Wow, it is such a privilege that you shared this with us. The care of this enthusiast who created this rifle is so admirable. Here we move away from the economy black plastic guns of today that are made for practical and good shooting without much fuss or money spent, to a artistic conversion of a great action refined skilfully, and cradled in a beautiful and custom detailed walnut stock. Accessorised with that beautiful case and gun care products. There is nothing wholesale about this rifle and in this particular case, I think it comes really close or perhaps exceeds the value of an all original Lee Enfield... for me anyways.
Very typically American sporter for the 1940s to 1960's period. This one is definitely one of the better ones. I would not be surprised if the stock maker is someone well known of that period. Lovely gun!
Beautiful. Thank you. We are spoiled for choice here in NZ we can easily pick up good 303s for a few hundred dollars.one is never enough . They are so well made and would be so expensive to make today. Cheers.
What a beautiful rifle. The hand made case is just as stunning. I was thinking of building something similar myself. Thank you Mike, as always I live vicariously through your collection. Have a wonderful weekend.
Would that man even think he would ever see something like the Axis .Hope fully he never did.That Enfield is the pride and joy of a man's life time .The hand made case show's his regard and thought's on the rifle inside.Very nice.Nobody will say that about the axis in the future as far as look's and craftmanship stand's .I am willing to put money on that as a fact. A very nice RIFLE AND TIME HAS ONLY made that more apparent and simply OUTSTANDING.
Hello USOG and fellow subscribers. I had to write upon viewing this video. Honesty it’s so easy to imagine having coffee with all of you and planning great ideas. That rifle reminds me of the Parker Hale Safari edition. I have the Deluxe based on a ‘42 Long Branch Fazerkerly . The Parker Hale inscription, on mine, is found on the 5 round magazine and front sight. I found images of the catalogue and that was quite interesting. I want to find a copy. 5 groove barrel. $150 at a gun show table amongst beautiful Winchester lever rifles. During November 2018, at Reliable firearms in Vancouver, they had a very similar set-up as USOG just purchased. I couldn’t justify their price while I’m saving for a military No.4. Next time, I must take a video and send it to you USOG. I that a viable idea? I plan to go to our rifle show in March. I could take video or still pictures of interesting rifles. If I find an and affordable Parker Hale I’m much better set-up for inspection. I’d love another one at that price. I have gauges, specifications manuals and a nice endo-scope with its own screen. I would enjoy helping any viewer a rifle. Best of the year to all the viewers. This is the only channel where I read all the comments.
Hello One! Very kind of you to offer and I wish I knew more about your video question. I'll ask the technical people and check back with you. I encourage all gunners and collectors to buy especially the Lee Enfield based sporters - these are grossly undervalued if the bore is okay - which most of them are. Yet I encourage the purchase of sporters based on the 14/17 Enfield and Springfield as well. Black rifles appeared so suddenly, strongly and affordably, I view that the market is in some kind of shock - but in time real value always becomes apparent. I should mention a very attractive display of red dot sights at a local store - they carried the main features of the best Swedish brand and were at prices of one fifth the Swedish product. The display sold out in days. I knew 2 of the people that bought those red dots. In no time the fade started, then the switches became erratic (which is unusual for electrical circuits which are normally quite reliable no matter how badly made) - and worst of all the calibration for the dots was unspecified with no clicks. I doubt that many of the owners of those sights made in the far East have what they thought they were buying. Essentially, they were buying a hologram of the sight they wanted and had seen or read about. Even the lowest price is too high for a bad product. The cookie rifles of these days are a lot like that. They seem to be rifles and they work well, when they work - for how long and in what way - we'll find out. I always hope to be wrong - but I'm being offered more and more modern rifles in bits and pieces. Altogether, I'd just buy a Lee Enfield or Enfield, avoid the noise and corruption and quietly carry on. If they were good enough in those fields and trenches - they're good enough for me.
I love old custom craftsmanship. Some old man in his shop enjoying his retirement years making cool stuff like ceder strip canoes and old hot rods and cool old furniture.
Appreciate your soft spoken gentleman's narrative approach. My father was a collector. Alas. .at his passing the collection was fragmented apart, and he gave some away ..and forgot where he gave them too...
Beautiful! A well restored and customized Lee Enfield mk. 4 is one of the guns I've wanted since I was a kid. Just found a 1943 that has barely been fired or fielded and I now have the income to do whatever I want to it, and now the historical preservationist in me is reluctant to modify a gun in such nice condition already. But I want a gorgeous walnut stock on it with a cheek riser and customized length of pull, and to re-blue the hardware. Would make it into an heirloom quality firearm that I'd happily field on my land!
