Non matching enfields - new to milsurps

[James1873]

So I’m new to milsurps. Other then a Canadian tire special bulk sks when I first got my pal, and a sporter no1 mk3 couple years ago. Regretted letting the sporter go as I just loved the action, detachable magazine capacity, cartridge, and just the history of it. I think of the enfield in general as Canada’s Winchester model 94.

Anyway I came into possession of a no4 mk2 that has been more or less put together back to its original configuration. Non matching, but has an excellent bore. It has the awesome rear sight that has a turn screw to adjust the elevation.

What is the going rate for enfields like this? Will the values go up over time along with the all matching enfields? Obviously trailing behind a certain percentage in value, as the all matching naturally will be worth more.

I’d eventually like to get a full wood no1 mk3 to go with my no4. Then I should have ww1 and ww2 enfields covered.

 

[Robert Nicholson]

Very nice and I am envious of you having any sort of full wood No. 4 unlike myself who wants, but does not yet have.
Everyone will be wanting to see more pictures in order to give you a better idea of value.

 

[bogusiii]

Matching is nice because it brings a certain completeness to a rifle. Matching wood also implies it's not a sporter rebuild. Enfields seem to have taken off in value and I can't see that slowing down, your interest seems to be the proof of that. But be warned...once you've got the Enfield bug you won't be satisfied with just a No.4 and a No.1 Mk.III. There's "stars", Long Branch's, Fazackerly's, Ishapores, BSA Co.'s.........

 

[James1873]

Very nice and I am envious of you having any sort of full wood No. 4 unlike myself who wants, but does not yet have.
Everyone will be wanting to see more pictures in order to give you a better idea of value.

Yeah i'm pretty stoked. I haven't fired it yet, but i would'nt mind taking it deer hunting next year. Its about the same weight as my scoped hunting rifle. Looking forward to shooting it just for the sake of shooting it and seeing what kind of groups i can get.

 

[LawrenceN]

If the bolt is non-matching, get the headspace checked before you fire it. Matching numbers are actually more than just a "wanna have". When the rifles are made, they are fired with an overproof round to "stress the action into battery", so the bolt is actually mated to that particular action. Yes, the parts are mostly interchangeable and a "put-together" or restored rifle should function just fine but that's the reason for the serial numbered action/bolt. A restored English No.4, mis-matched, would sell hereabouts for $450-$600. Please do keep looking for good one, and a hint about the No.3's.....check the serial number on the bayonet lug on the nose cap. It should match the action and it's almost invariably a dead giveaway that if the numbers don't match then it's a restored piece. Haunt your local gun shows and keep a good eye on the EE here, keep an eye on local estate auctions and sales. You can find some amazing deals once in a while. About 4 years ago, through just dumb luck, I picked up a BSA 1918 No.3 that had never seen service and was released to public sale at the end of WW1. Catch this........TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!! He was selling it on behalf of an elderly widow who was just getting rid of her late husband's firearms.

 

[Grock-co]

So I’m new to milsurps. Other then a Canadian tire special bulk sks when I first got my pal, and a sporter no1 mk3 couple years ago. Regretted letting the sporter go as I just loved the action, detachable magazine capacity, cartridge, and just the history of it. I think of the enfield in general as Canada’s Winchester model 94.

Anyway I came into possession of a no4 mk2 that has been more or less put together back to its original configuration. Non matching, but has an excellent bore. It has the awesome rear sight that has a turn screw to adjust the elevation.

What is the going rate for enfields like this? Will the values go up over time along with the all matching enfields? Obviously trailing behind a certain percentage in value, as the all matching naturally will be worth more.

I’d eventually like to get a full wood no1 mk3 to go with my no4. Then I should have ww1 and ww2 enfields covered.

Good luck with interchanging magazine's with a Lee Enfield, it does not work, Crappy manufacturing, and the bolts also will not interchange, again questionable manufacturing

 

[bogusiii]

If the bolt is non-matching, get the headspace checked before you fire it. Matching numbers are actually more than just a "wanna have". When the rifles are made, they are fired with an overproof round to "stress the action into battery", so the bolt is actually mated to that particular action. Yes, the parts are mostly interchangeable and a "put-together" or restored rifle should function just fine but that's the reason for the serial numbered action/bolt. A restored English No.4, mis-matched, would sell hereabouts for $450-$600. Please do keep looking for good one, and a hint about the No.3's.....check the serial number on the bayonet lug on the nose cap. It should match the action and it's almost invariably a dead giveaway that if the numbers don't match then it's a restored piece. Haunt your local gun shows and keep a good eye on the EE here, keep an eye on local estate auctions and sales. You can find some amazing deals once in a while. About 4 years ago, through just dumb luck, I picked up a BSA 1918 No.3 that had never seen service and was released to public sale at the end of WW1. Catch this........TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!! He was selling it on behalf of an elderly widow who was just getting rid of her late husband's firearms.

The reason for the serial number was to keep the troops honest. One bolt head vs. another of the same size would do the exact same job. I disagree that a mismatched nose cap (front band) is always an indication of a restored piece. I agree it could be, but have seen many legitimate arsenal rebuilds of WW1 dated SMLEs to WW2 standard where the nose cap serial doesn't match.

 

[5THBATT]

The reason for the serial number was to keep the troops honest. One bolt head vs. another of the same size would do the exact same job. I disagree that a mismatched nose cap (front band) is always an indication of a restored piece. I agree it could be, but have seen many legitimate arsenal rebuilds of WW1 dated SMLEs to WW2 standard where the nose cap serial doesn't match.

Was that a story you were told while buying one with a mismatched nosecap?

 

[Butcherbill]

Good luck with interchanging magazine's with a Lee Enfield, it does not work, Crappy manufacturing, and the bolts also will not interchange, again questionable manufacturing

It worked on both my No.1 and No.4, I have three magazines that all work in the No.1 and a No.4 magazine that's not the original and they all fit and feed fine.

 

[HarryD]

Highly unlikely a factory refurbished rifle would have mismatched nosecap. Some Australian FTR's were unnumbered for a short period.

 

[verminaard]

Good luck with interchanging magazine's with a Lee Enfield, it does not work, Crappy manufacturing, and the bolts also will not interchange, again questionable manufacturing

It works, I've never had an issue grabbing whichever magazine is closest in the drawer. That being said, It's an enfield, not an AR. They weren't intended to be swapped around, and guys didn't run through the trenches with 5 mags. The mags were meant to detach for cleaning, with reloading being done while the mag is attached via stripper clip.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Good luck with interchanging magazine's with a Lee Enfield, it does not work, Crappy manufacturing, and the bolts also will not interchange, again questionable manufacturing

People today look at the fit and finish of wartime British rifles and sniff. They forget that Britain was getting bombed day and night throughout the first half of WW2. They had to build up their own armed forces after Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain, as well as host two large foreign armed forces who were gathering strength to go attack the continent. The solution was a command economy whereby every small shop with two lathes and drill press was redirected from making commercial whatevers to rifle parts, Universal Carrier hinges, and ships' fittings, etc. Drawings and materials were widely distributed and the production delivered to a select few arsenals for final assembly. It was not sloppy manufacturing but brilliant planning. There are stories of the BSA plant on fire at one end from the previous night's bombing delivering crates of completed rifles out the other end. Keep Calm and Carry On, has a whole other meaning than just a snappy t-shirt logo.