Any info on this Lee-Enfield Sniper Model?

[J20DB]

A coworker recently inherited this No. 4 Mk I T. He's not really into guns, and I'm not particular knowledgeable about British rifles. All I know is that it was manufactured in 1941 and is the sniper model, complete with transport box, scope and case, bayonet, sling, ammo pouch, and field manual. To make up for my lack of knowledge, I took as many photos of it as I can; here are some overview shots:

http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/Overview/1180774435_ZFfv5-L.jpg (http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/15749549_7WCG5#1180774435_ZFfv5-A-LB)

http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/left-side/1180774474_XoYqC-L.jpg (http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/15749549_7WCG5#1180774474_XoYqC-A-LB)

http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/bolt/1180774477_LBTgF-L.jpg (http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/15749549_7WCG5#1180774477_LBTgF-A-LB)

http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/Right-Side/1180774642_Tc2VZ-L.jpg (http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/15749549_7WCG5#1180774642_Tc2VZ-A-LB)

http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/scope-top/1180774632_h4cVW-L.jpg (http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/15749549_7WCG5#1180774632_h4cVW-A-LB)

http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/scope/1180774957_QCk4s-L.jpg (http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/15749549_7WCG5#1180774957_QCk4s-A-LB)

Clicking on any of the photos will take you to a gallery where they are available full-size for better detail. Also, the rest of the gallery is here: http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/15749549_7WCG5. There are LOTS of high resolution detail photos if anybody would care to take a gander.

There is some bubbling of the finish on the both sides of the stock by the cheek rest (This (http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Lee-Enfield/15749549_7WCG5#1180781321_LrVSt-O-LB) is the worse side of the two). The rifling is sharp, but there's some stubborn fouling in there.

We were hoping to find out anything we can about it. I'm interested in learning about its history, and he's hoping to find out how much it's worth, as he's hoping to sell it.

Thanks for looking!

[KCSO]

Good lord man!!!! In the 1960's that set was selling for $125.00 and is worth 10 times that today. And then a M70 winchester was less money. I have reams of info on the 303 and quite a bit on the sniper version but I will have to dig out the right books. Briefly in about 1942 the #4 Mk1 T was approved and selected rifles were finalized. About 35000 were made in Britian and Canada. Mounts by both Griffin and Howe and Lyman were used on Canadian rifles and that is the box they were issued in. Now if you thingk 35000 is a lot of sniper rifles bear in mind that over 7 MILLION Enfileds were made.

[JeffinNZ]

You tell your friend he is sitting on a GOLD MINE and to be VERY careful when selling it!!!!!

[Doc Highwall]

That is definitely a collectors piece. The gun may be one thing but with the case, scope, and everything else makes it much more a collectors dream.

[Frank46]

KCSO is right your sitting on a nice WWII sniper rifle. I'd get it appraised asap and list everything that came with the rifle. Including the transit chest. Good estimate for a collector would be from between 2500 to 3000 USD. Frank

[cr17]

J20DB : Take a look here

http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=143-1945-Enfield-No.4-Mk1*(T)-Long-Branch-Sniper-Rifle

Some great experts there that can help with the identification. It looks to be a great find - but if the carry case is numbered to the rifle, the scope carrying case to the scope and the butt stock numbered to the scope it is a large bar of diamond encrusted platinum - or for us near priceless.

[3006guns]

KCSO is right..........I remember those sets very well and how difficult they were to sell back then. After all, it was "just a Smelly with a scope" so not very desireable to most people. I'm VERY glad to see one actually suvived and wasn't parted out or Bubba'd.

I think I'd come up with a cast load and shoot it. What a hoot that would be at a military rifle match.......you know, calmly open the chest and withdraw the rifle. Fiddle with a few adjustments while the crowd grows behind you........."Oh, this old thing? Picked it up a few years ago. Thought I'd see how it shoots before I get a new stock and have the metal chrome plated..."

[Jim]

J20,
You did a superb job with the photos! Really nice layout.

[DCM]

I'm VERY glad to see one actually survived and wasn't parted out or Bubba'd.

I think I'd come up with a cast load and shoot it. What a hoot that would be at a military rifle match.......you know, calmly open the chest and withdraw the rifle. Fiddle with a few adjustments while the crowd grows behind you........."Oh, this old thing? Picked it up a few years ago. Thought I'd see how it shoots before I get a new stock and have the metal chrome plated..."[/QUOTE]

Yes keep it original! I like the cast load an story idea too. You will make those who know better faint and get all kinds of dumb ideas from those who don't.

[KCSO]

Checked with a friend and his opinion is that $2500 is bare bones minimum for the outfit and 3200is not out of line.

[Mike Venturino]

I've got to agree about the photos. They are excellent. Are you a professional?

I've got a Brit No. 4 sniper but rifle and scope only. Not a set. I'd sure be happy to trade for that set.

MLV

[Hardcast416taylor]

I've got to agree about the photos. They are excellent. Are you a professional?

I've got a Brit No. 4 sniper but rifle and scope only. Not a set. I'd sure be happy to trade for that set.

