Where did all the enfields go?

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GunNewb

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So ive been lurking around reading on some old threads that lee enfields went for 100-150$$ a few years ago? Does this make any sense to anyone and if so whats the deal? Is the country out of these or something?

The reason I ask is if this is the case, and theyre "drying up" i might be more inclined to get my ass over to the EE and shake one down. I want one eventually, though id prefer to wait a year before I buy another gun. youd think the armyd get bored of them and just pass them off...
 
Im might buy a couple sporters for $150 and $100. We'll see though I already have 2.
 
Enfields

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youd think the armyd get bored of them and just pass them off...

The Canadian Army did just that, OVER 50 YEARS AGO, and the British well before that. The only ones the Army has are in Museums, and maybe for Ceremonial use.

After WWII, many of the Millions of Enfields made were declared Surplus, and were released by the British to raise cash to help pay for the cost of the War.

Back in the late 1950s you could walk into an Eatons store, and chose from a whole rack of them for $9.95, or a "sporterized" one for $14.95, for the Number 1 Mark III rifles. A Number 4 rifle was about $5 more, and a complete Number 4 Mark 1 T Sniper rifle complete with scope, chest, and scope tin was $49.95, (which is probably about $500 todays currency.)

And it wasn't only the Lee Enfields or SMLE rifles. Mausers, Carcanos, Boyes 55 Calibre anti-tank rifles, Cooey .22 trainers, Springfields, Garands, M1 Carbines, Lugers, Colt 1911s, and lots of dewat (and active machine guns because you could own them at the time) were available.

The first Lewis Gun I bought was $65, complete with carrying chest, 4 drum magazines, magazine loader, spare barrel and lots of spare parts, and it even had anti-aircraft sights. A MP-40 with 1000 rounds of ammo and 3 mags was $75, and a brand new Savage 1928 Thompson with some 20 and 30 round magazines and a 50 round drum was an astronomical $135. Stens all over the place, and a few Brens too. And, we shot them without a lot of hassle.

But, 50+ years have passed, more people are collecting military rifles, more people are interested in History, the Internet is here, the Liberals have neutered the gun owners of Canada, and the supply of these goodies has diminished to the point of where we are considering the beaters that we would not have even glanced at 20 years ago as being "very good for their age." With prices to match.
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the Canadian military sends all its unwanted firearms for distruction. we don't want the public to be armed . some one might get a splinter, and sue them.
 
I seem to recall the story some years ago about the gubmint re-arming the Rangers with that "sporting" version of an Enfield (EAL) and dumping most of the No4's to the surplus
dealers. And when the EAL's couldn't stand up to the use they were put to, the government had to go to the surplus dealers and buy back what they had so casualy dumped on the market.
 
There's 2 BNIW at the Collectors Source, I think they are '55 Irish contracts, which I had 1K+ laying AROUND :p

There's also a sponsor on here who sells war stock in the grease I believe..Brit models
 
The registry where i live has had a big effect.Bubbad enfields were common and cheap so lots were bought up and put away in closets for that just in case thing.Some years you would be lucky to see more than one or 2 at the local gun show.Full wood ones are actually more common.Same thing with the older lever guns like win 1886's they just went back to the ranches rather than get put on paper.
 
lots of them siting there but unregistered so they don't get sold

at the time the registry came out it cost $25 to register each rifle and bubba enfileds were selling for $25. So why register?

I suspect when the LGR goes away there will be a whole lot more showing up again
 
"...and dumping most of the No4's to the surplus dealers..." Nope. They were chopped along with the C1A1's, C2's and No. 7's. The CF doesn't release any firearm to the civilian market.
 
Rule 303 said:
Just had to reply...bought my first M1 Carbine from the Sears Kenmore Warehouse in Rexdale, c.1969.

It was in a rack in the Clearance Centre along with many other full stock and sporterized Enfields.

Cost, then, was $100.00...I think prov tax was 3%.
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Pfft. And people complain about being old. It has its advantages. Next year or so ill prolly grab one, thats something cool to be able to show your kid IMO.
 
"Where have all the Enfields gone, long time passing..."

Feel free to add a line folks. We'll write it together!:D
 
John Sukey said:
I bought my first Enfield (No1Mk3) for $9.95 around 50 years ago. No4's at that time went for $12.95
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I bought a stone mint No5 JC for $18.00 back in 1962. I installed a Bishop buttstock, Weaver T01 scope mount and away we went. It has gotten me a few truckloads of deer, incl my best Whitetail, a moose, and a bear over the years. Money well spent. See, it pays to be old after all.:p

It's all relative though. $18.00 was a significant chunk of change 50 yrs ago. I suppose today's $400 Enfield will look like a bargoon in the future. One thing for sure, they aren't making any more of them.
 
purple said:
The AIA rifles are a clone, just like a Norinco M1911A1 or M14 is to a "real" Colt M1911A1 or a Springfield Armory built M14.;) They do fill a need though.
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I own both and appreciate them each for what they are. There is something about holding an old war horse in your hands and feeling the history.

I will never sell my fathers Enfield, bought IIRC for $15.00 from Sears. My AIAs would go long before that old piece, but the point is moot as I will be homeless and pushing them down the street in a shopping cart before I would seriously contemplate the idea :p
 
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