Congratulations on the find and thank you for sharing it with your fellow firearm enthusiasts. The gentleman who did or had all that fine work done for that rifle did right by it and is the type of sporterized rifle that doesn't bring a tear to my eye. For myself when sporterization is done to a rare variant, done to a variant that is still in nice condition, or when the job is butchered is when I shed a tear. What you mention about the quality of that rifle being 10 times the Savage, and is in a similar price range is exactly why I recommend to people looking for a quality hunting rifle to look for sporterized rifles. And once in awhile a person can come across just an extra gem in that category much like you just did. Again, thank you for sharing the story of this rifle.
That rifle should be a family heirloom for generations just because of the care that was given to that rifle by its original owner. The materials and workmanship involved cannot be compared to the modern day budget rifle.
Onalaska, WI has been my hometown region for the last 9 years plus one..Either passing through, shopping or living just beside the town. Happy Easter Mkl!!God Bless you!
Beautiful! I love these old Enfield sporters. I recently cleaned up a Fazakerley I inherited and have been enjoying getting out and shooting it, did a little video about it too. Nice to see others enjoy and appreciate them, hope you're able to get out and do some shooting with it. Thanks for sharing as always, really enjoy your videos.
What a wonderful find and the way the entire kit has been put together and kept in such excellent order speaks volumes of the previous owner. I love this type of find and it is how I like to put things together myself. Creating a collection of equipment and objects which just fit together perfectly for the job intended. The rifle here is stunning and I would love to own one just like it!
What a beautiful rifle. When I was a teen a friend had an unmodified Enfield in .303 and we spent a lot of time shooting surplus ammo through it. It's quite under rated as a big game round in my opinion; with modern bullets, perfectly capable of taking all North American game. This example is simply splendid.
Thanks for sharing that box reminds me of the custom made cap and ball boxes I had made by a former coworkers father, excellence is in the small details. I also prefer old world quality like yourself.
The first rifle I ever handled was a Lee Enfield No.4 as a very young Army Cadet somewhere around 1974/75. That rifle has been beautifully altered and I am very jealous!
Hello Grendel! I love that: Cadets and the Lee Enfield! I wonder what they use now. As for the rifle in the mahogany case - "awesome" - as they say these days.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns I believe they use the SA80 now but I read somewhere that they've signed a contract with Savage (I think!!) for cheaper target practice and ease of learning safe weapon handling. We used BSA .22's in the shooting range in the attic of the drill hall. There was a civilian shooting range about 3/4 of a mile away where use of pistols was taught. Incidentally, this shooting range was where I first fired cap and ball pistols. My mate's dad was a member and he was a dead keen American Civil War and Western fan. He had a collection of replicas; all Colts; a Walker or Dragoon (my memory fails me!), a Navy, an Army and a Peacemaker. great days!
I am impressed with the 303! We all have rifles we made that we really pulled out all the stops on? The person that customized this Enfield humbles me!
Parker Hale did a couple of styles of Lee Enfield 303 rifles that they'd restored and customised with different stocks for hunting, I saw them in their catalogue in the 1980's
Hey it's me again Mike, I just discovered this video from four years ago. Another fine one. I've always had the 303 British Enfield in its original military format on my want list. Most the ones that have been badly Bubbad just don't interest me, but that one is really special. Now you've made my already bad case of gun collector's envy disease even worse. There seems to be no cure. Except maybe just one more gun.
Wow! If you managed to get that whole package for around the price of a Savage Axis, you got one heck of a deal! I frequent the pawn shops around me in search of unusual firearms because you never know what is going to show up one day and am trying to save up for a nice C96 Mauser Broomhandle in one particular display case. Happy collecting!
Yeah, that's a cool rifle. That is the type piece that would make a universal hunting rifle, I love the custom work... That is certainly NOT a Bubba hack model! What a classic looking rifle. Congrats on the find.
How wonderful. A very modest, yet beautiful rifle. The previous owners must have been very proud of that firearm. Thank you for sharing your collection with us all.
Great find a lovely rifle. See many customised Lee Enfields here in Australia, but very few that good. Thanks for sharing it with us I really enjoy your videos.
Thanks Tony - whoever did the work really cared. I watched the Australian Open - great grand slam - the best I think. I've played tennis for most of my life. Cheers.
Beautiful rifle! I have a Lee Enfield No 1 Mk 111* Parker-Hale Custom No.1 dated 1916 with typical Parker-Hale rear sight and front sight with the angled hood, deep bluing and beautiful Sile stock. Just love this rifle.
That is a keeper - beautiful rifle; does everything a hunting rifle needs to do and outclasses any of the modern rifles. Good on you. These are getting scarce and pricey now - which is right.
I too am not usually, a fan of sporterized military firearms,..but this one is one of the nicest ones that I have seen, albeit here on my PC monitor screen. I can tell the owner who made the case thought a lot of his rifle. You have a rifle now that should remain with you in your collection for ever, but you do have to fire it every now and then. Speaking of shooting with this Lee Enfield,..that would be a video from you, that I would enjoy seeing. Thank you for this one.
