Slowly but surely, I am filling the gaps in my quest to own every rifle ever made. At the gun show today, I spotted a rather nice Enfield. The gentleman behind the table let me have it for a song.
Who says you can't find good deals at shows anymore?  
This rifle was made in the US by Savage-Stevens under the Lend/Lease program. The serial number is 66067XX. I'm not sure when exactly that places it's manufacture date, but I understand that Savage began production in 1942.
http://enfieldrifles.profusehost.net/ri9.htm
It has very nice wood, and clean metal. There's not much in the way of finish left, but the metal is free from dings and abuse. The bold operation is slick and does not bind or rattle. The trigger is actually quite crisp and very comfortable to reach. The safety flips smoothly and positively, and most importantly, works.
I have to give it a good cleaning, as there are years of grease and dirt in the nooks and crannies, but overall it's a nice rifle. I'd like to find a bayonet and a period sling as well.
Anyone else have information on these rifles?




































 
 
 

That is one beautiful Enfield.
I have one or three myself.

Nice SMLE!  I have a Long Branch No4 mk1.  Mine isn't as nice as yours though.  Looks like the metal and wood are in good shape, and with a good cleaning she'll look very nice.  Try out Numrich's (www.e-gunparts.com) for a bayo and sling for her.

Beautiful, I have a savage no.4 mk.1 myself, love it. Sucks trying to find ammo for it, though.

Ain't that the truth.

I scored a few hundred rounds of surplus .303 last year for dirt cheap. When I tried it out at the range I found out why it was so cheap; there was a split second delay between the firing pin striking the primer and the bullet detonating. It was "click... boom."

I believe it was some old Indian army stuff. I still have most of it in one of my ammo lockers.

So what song did you sing???

Nice stock; congratulations.

nice enfield, that stock is gorgoeus



now you just need a Long Branch No4 to go with it

what was the cost?

Nice.

Enfields are second only to Mausers for me in terms of mil-surps.

What kind of info you looking for?

Well I pretty much stated everything I know about Enfields in my OP, so if anyone can expand on that, it'd be great.



Is commercial ammo safe for them? I got some 180gr softpoint HotShot brand ammo (Serbian).



Can anyone tell me when it was made?



 

Shame that it has that abortion of a Century import mark right on side of recvr.... it murders the collector value. Century dealerprice on these was in the $200 ball park. Too much IMOP with that mark esp if bolt doesn't match which usually is the case with these....

If you paid < or =  $200 you didn't get assraped to bad.

66C would be sometime in 1943

I have many other Enfields, but that is one that I do not have.  I am constantly on the lookout for a good Savage No.4.  You did well.

Yours is extra nice because it did not go through Factory Thorough Rebuild post war.  It has the original type flip sight.  The stock appears to have been sanded, but all in all, it's an excellent example of what is arguably the finest bolt action MBR of all times.

Does the bolt match the receiver SN?

Beautiful rifle. Looks like the wood is in really good shape.

Are the numbers matching? Hell that mag looks original, even.

Congrats.  Looks good.


What did you sing ?

Things to look for.

*  many different rear sights, from a complex micrometer adjustable rear(early), so a simple stamped slide(mid), to a simpler flip (think A1 AR) sight (late) were all used on WWII Enfields.

*  Lee-Enfields can be adjusted for headspace by changing the front of the bolt (it screws off).  The front pieces are numbers 1, 2 or 3.  Large number = longer part.  If you have a rifle with good headspace on a 1, then you can go to a 2 or even a 3 over many many many years of shooting.  If you are starting off with a 3...  your options are somewhat more "limited"

*  Lee-Enfields could be fitted with rear buttstocks of varied size based on the soidier, so a both a Tall and Small get the right sized stock to shoot well.  Sizes from "Bantam" (Ultra small) to Small, Medium, Large  (look on the underside of the stock for a letter stamped into the wood.

*  Many of the Savage - Stevens had 2 groove bbls. (don't worry they shoot fine! - U.S. did the same thing with 1903 Springfield production in the WWII years too with no loss of accuracy)  Take a look down the bbl to check yours out and let us know.

Congrats on a GREAT rifle.  If I had to take a bolt action to combat, the Lee Enfield would be THE choice.

BIGGER_HAMMER

That is a beautiful example of a rifle I have seen in a long time.

damn that is nice, great find!