Lucky find at the gun show today.

[Bkraft]

Went to the local gun show today. I was really disappointed with the prices I was seeing on both firearms and ammo. Even for the current market, I thought things were fairly high across the board.

Toward the end of my walk through the building, I came across a vendor with two stainless steel Interarms PPKs for 475 each. That was the first and only deal I had seen that day. I already have a PPK, though and wasn?t sure I needed to spend the money on another so I passed.

On making my way back to the exit, I stumbled on this little table I must have missed on the way in.  There were a couple older rifles there, and I?m a sucker for milsurps, so I stopped to look.

I have to preface this by saying that about 12 years ago, my wife talked me into selling a Longbranch No4Mk1 Enfield that I had just purchased and I did, thinking I?d just grab another one later.  This was just before Enfield prices began to climb and, go figure, the Longbranch has some rarity and really jumped.  I never replaced that gun. ProbBly my only regretted sale.

Anyway, I see this sporterized No4Mk1 on the table.  Bolt was zip tied shut as a lot of these old rifles are at shows.  Price tag on it was just over 300?.  Which wasn?t bad.  I had some small talk with the guy and went back to looking  at the rifle.  He said, I?d take 250 for that. That was all it took.

So I get it home, cut the zip tie and pull back the bolt. Super clean chamber, bolt slides easily.  Grabbed a light and peered down the bore.  Super shiny with crisp clear rifling. Now I?m really happy. Finally replaced my No4Mk1 and it?s looking good.

Then I noticed the ?US Property? stamp on the top side of the Reciever. That?s odd.  What is that doing on a British rifle?  So I start to research a little more?. I notice the No4Mk1* stamp (with the * - like my old Longbranch).  Serial number has a ?C?, block ?S? stamp in the side of Reciever?.   

Yep, I just paid 250 for a Savage Arms built Lend Lease Enfield.

Barrel wasn?t cut.  A stock and bands is mostly all I?ll need to put this back in military condition. It?s a clean, very old sporterization, but this rifle deserves to be restored.

[bearcatter]

Looks good as it is, before you do any magic. That rifle has possibly traveled a lot of miles between the factory and now. Any way to know if it ever went to England?

[Bkraft]

As best as I can tell, they presumably were all shipped to England as none were used by US Forces, but I do not know that for a fact.

There is, however, a ?B? stamped underneath my serial number which is the British Acceptance Stamp, so that more or less confirms that it went to England.

[bearcatter]

Cool...

The stories old guns could tell, especially military.

[Uncle_Lee]

Nothing like getting more than what you paid for.
Happy for you.
Restore it and make it your own.

[5_shooter]

Looks like you got a heck of a good deal! Nice rifle!

[top dog]

BK,
That is super nice. Looks great as is. In my opinion,leave it in that condition,but then,that is just my opinion.

Always great tp see someone uncover a great find.

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