Well, well, well! A man of my own heart. I fell in love with the SMLE .303 Brit over 50 years ago when I got my first 1904 SMLE BSA. I now have a handful of them in various configurations and calibres. They have never let me down. I hand load 125gn SP at about 2,700fps for my small animals - pigs. goat, small deer and load 174gn SP for the bigger deer. Don't have to go any larger than that but can load to 215gn if I need to shoot it. I have a .303 No.4 (T) with an amazing bore - it is my top rifle. A good conversion from Mil Surplus is a wonder to own. Parker Hale did some very good ones but Churchill and BSA also do them as well and they too were good. I have a BSA P14 conversion in .270/303 and it is a very accurate rifle and shoots the 130 gn Projectile very well - so mild on the recoil. BTW, yes, that does look like a Parker Hale cleaning rod.
I love watching your vids, not just for your obvious yet understated knowledge, but also to share your appreciation of fine craftsmanship and history. Well done, and Thank You!
As always, definitely worth the time to watch your videos. I almost always end having more knowledge the before I started. Bless you for taking the time to share your knowledge.
That is a nice no4 sporter. I am 100% a full dress enfield guy and iron sight shooter, but after watching the ghost and the darkness (suprise) I found an 1899 no1 mk1* sporter some fairly talented smith made into a lee speed sporter clone back in the day. Then that led to a Parker hale supreme no4 mk2 so I could shamelessly mount glass to it. Now im on the hunt for more! No1 mk3 parker hale, EAL enfield no4 are awfully cool too. And of course I'd love a real lee speed like the greener in your other vid.
That is a beautiful Lee Enfield sported and I'm guessing the Long Branch action is the apex of the line. As you say, the workmanship and custom case shows the previous owner placed a lot of value and appreciation for this remarkable rifle.
Wow, you got a gem there, I agree that these type of guns are much more interesting than a synthetic stock ruger american or like the axis you mentioned. You have the same taste in guns I do, i just unfortunately do not have anything like the size of collection you do. I am 30, so lord willing maybe someday i could accumulate a quarter of what you have. Thank you so much for sharing this. I did the same thing yesterday at a local gun shop, asked what's new in the shop, and guy shows me a Hembrug 1918 matching numbers and original sling. Now I don't know much on the Dutch, but there were several versions of they're carbine. Cant recall if the one I looked at had the tangs that hold the peice of wood there where the fixed magazine / trigger housing for use on wearing it across your back, it didnt have that little peice of wood, but for $490 I wasn't sure if I should have grabbed it or not. The 6.5x53r is hard to find, and I dont know much about them so I passed. It's still there, I may end up getting it for conversation starter and a peice of history. Well again, love your video, someday you should film that gun shooting at the range, just a thought.
This is the best looking Enfield No4 mk1 sporter I have seen. It's an incredible value. I have a No4 mk1 that appears to have been made by Maltby. It has been sporterized but falls short of the one you just showed us. It has a blond stock, white oak I believe with only the fore grip below the barrel. The receiver is in like new condition and the bolt is in good shape as well. I need to make another trip to the range with it. Have some 150 gr and 170 gr 303 rounds. I didn't mention the case that came with your sporter. That's quite a value in its own right.
Mr. USOG, that is marvelous! It is a gentleman's rifle. Primarily for sporting - hunting - use, but also a work of art. The action (Lee-Enfield) is considered backwards, crude and downright ugly by some, it is reliable, strong enough for the cartridge involved and handy. The .303 British round is of full rifle power category. (Karamojo Bell killed several elephants with his.) I must mention, for a man who appears quite 'ordinary', sounds monotone and somewhat dull, you display a great deal of knowledge. I really like your work. This display shows great taste and discernment. Now I may have to build a L-E based hunting rifle just to appease my unbridled lust.
Showing that beautifully done sporterized Lee-Enfield up against today's "Tupperware" stocked generic rifle is very telling. Yes, the Lee-Enfield is ten times the rifle. And the younger shooters of today would be well advised to try aperture sights. They allow much more accurate shooting than their simple appearance would suggest. It would be interesting to see you do a video shooting that rifle off of a bench to demonstrate just how accurate you can be with an aperture sight.
What a superb Rifle,with all those accessories which compliment each other perfectly. I love these sporterised Enfields when they are done correctly and there is no doubt that this particular example falls into that category. Incidentally the lock on the case you referred to is called a Hasp and Staple. Another excellent video,cheers from the UK.
Thanks Stephen - I try to get the words right and sometimes...they just escape me : ) - Hasp and Staple - I never knew. The Enfields are just fantastic - more people are now seeking out even the bad sporters and rehabilitating them if the barrels are okay. The UK got it right with the SMLE - what a great country and people actually; not that I'm an expert or anything - but one doesn't have to be to know it : ) Best to you.
Get these while you can folks. They will never be as inexpensive as they are now. When you can get a quality Mauser or Enfield sporter for 1000 or less, it's recommended to do it. These were all hand done. They were able to produce these because the surplus rifles were so available and inexpensive. Yes, they are heavy but their balance is unbelievable.
