and unwrapped rifle.

Add the wrapped bayonet, scabbard and sling then add another $200. That rifle in the wrap will fetch up to $15000 with accessories. Unwrap them and you might get $1000 for the lot.

Shoot it and get $700-$800.

If you must shoot a No4 MkII, buy an unwrapped one and shoot it instead. It will give you the same kick and be just as accurate. The last one I saw sold, was in excellent contidion, inside and out. It sold for $500, without accessories.
 
John Sukey said:
How do you know it's unfired? You can put it in a gun case, take it to the range, fire it, then take it home and clean it. You are NOT going to carry it through the surf on the coast of France, or drag it up the rocks on Monte Casino. You will also NOT drag it through the jungle. If you take care of it, it will always look the same as it does today.
Hiding it in the closet prevents you from using it for what it was made for, and after you are gone, it will be sold to someone who will enjoy shooting it. Oh by the way, it has been fired at least once before it left the factory!
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He says it's still in the wrap. Other than the factory proof rounds, it should be in unfired condition.
 
Personally i would use it and enjoy it. I find no pleasure at all in having a tool i cannot use and yet have it sitting around . Why pay money if you are not going to use it. Bragging rights ? but you cannot take it with you when you pass. so enjoy what you have. Some think of value and gains on reselling...i shoot everything i have and enjoy it. A few were never fired before but i had that pleasure of being the first . Like having a new car and never driving it...who is going to have the pleasure of first trip?
 
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