Milsurp After Hours

Having given much thought to the purchase of a Milsurp Rifle I have finally decided that I would like to own an Enfield.

As I have now made this decision I would be most grateful if you (my piers) would be good enough to recommend a book, currently in print, that would give me THE most comprehensive information about the history of the Mark.

In anticipation

The book is Skennerton's The Enfield Story. However this currently out of print and second hand examples are going for funny money. A check of his website is worth it sometimes as he has second hand ones in occasionaly. See the further reading sticky above

There is supposed to be a new updated edition due out this year/ next year. So it might be worth waiting for that.

Reynolds the Lee Enfield Rifle is another classic again out of print but available second hand at funny money.

Skennertons SAIS series is good for a brief history and take down instructions but you will need more than one to cover Nos 1-9.

Stephen Regdwell books from .303.com is also good for stripping/accurising again see further reading.

Therefore that leaves you with Skip Strattons books the For Collectors Only series. These books don't capture the romance of the Enfield rifles but do go into great detail with drawings on all the parts variations, so thats your best in print buy, again see the further reading sticky.

Other good sources are the Text Book of Small Arms 1929, the Lists of Changes, Laidlers No4T book is another Classic as is Skennertons The British Sniper.

So you pays your money and you takes your choice.

Happy reading Duncan.

Or you could ask an expert.

i.e. Anyone who can consult their Skennerton before giving an answer

I might learn to check ALL posts on a site before asking dumb questions! Then again, I am acting my age and intake level

Duncan, Timing may be good for you. Rumor is the Italian Navy has sold off a ton of No.1s and No.4s and the distributer is targeting Europe for civilian sales with only a few going over seas. Like the Turkish imports of a couple of years ago they're supposed to be mainly unused.

If you find something before aquiring reference material, ensure the bolt's serial number and the action-body's (reciever) serial number match.

Regards, Brad

All I have to do now is find out who bought them!

And as you get deeper and deeper into the lore of the Lee-Enfield you will come across some odd variation that no one has written about

The Italian Navy Enfields were bought by Euroarms. Here is a link to the website. Click on 'introduction' to get the English version.

Regards

Peter.

http://www.euroarms.net/EFD/index.htm

Thats for a used book shipped from the States to me in France. Think I may have to wait for the Movie!!

Thanks for the info Peter, much appreciated.