I’d love to know just a little about the gentleman that owned that rifle. Obviously he was successful at whatever he did for a living because that would’ve been quite an investment for the times. Thanks for showing that rifle.
Great find! Sometimes I wish I lived in an area with a larger population so the gun shows would have a better selection. That is definitely a keeper! :-)
Very beautiful. It's nice to see people take such care of a rifle. I wonder if he carried that in the military or a family member did? Thanks as always your videos are great.
Thanks Brian. One always wonders who and when and how - I guess that is part of the mystique - this particular rifle is extra-rich in effort and meaning.
I have a Parker-Hale no 4 mk 1/2* FTR (Fazakerley Thorough Repair) . It's far from being as beautiful as the one you show. The combination of the walnut stock and the dark mate bluing is amazing.
I am just rewatching some of your videos. You are correct, those are indeed superior rifles. Not to mention, unless there's a "reset", we will never see the level of affordable craftsmanship like that again. I actually prefer military sporters with the exceptions of the K31 and Fazakerly MK2s. Those seem to look better in their factory guise. Here in the states, you wouldn't touch that particular package for the price of an Axis. Great video my friend. Thank you.
Thank you for your kind words! Sorry about my English! As a german i have not so many chances to speak English in daily live. And schooltimes are so long ago😊 But let me say i appreciate so much the way like you are presenting your collectorguns on your RUclips Channel! You know so much about rifles that is me learning with each video more about! As a hunter myself uses a rifle more like a tool! But I'm interestet in the way a collector views at them too! And at least you have a so symphatic way to show us users all these different rifles!👍👍😊
Hi Nigel - I actually did take it to the range and you're right. It was a cold day with wet snow yet with the irons I was still able to hold shots into about 2-3" at 100 - pretty good for me. All the best.
Excellent. I'd much rather see more hunters afield with something like that than a 338 Loudenboomer Magnum they're terrified of so they never practice and end up wounding game.
Hi Bret - There's a lot of truth to that - better a well placed shot with a .243 or .270 than a wound with a .338 or something. On the other hand, many people shoot the magnums just as well. Thanks for the note.
Wow, that is such a beautiful rifle. I can tell that the previous owner really took good care of it. I am very happy that it all ended up with You, It is in good hands. I wanted to give You an update on the Arisaka 6.5-257 Sporter I told You about earlier. I just received some new .257 Robert's brass, and I am waiting for a set of dies, and some 140 grain bullets to arrive that I ordered. I also ordered some screws from the William's gun sight company to mount the scope back on it. I will review as much of this as I can on video, I would like to video some of the reloading too, but RUclips's new rules I may just have to explain how I did it. I am thinking about trying to do a table top review similar to how You do before all the reloading and shooting sequels. You are My inspiration in this Sir. I thoroughly enjoy You're reviews. To Me , You have the most interesting firearms channel on RUclips. God Bless You My Friend
Hi Rick! Can't wait to see the Arisaka 6.5-257. The table top way should work very well - there will be a lot to see and learn from. The cartridge alone is unknown to many. I have a Steyr in 6.5X57 Mauser which is close to the 6.5-257. A friend of mine from Italy hunted the world over using the 6.5x57 and told me he was never wanting. The Arisaka is legend. Altogether - you have a great idea and it will be a great video. Thanks for the inspiring and supportive words Rick - they help me a lot. God Bless you Rick. Thanks for being here.
I love mine. It's a Parker Hale and has a five round magazine rather than the ten round one. It's about in the same grade as the one in this video. No mahogany case though!!! (Oh, that five round mag looks truly cool. Wouldn't trade it for two ten rounders.)
I couldn't believe it Timothy - and it sits just right in the hand - and no scope so I can carry like a Model 94. This one is like a Black Lab - just wants to go hunting. All the best!
I often look on the back shelves of my local shops to see what older/ odd rifles and shotguns they may have . Sometimes you find classic or just old forgotten pieced.
What a great find! Lee Enfields are wonderful rifles and very underrated. Thanks for sharing and for making some of the younger viewers aware of firearms that are truly special vs the mass produced bland plastic and steel guns of today.
Hi Tom - one of my hopes is that through the channel, even if only in a limited way, a younger person or two can be moved to head out into the wilds, avoid a few hours of the media crush, look away from a screen and find meaning in the things and ideas that brought us here - would be wonderful. Perhaps I dream; but I try.
The 303 is a utility round Thad has taken probably every form of game. It’s shot down ww2 aircraft and faced off with combat troops of axis forces. It lends itself to a variety of hand loads. You could go on and on about it. It’s well worth sporterizing. It’s excellent performance on game more than makes up for what it may lack on paper targets.
As an English cabinet maker and shipbuilder I doubt the cabinet was made in England. I would say the box sides are twice as thick as they need to be and the joints would be mitred hidden dovetails and not lapped jointed as you have there. The piano hinge has the screw slots running correctly though.
