My first virgin milsurp - Pics Now up at Post # 37

Tomochan

Tomochan

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The Cariboo, BC
Many of us have had in our possession really nice Enfields but yesterday I took possession of my first virgin Enfield - yes, a real "in the wrap" new rifle made 55 years ago !

Well, the question in my mind was "what should I do ?" There are two extremes, one reasonable and one a sacrilege - (a) keep it in the wrap for posterity or future sale at a profit or (b) bubba it for a deer rifle. Now, I am originally from Wales not Scotland so the idea of keeping it to make a few bucks in years to come is a non-starter and my Mum and Dad were not brother and sister so the other extreme doesn't even register.

Anyway, I decided to open it. To the accompaniment of "Land of Hope and Glory" ( well, not really but you get the idea ) I used a surgical scalpel to carefully slice open the paper and the underlying wax to reveal a beautiful blondie. I, equally carefully, cleaned her up and she now sits with the other Enfields - she is the youngest, being a mere filly made in 1955, the matriarch of the family is a 1917 SSA No I Mk III.

Will I shoot her ? My current thinking is yes - I like to shoot all the rifles I own even if only once a year - after all, why undress her if you don't use her :)

Thanks to "Macadoodle" for uploading some pics for me - pics at post 37
 
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Excellent. It's open. Now you can shoot it, clean it, and love it. Keeping guns without shooting them is like keeping a sports car and not driving it. - it's wrong. Take good care of it and you do right by me. Sure, it's worth more money un-opened, but it you want investments, buy land.

:needPics:
 
I completely agree with you, I cant own a rifle (no matter how old, expensive, or rare) and not shoot her. I would not bubba it with modifications but it would definitely see some field/range time. What ever you choose to do in the end, dont let people discourage you, its your own rifle and not theres.
 
I know how you feel about wanting to unwrap her. I did the same thing to a 50 year old virgin 5 years ago. It was my first Enfield and i wanted a pristine shooter.

I collect Enfields now, so I wish I'd kept it wrapped. One of these days I'll buy another one still wrapped and keep it that way. If i can ever find one that won't break the bank. They're selling for up to twice what I paid only 5 years ago.

Anyways, now that she's unwrapped and cleaned up you'd damned well better shoot her. That what she's there for. :)

And uh, shame on you for not posting pix. Now get to it.
 
Baal - Good God man please re-read your re-reading LOL ! To be crystal clear: no, no and no again to any form of bubba'ing !!! Like I said, my Mum and Dad were not brother and sister so no bubba'ing on my watch !!!!!!! In fact I have restored several of bubba's jobs to full wood recently :)

For some reason I can't post pics - I know how to do it but the system won't allow me :-(
 
you did the RIGHT thing...
but you should have done it in font of a paying audience of
"Canadian Gun Nutters" :D
Now go and have fun ...
 
It boils down to personal preference amongst shooters and collectors, whether to shoot or not shoot a collectible firearm. Unwrapping an arsenal wrapped firearm is also at the discretion of the owner.
Personally I would have left it wrapped and scrounged up a shooter grade rifle to take to the range...there are hundreds floating around.
I have several firearms in the collection that will never be fired, they, for the most part, are all pre 1870 era. Even some of my newer firearms will not be fired. I have plenty of other shooter grade guns that go to the range regularly. No need to take the good stuff out and take a chance of breaking something.
 
I can feel your pain. I have a 1954 Izzy SKS that is unfired and unrefurbished. It is ridiculously mint and has a gold bayonet. I am always tempted to shoot it but I am always riding the fence between collector and shooter. I know SKS's are cheap and plentiful but it sucks owning guns you cant/wont shoot.
 
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