Where have all the Long Lees gone?
- Thread starter Iron Duke
- Start date
- Location
- Downtown Vancouver, BC
Regarding milsurps, they're very common indeed.
- Location
- Downtown Vancouver, BC
Errr...right.
meine = my
meinem = mine
As my German Schooled Wife understands it, it all depends on what is being done to whom how the word ends.
In this case whether or not the anti tank rocket shot to the face is self inflicted or not.
Mind you why someone would consider this an act of love is beyond me.
meinem = mine
As my German Schooled Wife understands it, it all depends on what is being done to whom how the word ends.
In this case whether or not the anti tank rocket shot to the face is self inflicted or not.
Mind you why someone would consider this an act of love is beyond me.
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Sgt Striker
CGN Regular
- Location
- Great White North, Eh!
I had 8 or 9 on my wall at one time, but just got bored with collecting Enfields, and sold them off about a year ago... They are out there, you just have to go to every gunshow there is, and make some contacts with other Enfield collecters.
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Put it this way, they served in every major conflict there was from 1888 to about 1945. Many just got used up. Many more became the basis for all the .22 trainers out there. Still more rusted away in armpits of the world like Africa as obsolete arms.
I've had what? Three or 4 Long lees now? Never kept one long - they aren't very good shooters and my interests moved on.
Hate to say it, but M1891 Mosins are usually better firing line performers than the long lee with its impossible sights and reputation for HORRIBLE windage accuracy.
The SMLE was a quantum leap in quality and reliability.
I've had what? Three or 4 Long lees now? Never kept one long - they aren't very good shooters and my interests moved on.
Hate to say it, but M1891 Mosins are usually better firing line performers than the long lee with its impossible sights and reputation for HORRIBLE windage accuracy.
The SMLE was a quantum leap in quality and reliability.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Sgt Striker said:
I have nine and I am NOT bored with them.
Strange, but from my perspective, there seem to be more Long Lees around in circulation, at least in the quarters where I haunt.
Only until a few years ago, I hardly ever saw a MLM or MLE. Of course they were out there but they were not in circulation. I had one but didn't know anybody else who did. I thought that I had something really rare. But now, there seems to be quite a few floating around in collectors' hands.
I think that with the long gun registry, many rifles came out of the woodwork where some of our seniors didn't want to get into registering rifles and getting pals/pols, so they got rid.
When the deadline for registration was getting close, people were literaly giving rifles away. There was one chap in the next town who advertised in the local newspapers saying that if anybody had an unwanted rifle, he would save it from destruction, come and take it away, legaly, do paperwork and register it. My buddy phoned the number one evening (we were drinking rye) and posed as sombody interested in buying a second hand rifle. After the vendor's spiel about how he had lots of different kinds for sale, we asked if he would sell for cash without paperwork. Turned out that the guy was above board and all the guns were registered, he had many Lee Enfields, including Long Lees. We went over there the next day and scooped them up at bargain prices. Many of these old rifles were pretty sad looking and had sat in huntcamps and cabins for generations. He had been given over 300 rifles in a few months! His basement was full!!!
But what I do notice is that what used to be sold only a few years ago as a 'good used rifle' and sold cheap, is now labeled as a 'collectable' and commands big bucks. I am always amazed at how much milsurps are trading hands for, I guess that I am still living in the past.
One positive thing about milsurps going up in value is that they now might be looked after by the next generation of collectors rather than be modified into deer rifles.
So ya, where have they all gone? The ones that are left are hopefully in collectors' hands. We are all but custodians of these rifles, who hold them as possessions for a few years. We will all eventualy kick the bucket and the rifles will hopefully be passed on to the next generation of collectors to enjoy.
Only until a few years ago, I hardly ever saw a MLM or MLE. Of course they were out there but they were not in circulation. I had one but didn't know anybody else who did. I thought that I had something really rare. But now, there seems to be quite a few floating around in collectors' hands.
I think that with the long gun registry, many rifles came out of the woodwork where some of our seniors didn't want to get into registering rifles and getting pals/pols, so they got rid.
When the deadline for registration was getting close, people were literaly giving rifles away. There was one chap in the next town who advertised in the local newspapers saying that if anybody had an unwanted rifle, he would save it from destruction, come and take it away, legaly, do paperwork and register it. My buddy phoned the number one evening (we were drinking rye) and posed as sombody interested in buying a second hand rifle. After the vendor's spiel about how he had lots of different kinds for sale, we asked if he would sell for cash without paperwork. Turned out that the guy was above board and all the guns were registered, he had many Lee Enfields, including Long Lees. We went over there the next day and scooped them up at bargain prices. Many of these old rifles were pretty sad looking and had sat in huntcamps and cabins for generations. He had been given over 300 rifles in a few months! His basement was full!!!
But what I do notice is that what used to be sold only a few years ago as a 'good used rifle' and sold cheap, is now labeled as a 'collectable' and commands big bucks. I am always amazed at how much milsurps are trading hands for, I guess that I am still living in the past.
One positive thing about milsurps going up in value is that they now might be looked after by the next generation of collectors rather than be modified into deer rifles.
So ya, where have they all gone? The ones that are left are hopefully in collectors' hands. We are all but custodians of these rifles, who hold them as possessions for a few years. We will all eventualy kick the bucket and the rifles will hopefully be passed on to the next generation of collectors to enjoy.
Sgt Striker
CGN Regular
- Location
- Great White North, Eh!
John Sukey said:
Well, when I found two RNWMP carbines, one all matching and a Long lee from my home county (the 22Bn Oxford Rifles) the fun of the hunt died off. It was like I had found all the ones I had been looking for, and there wasn't anything "enfield" left that I wanted. Since they just hung on the walls of the gun room..... well you know the rest of the story...
Now I have a small collection of Garands, and the rest are shooters.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Iron Duke said:To I love potatos, I failed high school German, just checking to make sure that they were right
could always get the right word, but always the wrong ending
Heute Deutchland, am morgen die ganze welt.
