My first Lee Enfield

[pacanis]

I know I've been posting my latest Mauser acquisitions in the Mauser thread, and will continue to do so, but this is my first LE and I felt like creating a new thread for it

Yesterday when I was at the LGS I call home the owner told me that someone he knew was looking to get rid of a Jungle Carbine. (He knew I had been flirting with picking up a LE for a while.) He asked if he could send the guy my email, so I said sure. This morning I woke up to some pictures in my inbox. We set up a meeting today and you already know the outcome by now.
He actually walked in with three Two No5 MK1's and another, an FTR'd something, I don't remember the model, with the bayonet and looking unissued. It was beautiful, as were the carbines. So some cash and a handshake later, and here you have it. My first Lee Enfield.
From what I could tell researching the stamp on top of the barrel, it means a UK civilian once owned this rifle, but as always any input is appreciated All I know is it was made at Frazakerley in '46, the collector I bought it from had shot it and this collector plans on shooting it, too

[JoeR]

Hubba Hubba , that's some quality gun porn right there...... WOW I likie

Well done.

[tjtM38]

You've got the Enfield bug; it is easy to catch. That is a sweet carbine. Man, I envy your find. Good job.

[Jumperwire]

Very nice Pacanis , Now you've got to go get the rest of them, so you can see the transition from beginning to end . It's ok to start at the end That is a very nice looking No5 Mk1

[Junk Yard Dog]

The markings look correct for an import No5, what marking made you think it was once in Civilian hands? It's a nice looking No5, one of the ones that didn't get sent to Burma, and places east were it's hot, and humid all the time and everything rusts

[pacanis]

Thanks guys I'm pretty happy with it. This was one of those pieces I wanted to buy holding it in my hands. And it just worked out.

Jim, from what I was reading, that 18.5 ton/22.5" stuff on top of the barrel, the second to last pic I think, is not an export or import stamp, but it means it was once owned by a civilian in the UK. That's what I read in a couple places anyway, forums.

[MN Fan]

Wow Pac, that is sweet! You said "nice", but I didn't imagine this nice Yeah, you had a good day!

What a gorgeous find! And congrats on finding a whole new arena to play in

Beautiful...

[Ban-One]

I love the No. 5, it's such a fun rifle to shoot! Congrats on a sweet little carbine with a big bark!

[Junk Yard Dog]

Thanks guys I'm pretty happy with it. This was one of those pieces I wanted to buy holding it in my hands. And it just worked out.

Jim, from what I was reading, that 18.5 ton/22.5" stuff on top of the barrel, the second to last pic I think, is not an export or import stamp, but it means it was once owned by a civilian in the UK. That's what I read in a couple places anyway, forums.

If that's the case then mine and at least two others I have handled locally were also civilian owned over there. Once upon a time I knew what that marking was all about, but I forgot, will have to dig out the Enfield book and look it up again, soon as I remember were I put the book

[MN Fan]

You need to find the post it note that tells you where you put the post it note that tells you where you put the book at!

I know, I know...as soon as you remember where you put that damn post it note

[Junk Yard Dog]

I know were it is, it's in a crate of books I salvaged from the workshed, they smelled like mold so I stored them out in the stepvan to air out for a bit.

[Longcolt44]

The BNP is a proof stamp showing it has been safely tested for use with smokeless powder. The 18.5 tons per (square box) refers to the pressure test the barrel was tested at. Neither of these stamps refer to anything civilian. Check out Skennerton's book The Broad Arrow, it is the bible for Enfields. Very nice #5 you have there.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Thanks Chuck, I was not looking forward to sprinting out to the van in my PJ's, it's cold and going to start snowing soon.

[desdem12]

Way cool Pac. You sure can find the good stuff.

[pacanis]

Thanks LC.
Boy, you can't believe anything you read on the internet anymore I wonder how those others became so misinformed. Probably like me, they read it and it sounded good

Thanks Des.

[Junk Yard Dog]

The big givaway is the idea of the post war British government handing out military rifles to civilians

[Jumperwire]

The big givaway is the idea of the post war British government handing out military rifles to civilians

Ya think

[pacanis]

I'm not that familiar with British gov't to know that they don't have have sort of milsurp program, or Big 5 store
I'll see if I can track down that misinformation. It should be in my History still.

[Jumperwire]

The Swiss would do that, but the English, no way. They, and the rest of Europe, are so "socialist" like, that I wouldn't expect any of those countries even allow gun ownership.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Only we have the CMP selling Garands to civilian shooters, or the protection of the second amendment, The British government has been very anti gun for a long time, they make New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and California look pro gun.