The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

My nearest and dearest had her SUV in at the mechanics today for a tune-up and service and asked me if I would drop her off at the hairdressers while she had her locks cut. So after dropping her off I had a wander around Petoskey and found myself in one of the local pawn shops. So I'm casually browsing when I spied a Lee Enfield sitting among the rifles.

The ticket on it said it had come into the store last December so it had been sitting there nearly nine months. I asked the fella behind the counter if I could have a wee look at it.

Maltby Made in 1946, bore is a little dark but the rifling is very strong, (well see how it looks after a good clean) all matching numbers and a Lyman peep sight on top. The magazine was missing which is not a big deal as I have a couple of spare unmarked mags sitting spare. The wood is in beautiful condition with a couple of small dings and I'd say it has around 95/97% of it's original bluing.
Fella wanted $100 for it but after a little haggling and pointing out that if it was so hot it wouldn't have sat there for nine months, $80 (50 quid out the door)

I'm going to clean it up tonight, test headspacing and shoot it tomorrow. I'll post back on how she shoots.

Quick edit, just tested headspace. Bolt closes on Go guage and does not close on NoGo guage.

Possibly cheaper than the 'aircut too....

Badger, more than likely mate but I never ask, some things are best left well alone. After being asked what I thought of here new look, and me making all the right noises, I showed her my new Enfield. Her reaction was, " Hmmm very nice, another gun"

Blu

"Another gun" :lol:

Nice find, interesting to see how it shoots.

Fifty quid.. a look forward to hearing how it shoots and it is looking good so far.

christel wrote:"Another gun" :lol:

Nice find, interesting to see how it shoots.

Christel, she likes to shoot occasionally but other than that the woman's a firearms philistine zzzzom

Blu

£50! You can't buy barrels for £50, never mind complete rifles! Looks like a decent condition one, let us know how it shoots.

very nice, our pawn shops are full of rubbish

Well so far I have not had the rifle out to the range and the reason for that is it has taken just over 40 hours to get the barrel clean. As I said the lands and the rifling are nice and strong but I don't think this rifle has ever seen any copper solvent in it's lifetime. I just ran a dry patch through and it came out clean and now I have soaked the bore one more time just to make sure she is clean. The foam has also removed most of the crud that was in the barrel as well, but saying that I will still go ahead and give the barrel a good scrub with a hard nylon brush and some bore cleaner.

Blu

Oh, you didn't buy it thinking it was a .22 training conversion did you ?