What's an "average" one going for these days? Can a rattle-trap be fixed or is it simply not worth it? I've got a friend who told me his "isn't all that accurate" but he'd sell it to me for $100. If it's inaccurate due to the rifling being "this" close to being a smoothbore then I'm savvy enough to know it's not worth it. Also, he is more like somebody I know that I'm cool with. Not really close friends. So for $100 I might very well need the Vaseline if I bought it. For all I know I can buy a decent MK III for $100. I really have no idea.

I guess what I really want to know is what are the things I should look for in a serviceable Enfield?

Thanks guys.

-Andy

If the gun is in good condition, that's a good buy. Check it out. It may be inaccurate due to a ding in the crown, or excessive wear at the muzzle. Both of those are easy fixes (recrowning and couterboring). If it needs a new barrel, it MAY still be worth it, if 1. you're patient and 2. the rest of the gun is in good shape. I say that because Numrich occasionally has replacement barrels for the No1mkIII for reasonable prices. You gotta keep an eye out.

I have a No1mkIII that has bad wood and a bad barrel. I salted away a complete stock set and a new barrel for it a few years back. I haven't gotten around to putting either one on yet. The price on both was right, though...I think I may have $150 into the whole endeavour. If you're concerned about authenticity, keep the parts you take off.

Mike

If the gun is in good condition, that's a good buy. Check it out. It may be inaccurate due to a ding in the crown, or excessive wear at the muzzle. Both of those are easy fixes (recrowning and couterboring). If it needs a new barrel, it MAY still be worth it, if 1. you're patient and 2. the rest of the gun is in good shape. I say that because Numrich occasionally has replacement barrels for the No1mkIII for reasonable prices. You gotta keep an eye out.

I have a No1mkIII that has bad wood and a bad barrel. I salted away a complete stock set and a new barrel for it a few years back. I haven't gotten around to putting either one on yet. The price on both was right, though...I think I may have $150 into the whole endeavour. If you're concerned about authenticity, keep the parts you take off.

Mike

Yeah, I think I'm going to buy it anyway (next month). And for all I know, the guy that's selling it could be all about accuracy and is extremely nitpicky. He definitely prefers older guns. He owns a mint P-08 and a US property marked 1911A1. He admits his bias toward the Springfield over the Enfield.

Me? I've always loved the Enfield. I'm not a huge "rifle shooter". I'm much more a handgunner and a shotgunner. But I'll be damned if I can't already imagine me shooting that MK III and having a very pleasant time at it. Smiling like an idiot all the while.

And if it needs work, it needs work. I don't mind putting some money into it. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a lost cause.

Thanks Mike!!!

The last Enfield brought home cost me a nail gun, trade, about a week ago. Plus it came with a big ole bayonet, which took me about 20 min. to get off.

Good to know Jim! I'll definitely check out the MK II after I get my Mark III. I'm going to grab the one I mentioned in my OP once I get my referral bonus this month.

IF I remember correctly an asterisk (*) on the top side of the barrel just past the receiver means the bore is marginal or nearly shot out.  The rise in price in the past 10 years has cured me of my Enfield addiction.  $100 for a bubba special is a good price now.  If it's complete and in good shape it's a heck of deal. Try 303british.com. He has a lot of info online.

IIRC, the asterisk denotes wartime expediency.  


For example, there are nuances between a No.4 Mk.1 and a No.4 Mk.1*, the biggest difference being the manner in which the bolt is taken out.  Often times, the wartime expediency rifles will have the 300/600 flip up rear sight instead of the micrometer types.


If wartime expediency = ( * ) for No.4 Mk.1s, what are the chances that it's also that for No.1 Mk.IIIs?  Know what I mean?

{Unless you were talking about something else, slugcatcher.  But the only times I've seen *s regarding Enfields, it had to do with wartime expediency).

That is my understanding as well.  The Number 3 is the best carrying battle rifle in the world.  They actually balance just in front of the magazine and are a joy to carry.  The Number 4 is superior in terms of actual shooting, with clearly better sights, but a decent Number 3 will hold its own out to 300 yards or so.  If your friend's rifle is complete the $100.00 price tag is a good one.  Worn barrels can be replaced or rebored and rechambered.  I have a Lithgow Number 3 and a BSA Number 3 from 1916.  The BSA has a bore that resembles the surface of the moon ( dark side ) but can be made to shoot fairly well with cast bullets.  Not minute of angle but definitely minute of bad guy.  Part of the fun of tinkering with these old rifles is turning them into decent shooters.  Good luck - let us know how it turns out.

That is my understanding as well.  The Number 3 is the best carrying battle rifle in the world.  They actually balance just in front of the magazine and are a joy to carry.  The Number 4 is superior in terms of actual shooting, with clearly better sights, but a decent Number 3 will hold its own out to 300 yards or so.  If your friend's rifle is complete the $100.00 price tag is a good one.  Worn barrels can be replaced or rebored and rechambered.  I have a Lithgow Number 3 and a BSA Number 3 from 1916.  The BSA has a bore that resembles the surface of the moon ( dark side ) but can be made to shoot fairly well with cast bullets.  Not minute of angle but definitely minute of bad guy.  Part of the fun of tinkering with these old rifles is turning them into decent shooters.  Good luck - let us know how it turns out.

That's me. I don't like giving up on guns. I actually have a Colt 1903 .32 that needs overhauling. So much so that I might "modernize" it. But that would take more bucks than I have. Decent sights, new grips, hand matting on all rounded sections and a thick polymer finish. That along with the hand matting will do a decent job of hiding the pitting (over most of the pistol) . Even if it doesn't shoot all that well (bore looks a bit worn) I'd still like to make it look like it's serviceable. But deep down I'd love a near mint 1903. Just can't afford one. 

I also have a Rossi that I need to send out. But when I get this MK III I will once again put the other two projects on the backburner.

1.   MK III
2.   Colt 1903
3.   Rossi 971

Most would consider me crazy, spending more money than the worth of the weapon to get it into shooting shape. Well, I am a bit nuts in that regard, especially considering I pretty much live from paycheck to paycheck. But again, I don't like giving up on guns.

Thanks for the advice/input as well!