Possible first SMLE, should I buy?

[HK_USP_45]

I've been wanting an SMLE for quite a while now, and have been kind of holding out for a No. 1. I've seen a couple of No.4 Mk1 before for $3-500, but have passed. Last week a local store had one on sale for $220, regular $240, but they were in terrible condition. Today I found a CAI import N0. 4 Mk 1, 1943 at Cabelas for $199. For the most part the rifle is in great shape -- the bore looks decent, the bolt and receiver are in great shape, the stock looks good (probably refinished). But the inside of the barrel looks not-so-great. There is no deep pitting, and the rifling still looks good, it just looks like the surface of the moon.

Should I buy or no? This will be my first SMLE, and I'm not an expert on them. I know they've been through a lot, and it's hard to find really good ones at this price. I'm definitely someone who is going to be shooting it a lot, and I want it to have some semblance of accuracy.

I appreciate any help.

[Woftam]

If you're buying to shoot then you're probably going to want as good a bore as you can get. Some will shoot very well with a less than pristine bore but some won't.
While the price sounds reasonable you're gambling that price it will be a decent shooter. Personally I'd reduce the odds by buying one with a good bore.
Just my opinion.

[Niner]

- the bore looks decent, the bolt and receiver are in great shape, the stock looks good (probably refinished). But the inside of the barrel looks not-so-great.

I'm not sure what you are saying here with the bore looks decent but the inside of the barrel looks not so great. But the price looks ok by today's standards. And Cabela's having it is a bit of a question as to why they have it and how they came by it....at least to me.

However, why not see if they will let you run a cleaning rod and a couple of patches through the bore and then take a bore light ....one of those cheap plastic deals that work on a couple of penlight batteries....and see how it looks afterward. Lots of uncleaned, or badly cleaned rifles, have better bores than they seem to have at first blush. Whoever had it last time it was fired may not have done much of a cleaning job.


But...as has been said, don't settle for something questionable when you have your heart set on a shooter.

Welcome to the site. Let us know how things turn out if you buy this one or some other.

[bradtx]

HK_USP_45, Worth seeing if they will let you run a couple of patchs through the barrel. Many of the 1943 dated rifles are from the large Turkish import from a few years back. Almost surely if the import mark isn't very discreet. These have been, on the whole very original and in good condition. One other tip is to insure that the s/n on the action body matches the rear of the bolt handle.

Brad

[HK_USP_45]

- the bore looks decent, the bolt and receiver are in great shape, the stock looks good (probably refinished). But the inside of the barrel looks not-so-great.

I'm not sure what you are saying here with the bore looks decent but the inside of the barrel looks not so great. But the price looks ok by today's standards. And Cabela's having it is a bit of a question as to why they have it and how they came by it....at least to me.

However, why not see if they will let you run a cleaning rod and a couple of patches through the bore and then take a bore light ....one of those cheap plastic deals that work on a couple of penlight batteries....and see how it looks afterward. Lots of uncleaned, or badly cleaned rifles, have better bores than they seem to have at first blush. Whoever had it last time it was fired may not have done much of a cleaning job.


But...as has been said, don't settle for something questionable when you have your heart set on a shooter.

Welcome to the site. Let us know how things turn out if you buy this one or some other.

Thanks for the welcome. What I mean was the chamber looks good, but the bore is not so great. Our cabelas has a gun library with all kinds of old guns. They get some of everything in. A couple of months ago I got a very nice CZ-52 for $160. At the gun shows around here they go for $250.

Thanks for your input

[HK_USP_45]

Thanks all for the advice.

Let me ask another question -- as I shop around for a SMLE, are their any rifle specific things I should be looking for to differentiate between a good, collectable rifle, and a poor one. Like someone said matching serial numbers on receiver and back of bolt. Anything else?

I'm still pretty new to the collecting of old guns thing, my collection is small so far. I know a lot about most guns, as far as history, etc, but I don't know much about collecting, and what makes a gun collectable. What I mean by collectable -- for me I'm not talking about high money value, or rare -- to me I just want a gun that is a good representation of that model of gun. For example, my M1. It's from the CMP, none of the numbers match, so it's not rare, or high dollar value, but to me it's collectable because it is a very good representation of what is an M1 Garand. That probably makes no sense to anyone but me. haha.

[Niner]

for me I'm not talking about high money value, or rare -- to me I just want a gun that is a good representation of that model of gun. For example, my M1. It's from the CMP, none of the numbers match, so it's not rare, or high dollar value, but to me it's collectable because it is a very good representation of what is an M1 Garand. That probably makes no sense to anyone but me. haha.

Makes perfect sense to me. I feel the same way. I'm more interested in the experience of owning and shooting some of the great representative battle weapons of the past than I am in attempting to find some particularly rare or valuable piece. However, I do try to have a little awareness of what it is I'm buying when I buy some particular example.....awareness not just of matching or non matching numbers or the import numbers at a given time, or what the market values are, but of safety issues, like headspace and general condition as a firearm that I probably will want to shoot.

Most of the guns in my collection that I prize most are not particularly valuable in themselves but valuable to me from what I've discovered about them, for the most part, after I acquired them.

I'd think, since you are just getting into this you might want to invest in a few books. When it comes to Enfield rifles, Charles Stratton comes to mind. Probably you have heard of him. He comes in real handy when examining rifles and noticing variations from one rifle to the next and the information in his books will help you make discoveries about the Enfields you collect.

[DuncaninFrance]

Welcome to the funny farm HK! I agree with Niner and would say that, for me anyway, shooting it is just as good as owning it - I wouldn't want a wall hanger. You are in the right country to collect guns and shoot...............you should see the prices here and the limited availabili9ty of stuff

Probably the most comprehensive book on the Lee Enfield is by Ian Skennerton. Expensive but a great book to thumb through.

[Smellysniper]

Hi,
I may have misunderstood a little here but I take it you do realise that a SMLE is a No.1 and you appear to be looking at a No.4. They are totally different rifles. My advice for what it`s worth is hold out for a Smelly because that is obviously what you really want. I prefer an early (pre 1918) date as I feel it is more likely to have seen action in the Trenches and I always try to get matching numbers but that is just a personal thing. There are not many truly original SMLE`s about ,they were a tool after all, well used and no-one gave a thought to us Enfield nuts who view them as some sort of icon. I often think that the people who made them, repaired them and used them would be very surprised at the way we hold them in such high regard. When my Father-in-Law told me he carried a Ross in Second World War ,I asked him what he thought of it and he just said "It was very heavy"!
You can look for ever for the perfect one. Just try to get one that you like the look of. You will know the one when you see it, it will say "buy me'! The advice on getting the books is valid. Read everything you can and search the web for info.

[Niner]

Welcome to the forums Smellysniper. Good advice and valid comment about the SMLE No. 1 and the No 4. I look forward to seeing you post again.