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My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:14 pm
by 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 :D

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 :shock: 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 :)

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:21 pm
by JoeR
Hubba Hubba , that's some quality gun porn right there...... WOW I likie :big shock:

Well done. :Drool1:

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:26 pm
by tjtM38
You've got the Enfield bug; it is easy to catch. That is a sweet carbine. Man, I envy your find. Good job.

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:34 pm
by 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 . :D :D It's ok to start at the end :D :D That is a very nice looking No5 Mk1

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:34 pm
by 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 :)

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:41 pm
by 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.

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:53 pm
by 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 :mrgreen:

Beautiful...

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:13 pm
by 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!

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:16 pm
by Junk Yard Dog
pacanis wrote: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 :)

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:18 pm
by 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 :mrgreen:

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:22 pm
by 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.

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:33 pm
by 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.

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:45 pm
by Junk Yard Dog
Thanks Chuck, :clap: I was not looking forward to sprinting out to the van in my PJ's, it's cold and going to start snowing soon.

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 9:38 pm
by desdem12
Way cool Pac. You sure can find the good stuff. :vcool: :vcool:

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:13 am
by pacanis
Thanks LC.
Boy, you can't believe anything you read on the internet anymore :lol: I wonder how those others became so misinformed. Probably like me, they read it and it sounded good :brolleyes:

Thanks Des.

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 5:17 am
by Junk Yard Dog
The big givaway is the idea of the post war British government handing out military rifles to civilians :)

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 5:40 am
by Jumperwire
Junk Yard Dog wrote:The big givaway is the idea of the post war British government handing out military rifles to civilians :)
Ya think :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 6:25 am
by 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 :lol:
I'll see if I can track down that misinformation. It should be in my History still.

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 6:32 am
by 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. :brolleyes: :brolleyes:

Re: My first Lee Enfield

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 6:37 am
by 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.