Hi Tony, I was hoping someone like you would write. The case is for sure not too right and I thought as much - and far too heavy - but my goodness he cared. I'm glad he got the screws correct : ) Wish you had a line of properly and professionally made gun cases - I'd buy - but maybe I'm the last one. I buy these commercial slippery hard cases and they fall over and fall apart - the soft ones remove front sights and hoods, then the handles fall off and then the nose falls off. Strange times we live in Tony - nothing seems to matter. Oh well. There is always the future. Take care my friend and maybe build a great big ship - people tell me it's going to rain for 40 days. Ha.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Hi, have you tried Pelican gun cases? I have one and it certainly is a nice case. Also, an uncle of mine who is a retired TSA agent told me that is the exact kind of case a person who is transporting their gun on a flight should be using. So, I figure a case that is designed to handle the abuse of airline baggage handling just may be tough enough to deal with your hard case issues. With regard to "nothing seems to matter" when it comes to quality firearms and firearm products I agree. Unfortunately what people seem to want more and more of are guns featuring the "elegance" of plastic, are somehow more modular and tacticool, and are seemingly designed for the person who doesn't care to maintain their lawnmower.
Lovely video.My club has one. These rifles as sporters are still around here in the UK. Unfortunately military surplus ammo is no longer available so one tends to buy Privi or reloads.
I have found PPU to be very good ammo. People here dislike the 303 because the brass has a rim and is not 'sexy'. It is as good as any rimless case of the same basic size.
The long branch model is the best of the Lee Enfields. You could do a couple of things to enhance it. One would be to line the box with green felt. The other would be to get the original woodwork and missing metalwork so it could be converted back to original if you wanted to.
I understand the sentiment James, but I don't know if anything can really be converted back to original. Does the fountain of youth exist for guns or is it an illusion? But I do get what you are saying and in some ways it was a shame that so many of these military rifles had the mud, blood and tears wiped away before they were re-purposed. God bless the solders who fought for our safety and freedom!
Great review MIKE as alway's.That Enfield is a work of art. I hope my disregard for modern fire arm's like the axis is not a negative in the regard of all rifle's i just believe they can do so much better today. I have recently become involved in air cartridge's and am amazed at the foot lb's and distance not mention the silence that is so very much a fact of that field of rifle man ship and design. After many proto type's and test's i have seen a 357 also 50 caliber take game as large as white tail and wild boar all with cartridge 1 off rifle's.This to me is a new era and unlimited in how far we can go.ALREADY THERE IS A PRODUCTION RIFLE CALLED MODOX I HEARD ABOUT BASED ON THE REMINGTON ROLLING BLOCK AND AIR CARTRIDGE'S.Your friend alway's in regard's to any arm's MARTIN EDWARD WATTERS .
Hello Martin! For sure there is no limit to ingenuity and imagination; and I see no reason reason for you not to eclipse even the greatest minds. I wish you the very best. Please keep me informed. I'll look into Modox.
Hi, I read about the Modoc. Quite interesting. I remember a couple of similar systems; I saw them in Europe. Quite old and; one shot reservoirs. The reservoirs were brass and round and wrapped in leather. One was Belgian; one was French. I like all these ideas. Maybe a double barrel with 2 shots would be nice. Best, Mike
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Yes that brass leather wrapped rifle with the reservoir was used by the Austrian's during the NAPOLEONIC WARS 1700's i believe.Also SAM YANG has a double barrel PCP and many other single shot's.I think you did a review on the dragon claw one of his pcp rifle's.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Also LEWIS A CLARK had a multi shot reservoir PCP on their expedition to cross AMERICA it's sure has been around FOR A WHILE and again is becoming very big and more inventive with all of today's new material's and high technology.I Think it may be unlimited how far it can advance and am very interested in the cartridge rifle's.
Excellent video as usual. Lovely old rifle, i wonder if it could tell its story, what would it be ? Carried by a soldier during the last year of the war ? Sold as surplus, to someone who knew what they were doing, and who had a bit of taste. Army and Navy ? Wonderful company, now "House of Fraser". When i was still at school there was an old gunshop who had a "gun of the month" deal. I was there one month and the gun up on the wall as a deal, was a lovely old Army and Navy side by side sidelock. I tried to get the money together to buy it, but could not of course, too young. Rangoon oil, does any substance have a smell that evokes so many memories ? Everytime i smell it, it carries me back to being in lovely old gunshops, now mostly closed forever.
That is so sad - "closed forever." Why would we choose to close the best places and keep open the others? Life is a puzzle. I have to look up House of Fraser and I have to get back to London and the UK - such great places and people. Personal secret - I opened the bottle of Westley Richards Rangoon and left it open in the vault to recreate those places and times we remember. When I opened the door the air swooshed out - and was all the shops I had visited, I think some Africa was there and India as well; ...I remembered some books I've read. Someone asked me what sense in us has the greatest memory. I thought that sight was it. They told me no, it is our sense of smell that has the greatest memory and holds the greatest meaning for us. I reflected on it - and of course : I may be too old to see and too old to hear, one day, but everyone always remembers the smell of home or the baby in a bonnet, of Mum and wife...you get the idea : ) Anyway - Rangoon Oil it is.
