Lee Enfield Target .22 - Going to kick myself for passing, but it needs a home...

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grelmar

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Sooo... Anyone who's been in Calgary for long enough knows all about the ups and downs of Crown Surplus, and the old man who put a lot of "I don't actually want to sell it" prices on things.

Anyway, new generation is running the place now, and, well, things are actually for sale.

Was in there today buying something else, got chatting, and he brought out the somewhat mythical Target .22 Trainer, with diopters, in the box, and all the accessories.

It isn't a myth. I held it for a moment, and it is pristine... Not quite unfired, but very close to it. Not a scratch anywhere. As close to perfect as I've ever seen.

Anyway, the "list" price is $1200.00... Which is high (I know), but in the ballpark of what they're going for now, especially in this condition. But here's the kicker:

The new management is willing to haggle. If a fellow showed up with $900.00 cash, he would most likely walk out the door with it. If he had good negotiating skills... Who knows?

Someone who really loves Enfields needs to give this beauty a home. I wish I had pics, but that just wasn't going to happen in the middle of the store during business hours. All I can say is... It really is in immaculate condition. And all the accessories, right down to the little pouch to store the rear diopter when not in use.

Just take some pics when you buy it and post them here. Someone in town has to have the cash on hand to buy this. In theory, I could pull it off right now, but I'm holding cash in reserve for some other deals I'm semi committed to, and I don't want to jeopardize any handshake deals I've already made.
 
Is that the one behind the counter in the transit case?
Must be; I was in there about a couple of months ago and the price was $2000
 
islandguy said:
There have been a lot of LE 22 trainers produced over the last 100+ years. Which one is it?
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I wish I could tell you, I'm simply not an expert in these.

Removable diopter rear sight, front sight is a target diopter front (1&1/2" long tube with the post at the front).
 
A C No7 rifle with transit case should normally go for a minimum of $1500.00 Cdn, probably closer to $2K with those sights. I've seen at least one going (with transit case) for an asking price of close to $2800 with just the standard service sights. A No8, like the one I have, goes for $2000 to $2500 Cdn in the USA and UK, with just the standard service sights. Mine is NOT for sale. Get em while you can.


beltfed said:
It's a Long Branch C No. 7 Mk 1 - 1946
Has a PH 5c rear sight and a diopter front - I've never seen a No. 7 with this type of sight setup.
It is in gorgeous shape, makes me want to get back into Lee Enfields.
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Yeah the days of REAL C.No7's, not put togethers for $1500 are long gone. If its an original and with those sights it's value is for sure in the 2k region...BUT thats assuming it's real, I had to wade through put togethers for 2 years before I was able to find one legit original.
 
Well for $900 I couldn't resist.:redface:
As near as I can tell the rifle is original (except for perhaps the sights - maybe an old time full bore guy changed out the sights for his winter training regime to more closely match those used in SR at the time?):confused:
Dunno, what I do know is that about 8 years ago I passed on a minty parts No.7 complete for $700 and they quickly climbed in price just after that. f:P:2:

Will post up some pictures in a separate thread:cheers:
 
beltfed said:
Well for $900 I couldn't resist.:redface:
As near as I can tell the rifle is original (except for perhaps the sights - maybe an old time full bore guy changed out the sights for his winter training regime to more closely match those used in SR at the time?):confused:
Dunno, what I do know is that about 8 years ago I passed on a minty parts No.7 complete for $700 and they quickly climbed in price just after that. f:P:2:

Will post up some pictures in a separate thread:cheers:
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Awesome.

I just wanted to see it go to a good home. Post pics and let us know how she shoots.

I'll be kicking myself for years to come for not risking the wrath of the wife and tapping the line of credit, but the timing just wasn't right. I'm glad it's going to someone who'll give it the respect it deserves, instead of gathering dust hidden behind the counter at Crown.
 
Well done Beltfed! Good on ya! $900 well spent.
I don't know about the C No7's, but the Enfield No8's were manufactured to take match sights such as the PH5D and AJP TZ 4/47 (rear) and Matchmaker and FS21/22 front globe sights in addition to the regular service-type sights. I recently "put together" a No2 MKIV 22 trainer ca 1932, based on a rifle purchased sans butt stock and rear handguard. I don't feel bad at all for putting a nice old LE 22 trainer back into service, even if it is a mix of bits. These old rifles deserve a new lease on life whenever we can give it to them.
beltfed said:
Well for $900 I couldn't resist.:redface:
As near as I can tell the rifle is original (except for perhaps the sights - maybe an old time full bore guy changed out the sights for his winter training regime to more closely match those used in SR at the time?):confused:
Dunno, what I do know is that about 8 years ago I passed on a minty parts No.7 complete for $700 and they quickly climbed in price just after that. f:P:2:

Will post up some pictures in a separate thread:cheers:
Click to expand...
 
scott585 said:
last i asked, he wanted 10k for the bofors
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When I asked a couple years ago, the price had climbed to $15K but open to reasonable offers. So I offered 12K cash.....no go. I found a much much better one for less. An associate went there ready to pay $15, but the price had climbed to $20K. I guess the only way would be to have a large wad of cash in your pocket, ask how much, and just pay it then and there.
 
stencollector said:
When I asked a couple years ago, the price had climbed to $15K but open to reasonable offers. So I offered 12K cash.....no go. I found a much much better one for less. An associate went there ready to pay $15, but the price had climbed to $20K. I guess the only way would be to have a large wad of cash in your pocket, ask how much, and just pay it then and there.
Click to expand...

Try again, the old man is gone from the business. The next gen took over, and are actually willing to sell a lot of the stuff. The old man wasn't actually interested in selling a lot of the stuff, he used the business as a means of expanding his collection as a tax write-off. It ended up being a bit of a tragedy, because a lot of it just ended up in the yard rusting into oblivion instead of getting the care and attention it deserves.
 
40 yrs ago Crown Surplus was quite the place to buy guns. A buddy and I split a case of unissued Savage No4s from them. I think they were around $30 a pop. I still have a 1942 LB receiver that I bought from them for $10 and used to build up a nice No4. Another popular MILSURP emporium in Calgary at the time was Ribtor Sales. I bought all of a M1917 Enfield, M1903 Springfield, M98 Mauser and an M1 Garand from them. The bolt guns were in the $35-$40 range and the Garand was around $70 if my memory serves me correctly. They also had a lot of cheap MILSURP ammo. On another note the old Super S Drugs was even selling US GI .30 cal AP ammo in Garand clips.:sok2
 
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