MLV


Down Mike, DOWN! You just got that Jap Lewis gun and the Stg-44, remember? Robert

[Bloodman14]

Those pics AND THE GUN have me drooling all over my keyboard!! +1 on the 'keep it together' remarks. Get it properly appraised. If he is not interested in keeping it, make him an offer, if possible.

[45nut]

i keep getting drawn back to look at the pictures,, wow, what a find.

[docone31]

It will love paper patched loads!
With start data for jacketed, it will be a dream to fire.
Love it.

[richbug]

And a Savage on top of everything else.

[klcarroll]

WOW! .........That's beautiful!!

(....I'd be forced to offer AT LEAST $100!!! :bigsmyl2:)


Kent

[9.3X62AL]

GORGEOUS photography of a fine example! THANK YOU for posting this.

I kinda figured this would get a rise outta Mike V. :)

[bob208]

i have one mine has the scope sling and lesther lens covers. and i have taken it to range and had some fun with people there.

[Bloodman14]

What are the odds of having those pics made a 'sticky' to use as a reference in what to look for when finding a gun like this (do one for ALL the major guns; Mauser, Mosin-Nagant, etc)? The history alone would be worth it, I would think.

[Bullshop]

If anyone is interested in acquiring an odd smle I have one with initials stamped on all the parts. When I bought it I was told they are the initials of a Canadian armorer that built rifles for the marksmanship team.
The fellow I got the gun from had a book about the man and the guns he built but he wanted $10.00 extra for the book and I just didn't have it.
I took the gun apart and all the parts have his initials on them. I have bedded the for end and that may have been a mistake because it covers the initials on the inside of the wood. Each piece had the initials. Anyway its more than a run of the mill smle.
If anyone is interested PM me.

[PAT303]

That rifle is worth $5000 in Australia.For gods sake don't let him do anything to it. Pat

[J20DB]

Wow, so many replies! This really is a great forum - lots of good people! Thank you all!

KCSO - kinda makes you wish you had bought some more guns back then, huh?

JeffinNZ - believe me, we're going to be very careful!

Frank46 - that's good to hear, as that's about what he was hoping to get for it.

CR17 - Thanks for the link! I'll be sure to check that out

3006guns - if this were my rifle, you bet I'd be out there shooting it!

Jim - Thanks!

Mike Venturino - Thanks! It's nice to receive a compliment from my favorite gunwriter! I'm always drooling over your WWII collection when I see it in the magazines. Yes, I am a professional photographer (http://www.jasonboulanger.com) - weddings and editorial work mostly, but I've just recently started trying to expand my (very limited (http://jbphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Firearms/15080223_2W3yn#1126936844_YLNMi)) firearms portfolio, as it's an industry I'd love to work in. I wish I had the time to clean these photos up a bit more (visible table edge/junk in the background, dirty whites, etc, look kinda tacky), but it was a rush job, if you will.

Gunnerd - Thanks! I'd buy it from him in a heartbeat if I could justify the expense :(
As for making the pics a sticky, if a mod or somebody would PM me and let me know exactly what they'd want/need photo and layout-wise, I'd be happy to put something together.

klcarroll - I'll be sure to pass your offer along to him :razz:

9.3x62AL - Thanks, I'm glad people are enjoying seeing this - it really is a beautiful rifle!

[MtGun44]

I wanted one when the sets like that were $179 in 1967 from Century Arms. Could not
afford it then, or now. Neat system, great pix.

Bill

[Multigunner]

If anyone is interested in acquiring an odd smle I have one with initials stamped on all the parts. When I bought it I was told they are the initials of a Canadian armorer that built rifles for the marksmanship team.
The fellow I got the gun from had a book about the man and the guns he built but he wanted $10.00 extra for the book and I just didn't have it.
I took the gun apart and all the parts have his initials on them. I have bedded the for end and that may have been a mistake because it covers the initials on the inside of the wood. Each piece had the initials. Anyway its more than a run of the mill smle.
If anyone is interested PM me.

The initials wouldn't happen to be DP, GL, or EY would they?

[Bullshop]

No Sir the initials are "A D B"

[PAT303]

What makes this rifle exxy is that it has all the extra's,very rare to impossible to find them down here. Pat

[darwinmauser]

As has been mentioned it's a Savage, but not your run of the mill savage..it's an early one made before the Mk1* was introduced ,it has the bolt catch instead of the cut out in the rail like the later one's. It does not appear to have the normal TR & T markings of a British sniper on the wrist and left hand side of the action, this is not to say it's a fake but it may have been built up by ROF Enfield before production was handed over to Holland & Holland, they used some of the trials rifles for the early conversions. Whatever it's providence it's a lot rarer than my M47C sniper which is what the majority of them are, (M47C) is BSA This should make it even more desirable .

[Multigunner]

No Sir the initials are "A D B"

That does sound familar.

[bbailey7821]

Very nice to see this beauty. It's been the highlight of my morning!

[Von Dingo]

Thank you for sharing your photos and story, this is one of the best photo spreads I've seen online, if not the best. I can see you easily breaking into the gun pin-up trade if you put a little time into it.

[303Guy]

It will love paper patched loads!docone31, I think all Lee Enfields would love paper patches loads! (Well, maybe not the two-grooves but then they seem to love j-words).