Yes - the originals are the ticket - but now I, along with a legion of collectors, are seeking out the sporters - some of the most useful converted military rifles of all time - and the cost is so low - it is unbelievable.
I have a no4 mk1 * with full wood except the front guard and the barrel band and also the ring holding the rear wood rusted and broke. The gun has been stripped minus the sear and spring. Oh and the front lug for bayonette and barrel broke off so i need to shorten by an inch and re crown. The wood is black. It would be nice to find an old beat up sporter no4mk1* and id put all the parts on this or switch wood back to the old beat up sporter.
Sir i totaly agree that this is a rifle with character... It was someones beloved piece of equipment .... Besides i would like to request you to buy a .315 Indian ordinence factory made rifle if possible and let us know if it is a well made rifle or not.
Wow, it is such a privilege that you shared this with us. The care of this enthusiast who created this rifle is so admirable. Here we move away from the economy black plastic guns of today that are made for practical and good shooting without much fuss or money spent, to a artistic conversion of a great action refined skilfully, and cradled in a beautiful and custom detailed walnut stock. Accessorised with that beautiful case and gun care products. There is nothing wholesale about this rifle and in this particular case, I think it comes really close or perhaps exceeds the value of an all original Lee Enfield... for me anyways.
😊👍👍
A fantastic stalking rifle made for people who value the hunting experience over the mere acquisition of trophies. Beautiful.
Very typically American sporter for the 1940s to 1960's period. This one is definitely one of the better ones. I would not be surprised if the stock maker is someone well known of that period. Lovely gun!
Beautiful. Thank you. We are spoiled for choice here in NZ we can easily pick up good 303s for a few hundred dollars.one is never enough . They are so well made and would be so expensive to make today. Cheers.
What a beautiful rifle. The hand made case is just as stunning. I was thinking of building something similar myself.
Thank you Mike, as always I live vicariously through your collection. Have a wonderful weekend.
Would that man even think he would ever see something like the Axis .Hope fully he never did.That Enfield is the pride and joy of a man's life time .The hand made case show's his regard and thought's on the rifle inside.Very nice.Nobody will say that about the axis in the future as far as look's and craftmanship stand's .I am willing to put money on that as a fact. A very nice RIFLE AND TIME HAS ONLY made that more apparent and simply OUTSTANDING.
Hello USOG and fellow subscribers. I had to write upon viewing this video. Honesty it’s so easy to imagine having coffee with all of you and planning great ideas. That rifle reminds me of the Parker Hale Safari edition. I have the Deluxe based on a ‘42 Long Branch Fazerkerly . The Parker Hale inscription, on mine, is found on the 5 round magazine and front sight. I found images of the catalogue and that was quite interesting. I want to find a copy. 5 groove barrel. $150 at a gun show table amongst beautiful Winchester lever rifles.
During November 2018, at Reliable firearms in Vancouver, they had a very similar set-up as USOG just purchased. I couldn’t justify their price while I’m saving for a military No.4.
Next time, I must take a video and send it to you USOG. I that a viable idea? I plan to go to our rifle show in March. I could take video or still pictures of interesting rifles. If I find an and affordable Parker Hale I’m much better set-up for inspection. I’d love another one at that price.
I have gauges, specifications manuals and a nice endo-scope with its own screen. I would enjoy helping any viewer a rifle.
Best of the year to all the viewers. This is the only channel where I read all the comments.
Hello One! Very kind of you to offer and I wish I knew more about your video question. I'll ask the technical people and check back with you. I encourage all gunners and collectors to buy especially the Lee Enfield based sporters - these are grossly undervalued if the bore is okay - which most of them are. Yet I encourage the purchase of sporters based on the 14/17 Enfield and Springfield as well. Black rifles appeared so suddenly, strongly and affordably, I view that the market is in some kind of shock - but in time real value always becomes apparent. I should mention a very attractive display of red dot sights at a local store - they carried the main features of the best Swedish brand and were at prices of one fifth the Swedish product. The display sold out in days. I knew 2 of the people that bought those red dots. In no time the fade started, then the switches became erratic (which is unusual for electrical circuits which are normally quite reliable no matter how badly made) - and worst of all the calibration for the dots was unspecified with no clicks. I doubt that many of the owners of those sights made in the far East have what they thought they were buying. Essentially, they were buying a hologram of the sight they wanted and had seen or read about. Even the lowest price is too high for a bad product. The cookie rifles of these days are a lot like that. They seem to be rifles and they work well, when they work - for how long and in what way - we'll find out. I always hope to be wrong - but I'm being offered more and more modern rifles in bits and pieces. Altogether, I'd just buy a Lee Enfield or Enfield, avoid the noise and corruption and quietly carry on. If they were good enough in those fields and trenches - they're good enough for me.
