Enfield pros needed.

[JES AR15]

please tell me what you think this is worth

it seems to check out as far as parts goes, but i'm not sure on the finish. is it a FTR finish or do you think he did it himself, or maybe a NAVY ARMS rebuild ? either way it looks good ! but i don't want to by a $100 gun that has $5 of somebodies paint on it. know what i mean.

his words :

A No.4 Mk.I Enfield Rifle in Excellent Condition. This rifle was produced at the Royal Ordnance Factory Frazakerley in November of 1943 and put through Factory Thorough Repair sometime in 1948. At this time a new serial number was applied to the
rifle, all FTR serial numbers on this rifle match.

I would rate the finish at 99% on the rifle itself, the meal parts on
the front of the forestock and upper handguard I would rate at EX. The
Butt plate I would rate at about 80-85%

The picture I posted of the left side of the receiver shows the worst of
the dents, no now that I look at it there are some more forward of the
lower barrel band, nothing big and evil though

The bore is slightly dark with sharp edges to the lands.

it SAAMI headspaces on a #1 bolthead.

The buttplate appears to be blacken (or painted) brass.
Forgot to say, yes the numbers match from the FTR (receiver, butt
socket, forestock) that I have seen.

me:
http://www.9mmlargo.com/sell/enfield/enfield.htm

what do you think ?

[Schuetzenman]

I don't think it's a Navy Arms rebuild or it would have the sandblasted bolt and cocking piece. The pics are dark but they seem to show a typical finish that one sees on Enfields.

I can see the stock has been sanded I believe. The tip off is the dark spot visible at the end of the wrist below the cocking piece. It shows up in the top down views showig the sight. Of course this is probably a factory sand job.

Is he listing any Importers marks. Also this guy doesn't live in Maryland does he? Beware there is a jerk that's a retired Airforce Colonel I think that tries to palm off dead rifles as Excellent condition weapons. Claims they aren't imports, yet you can find the area on the barrel that was stamped and that he probably draw filed poorly to try and remove the importers marks. Then half assed reblued it.

The reason I know about this rip-off artist is that a customer used me for the transfer of a P14 a.k.a. a No. 3, Mk I Enfiled. It was touted as having and excellent bore and no import marks. Stock had been sanded, import marks had been filed off and the bore was a bright and shinny . . . . smoothbore. Well 90% smooth bore that is. One could make out that rifling once lived there but damn, I've never seen a bore that shot out before. It took a loaded round up to the shoulder on the case from the muzzle! I exaggerate not! It really did take a round not to the start of the case neck used as a muzzle bore gauge, but it went in to the point where it bottomed out on the case shoulder at the base of the neck! :eek:

[JES AR15]

i just e-mailed him asking about import marks and if the bolt matches.

he said the rifle is in texas.

WOW on the rest of your reply !

i'm wondering about what i should offer him for it if i deside to buy it.

its a race between this one, a NAVY ARMS recondition $125, or a SPRINGFIELD SPORTERS $90 , or ?

[Schuetzenman]

Well how much does he want for it again, did you say $100. It looks like it could be worth a buck-25 but the dark bore part kind of turns me off. It could be one of those that will shine up after shoe scrubbing with JB bore paste and a couple hundred rounds. Then again . . . ?

BTW, the Springfield Sporters weapons won't look that good. The one I got from them I ended up replacing the buttstock and the had guards. The good news is they have the new stock pieces there so you can shop for original replacment parts.:D

[JES AR15]

he hasn't gotten back to me yet. but he wants considerably more than $125. so i don't think he would come down a lot.

[Schuetzenman]

Jes if it's got a dark bore and he wants $200 for it, I'd pass. Go get a Navy arms reworked one or a Springfield Sporters rifle and then get new original wood form Springfield Sporters after you get it and can evaluate what it looks like.

You might have $135 to $145 in one going this route.