Lee Enfield No 4 MK I*

[sailor723]

This is a Canadian made (Long Branch Arsenals, Toronto) 1950 Lee Enfield MK 4 No 1*. It went through a factory refurbishment in Sept 1960 (inspection tag still attached) and then was sent as military assistance to Greece where it was coated in cosmoline and placed in long term storage. Recently sold off as surplus, several cases of these were imported by a Vancouver dealer.

Unmolested and not modified as a sporting rifle like so many were, it's a little time capsule of Canadian history. Rifles like this went ashore on Juno Beach and defended Hill 355 in Korea.

Not sure why my photos always load as thumbnails....click to enlarge.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

You have a good eye for excellent rifles! I had quite a few of the number three and fours and thinned the herd a few years ago. One of three I kept is a nice Savage made, US property marked number four. I consider the number four the pinnacle of a series of the best combat bolt action rifles ever made. Enjoy that one!

 

[LVSteve]

That's in much better shape than the last lot of Enfields from that part of the world. Great score.

 

[tops]

This is a Canadian made (Long Branch Arsenals, Toronto) 1950 Lee Enfield MK 4 No 1*. It went through a factory refurbishment in Sept 1960 (inspection tag still attached) and then was sent as military assistance to Greece where it was coated in cosmoline and placed in long term storage. Recently sold off as surplus, several cases of these were imported by a Vancouver dealer.

Unmolested and not modified as a sporting rifle like so many were, it's a little time capsule of Canadian history. Rifles like this went ashore on Juno Beach and defended Hill 355 in Korea.

Not sure why my photos always load as thumbnails....click to enlarge.

My first big rifle was a .303 with the "L" shaped peep sight. I was 16 or 17 about 1957 or 58. It was bought at a Advance store for IIRC less than $20. It really shot good. One of the guns I wish I still had. Larry

 

[eveled]

I consider the number four the pinnacle of a series of the best combat bolt action rifles ever made. Enjoy that one!

I agree, my first center fire rifle was a no4, back when the ammo could still be found cheap. Sardine cans full of bandoliers loaded with stripper clips. I put thousands of rounds through that gun.

Every bolt action I have handled since then seems clunky and awkward in comparison to the Enfield.

Also when you close the bolt on an empty chamber it is easy to hold the trigger with your ring finger, so it doesn't get cocked.

I love my Enfields, wish I had bought more when they were cheap. Locally even the badly sporterized ones are selling way too high.

 

[Arik]

I have a No5, SMLE, and a Martini Enfield

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[diyj98]

Nice rifle. I've limited my own collection to WWII and before dated examples.

 

[jessebogan]

That is beautiful. I also have a 1950 Longbranch. That was the last year of Canadian LE production. There is a thread on the milsurp forums on the 1950 rifles that is worth looking up and reading. They are unique.

 

[31FordA]

Enfields are great rifles. I bought my first one back in 1995 for the immense sum of $40, a 1943 vintage #4. Since then I've acquired a 1916 Lithgow #1MkIII, a pair of #4Mk2's, and a 1918 vintage ROF Enfield #MkIII which was sent to the Irish Free State in 1923. My Enfields are probably my favorite rifles to shoot. What amazes me is how the prices have climbed. Enfields that sold for $50 to $100 twenty years ago now bring $400 to $800. I wish I had bought a truck load of #4's back in '95 for $40 a piece, I'd be rich now.

 

[LVSteve]

That is beautiful. I also have a 1950 Longbranch. That was the last year of Canadian LE production. There is a thread on the milsurp forums on the 1950 rifles that is worth looking up and reading. They are unique.

The way the bedding was hosed up on my 1950 LB was certainly unique. I don't know if the wood had shrunk or if the king screw bushing was never adjusted when built, but the barrel was sitting so high it was contacting the contacting the inside of the upper handguard.

 

[Texas Star]

I'm surprised Long Branch was still using the wartime expedient two-postion leaf sight in 1950.

 

[sailor723]

I'm surprised Long Branch was still using the wartime expedient two-postion leaf sight in 1950.

You're right, the wartime sight is incorrect for 1950 production. It should have been manufactured with the post war MK IV ladder sight.

As the gun was still in the grease and still has the Sept 1960 inspection tag attached to the rear swivel my assumption is the sight msy well have replaced during the refurbishment. I would guess Canadian Arsenals (successor to Long Branch) was just using up whatever wartime stocks of parts they had to do repairs before shipping these rifles overseas as surplus. Although, when they ramped up production in 1950 for the Korean War I suppose it's possible there was a parts shortage and they just dug into the old wartime parts inventory during production.

edit

For anyone interested in the history of the Canadian Lee Enfields there is a good article here

http://heritagemississauga.com/assets/Small Arms Final Report - by Liwen Chen.pdf