I love old custom craftsmanship. Some old man in his shop enjoying his retirement years making cool stuff like ceder strip canoes and old hot rods and cool old furniture.
Appreciate your soft spoken gentleman's narrative approach. My father was a collector. Alas. .at his passing the collection was fragmented apart, and he gave some away ..and forgot where he gave them too...
Thank you David - I guess most collections of anything are eventually distributed; and I'm already forgetting which guns are where : )
Beautiful! A well restored and customized Lee Enfield mk. 4 is one of the guns I've wanted since I was a kid. Just found a 1943 that has barely been fired or fielded and I now have the income to do whatever I want to it, and now the historical preservationist in me is reluctant to modify a gun in such nice condition already. But I want a gorgeous walnut stock on it with a cheek riser and customized length of pull, and to re-blue the hardware. Would make it into an heirloom quality firearm that I'd happily field on my land!
Congratulations on the find and thank you for sharing it with your fellow firearm enthusiasts.
The gentleman who did or had all that fine work done for that rifle did right by it and is the type of sporterized rifle that doesn't bring a tear to my eye. For myself when sporterization is done to a rare variant, done to a variant that is still in nice condition, or when the job is butchered is when I shed a tear.
What you mention about the quality of that rifle being 10 times the Savage, and is in a similar price range is exactly why I recommend to people looking for a quality hunting rifle to look for sporterized rifles. And once in awhile a person can come across just an extra gem in that category much like you just did.
Again, thank you for sharing the story of this rifle.
Wow what a gem!!!
That rifle should be a family heirloom for generations just because of the care that was given to that rifle by its original owner. The materials and workmanship involved cannot be compared to the modern day budget rifle.
I agree 100%
That is the best looking sporting stock I've ever seen on a Lee Enfield. Absolutely beautiful!
Me too - the fellow really cared and knew what he was doing.
Those two rifles are not in the same league. What a great find.
I had very good luck. Thanks for the note.
Onalaska, WI has been my hometown region for the last 9 years plus one..Either passing through, shopping or living just beside the town. Happy Easter Mkl!!God Bless you!
Beautiful! I love these old Enfield sporters. I recently cleaned up a Fazakerley I inherited and have been enjoying getting out and shooting it, did a little video about it too. Nice to see others enjoy and appreciate them, hope you're able to get out and do some shooting with it. Thanks for sharing as always, really enjoy your videos.
What a wonderful find and the way the entire kit has been put together and kept in such excellent order speaks volumes of the previous owner. I love this type of find and it is how I like to put things together myself. Creating a collection of equipment and objects which just fit together perfectly for the job intended. The rifle here is stunning and I would love to own one just like it!
That's a beautiful gun! Thank you for the respect you showed the previous owner too.
What a beautiful rifle. When I was a teen a friend had an unmodified Enfield in .303 and we spent a lot of time shooting surplus ammo through it. It's quite under rated as a big game round in my opinion; with modern bullets, perfectly capable of taking all North American game. This example is simply splendid.
Never been a fam of sporterized guns. Unless they are done well. As this one has. Great find.
Me too - I was so lucky with this .303 - shoots as well as any modern sporter.
Absolutely gorgeous! I'd just love to own one rifle like that!
Thanks for sharing that box reminds me of the custom made cap and ball boxes I had made by a former coworkers father, excellence is in the small details. I also prefer old world quality like yourself.
never knew the mag drops out of a 303 hha learn something new every day
That's a beautiful Enfield 😍
The first rifle I ever handled was a Lee Enfield No.4 as a very young Army Cadet somewhere around 1974/75. That rifle has been beautifully altered and I am very jealous!
Hello Grendel! I love that: Cadets and the Lee Enfield! I wonder what they use now. As for the rifle in the mahogany case - "awesome" - as they say these days.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns I believe they use the SA80 now but I read somewhere that they've signed a contract with Savage (I think!!) for cheaper target practice and ease of learning safe weapon handling. We used BSA .22's in the shooting range in the attic of the drill hall. There was a civilian shooting range about 3/4 of a mile away where use of pistols was taught. Incidentally, this shooting range was where I first fired cap and ball pistols. My mate's dad was a member and he was a dead keen American Civil War and Western fan. He had a collection of replicas; all Colts; a Walker or Dragoon (my memory fails me!), a Navy, an Army and a Peacemaker. great days!
I am impressed with the 303! We all have rifles we made that we really pulled out all the stops on? The person that customized this Enfield humbles me!
Amazing work matt - wonderful to find and own something like this.
Parker Hale did a couple of styles of Lee Enfield 303 rifles that they'd restored and customised with different stocks for hunting, I saw them in their catalogue in the 1980's
Must have been superb rifles.
Oh my god. How did I miss this one. A gun on my bucket list.
