Enfield No4Mk1 What Am I Looking At Here?
- Thread starter jaytex1969
- Start date
jaytex1969
New member
BornFighting88
New member
I had two over the years. Mine were both No.4 Mk1's. I had a sporterized one for hunting with. It was chambered in the original 303 British. An obscure rimmed rifle round. Cock on close, made for a really quick working action for a follow up shot. But if you didn't load the magazine correctly, loading is troublesome. Just make sure the rim of the cartridge against the feed lips is AHEAD of the following cartridge.
They are fun to hit the range with, for sure. Some joker milled a relief in the bolt raceway to allow the bolt face to flip up for removing the bolt. A few times I had needed a quick follow up shot for a running deer only to have the bolt come all the way out the back of the receiver!!
Also had a beater range day parts frankenstein gun. The trigger and sear in it were trash when I picked it up for less than a hundred bucks. A TIG welder and some time and I had it back in shooting condition.
I liked them when I had them. Just wanted something else, so I sold them both off for a huge profit.
They are fun to hit the range with, for sure. Some joker milled a relief in the bolt raceway to allow the bolt face to flip up for removing the bolt. A few times I had needed a quick follow up shot for a running deer only to have the bolt come all the way out the back of the receiver!!
Also had a beater range day parts frankenstein gun. The trigger and sear in it were trash when I picked it up for less than a hundred bucks. A TIG welder and some time and I had it back in shooting condition.
I liked them when I had them. Just wanted something else, so I sold them both off for a huge profit.
mikejonestkd
New member
I have a No4 MK1 and a No4 MK1*. Yours looks a bit rough, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
They are fairly common and well made rifles, and IMO they are decent shooting rifles as long as they have a decent bore.
Surplus ammo is dried up, but several companies make decent ammo for it.
I enjoy them at the range on a regular basis.
They are fairly common and well made rifles, and IMO they are decent shooting rifles as long as they have a decent bore.
Surplus ammo is dried up, but several companies make decent ammo for it.
I enjoy them at the range on a regular basis.
jaytex1969
New member
Thanks. I'm used to seeing a neat and orderly display on the band and had no idea what that chicken scratch was!
Obscure? I wouldn't call it that...Introduced in 1888 and officially the British service rifle cartridge until the late 1950s, it had a longer military service life than the .30-06 did.
And, as a sporting rifle round, filled the same niche throughout the British empire and Commonwealth that the .30-06 did in the US. Mostly is ex-service rifles sporterized to some extent though there were some fine rifles built as sporters from the design up chambered in .303 British.
And, btw, if the bolt head of your No4 Mk1 flips up on its own, the rifle is broken. There is a spring loaded catch on the action (and not particuarly easy to use on a new rifle) with the sole function of preventing the bolt head from flipping up, unless you push down on the catch, first. Unless this catch is missing or broken you have to use it to get the bolt out of the action.
BornFighting88
New member
That catch was removed and a slot milled into the bolt raceway to do the same thing. Boy did that bother me to no end.
Chap that bought it from me knew full well when he purchased it. Probably a wall hanger now.
Chap that bought it from me knew full well when he purchased it. Probably a wall hanger now.
jaytex1969
New member
Anyone care to offer a rough value based on the scant info we currently have?
Assuming head space and bore condition check out.
Jay
Assuming head space and bore condition check out.
Jay
BornFighting88
New member
We can.... but be prepared... it may just be what WE ourselves are willing to offer you for it. Best best is to check recently finished auctions on GB or other sold rifles of similar grade to see what they are going for on the market.
Back in 2010 when I purchased my beater rifle for parts, it was like $150 out the door. The sporterized one was closer to $300 before tax and tag. But as mentioned earlier in this thread, surplus rifles have sky rocketed as of late. Don't be surprised to see that this rifle you have, if in ok shooting condition, would be worth more than both of those I mentioned combined.
Back in 2010 when I purchased my beater rifle for parts, it was like $150 out the door. The sporterized one was closer to $300 before tax and tag. But as mentioned earlier in this thread, surplus rifles have sky rocketed as of late. Don't be surprised to see that this rifle you have, if in ok shooting condition, would be worth more than both of those I mentioned combined.
jaytex1969
New member
Understood. Local guy is asking $500. The few I've seen offered online are going for about $450, which would exceed that after FFL and shipping.
I may go look at it, but my gut says its not the best specimen. I do collect bolt surplus rifles, but have not delved into the .303's yet.
I probably need to cruise some pawn shops first.
Jay
I may go look at it, but my gut says its not the best specimen. I do collect bolt surplus rifles, but have not delved into the .303's yet.
I probably need to cruise some pawn shops first.
Jay
BornFighting88
New member
Well the price falls into the going rate. That’s not an alarm bell, at least to me. Go look at it if you can. Get someone to put a light in the bore. The original 303 British round was packed with some stringy propellant called “Cordite” (correct me on spelling if I’ve hacked it up), and corrosive Berdan primers, so the bores on some of them could be almost smooth.
A lot of them used Boxer primed brass with more modern powder propellant. So you should be ok. But then again. These are nearly 100 year old pieces. Do your due diligence.
All the best!
A lot of them used Boxer primed brass with more modern powder propellant. So you should be ok. But then again. These are nearly 100 year old pieces. Do your due diligence.
All the best!
jaytex1969
New member
I picked it up yesterday. Five bills for the rifle, 2 boxes of PPU and 4 clips. Probably not my greatest deal, but I wanted it and had the dinero.
Everything looks OK to me. Dirty but serviceable.
Got more pics to share. I still don't know what year it is or who made it.
Input welcome.
Jay
Everything looks OK to me. Dirty but serviceable.
Got more pics to share. I still don't know what year it is or who made it.
Input welcome.
Jay