Hi Hamm 603 - so easy to miss as it doesn't sound like much; easy to take .303s for granted - but they are really something.
Hey it's me again Mike, I just discovered this video from four years ago. Another fine one. I've always had the 303 British Enfield in its original military format on my want list. Most the ones that have been badly Bubbad just don't interest me, but that one is really special. Now you've made my already bad case of gun collector's envy disease even worse. There seems to be no cure. Except maybe just one more gun.
It's all good! Hope you find one like this.
Wow! If you managed to get that whole package for around the price of a Savage Axis, you got one heck of a deal! I frequent the pawn shops around me in search of unusual firearms because you never know what is going to show up one day and am trying to save up for a nice C96 Mauser Broomhandle in one particular display case. Happy collecting!
Yeah, that's a cool rifle. That is the type piece that would make a universal hunting rifle, I love the custom work...
That is certainly NOT a Bubba hack model! What a classic looking rifle. Congrats on the find.
How wonderful. A very modest, yet beautiful rifle. The previous owners must have been very proud of that firearm. Thank you for sharing your collection with us all.
I'm glad to share Indigo - and the previous owner - I'm sure - was as you write. Thank you for being here.
Great find a lovely rifle. See many customised Lee Enfields here in Australia, but very few that good. Thanks for sharing it with us I really enjoy your videos.
Thanks Tony - whoever did the work really cared. I watched the Australian Open - great grand slam - the best I think. I've played tennis for most of my life. Cheers.
Beautiful rifle!
I have a Lee Enfield No 1 Mk 111* Parker-Hale Custom No.1 dated 1916 with typical Parker-Hale rear sight and front sight with the angled hood, deep bluing and beautiful Sile stock. Just love this rifle.
That is a keeper - beautiful rifle; does everything a hunting rifle needs to do and outclasses any of the modern rifles. Good on you. These are getting scarce and pricey now - which is right.
Qualitative.👍🏻😁great word. I really appreciate your choice of words as you share. Thank you for the shared knowledge bro.
I too am not usually, a fan of sporterized military firearms,..but this one is one of the nicest ones that I have seen, albeit here on my PC monitor screen.
I can tell the owner who made the case thought a lot of his rifle. You have a rifle now that should remain with you in your collection for ever, but you do have to fire it every now and then. Speaking of shooting with this Lee Enfield,..that would be a video from you, that I would enjoy seeing.
Thank you for this one.
Well, well, well! A man of my own heart. I fell in love with the SMLE .303 Brit over 50 years ago when I got my first 1904 SMLE BSA. I now have a handful of them in various configurations and calibres. They have never let me down. I hand load 125gn SP at about 2,700fps for my small animals - pigs. goat, small deer and load 174gn SP for the bigger deer. Don't have to go any larger than that but can load to 215gn if I need to shoot it. I have a .303 No.4 (T) with an amazing bore - it is my top rifle. A good conversion from Mil Surplus is a wonder to own. Parker Hale did some very good ones but Churchill and BSA also do them as well and they too were good. I have a BSA P14 conversion in .270/303 and it is a very accurate rifle and shoots the 130 gn Projectile very well - so mild on the recoil. BTW, yes, that does look like a Parker Hale cleaning rod.
Thanks DD - you know what's what - these are timeless and excellent rifles.
I love watching your vids, not just for your obvious yet understated knowledge, but also to share your appreciation of fine craftsmanship and history. Well done, and Thank You!
Thank you for being here Lou and for your good words. All the best to you and yours for the holiday season and always.
Very thoughtful presentation. You honored the rifle & the previous owner. Class act.
Thank you Frank.
As always, definitely worth the time to watch your videos. I almost always end having more knowledge the before I started. Bless you for taking the time to share your knowledge.
That is a nice no4 sporter. I am 100% a full dress enfield guy and iron sight shooter, but after watching the ghost and the darkness (suprise) I found an 1899 no1 mk1* sporter some fairly talented smith made into a lee speed sporter clone back in the day. Then that led to a Parker hale supreme no4 mk2 so I could shamelessly mount glass to it. Now im on the hunt for more! No1 mk3 parker hale, EAL enfield no4 are awfully cool too. And of course I'd love a real lee speed like the greener in your other vid.
I have a nearly identical rifle which was once a No1 Mk4 (T) with original scope mounts. Awesome and beautiful hunting rifle.
Amazing!
A very, very beautiful sporterized Lee Enfield, wish I had something like it
Hi Clayton - This was an amazing find. I doubt I'll be lucky like this again. You may though - good fortune seems to visit each of us.
That's a treasure.
This is just like a Lee Speed. It would be a dream to own something like this.
I can't believe how fine it is. Sometimes I'm lucky.
Beautiful .303 anyone would or should be proud to own such a fine rifle
100% Such care by the builder and a very fine result.
That is a beautiful Lee Enfield sported and I'm guessing the Long Branch action is the apex of the line. As you say, the workmanship and custom case shows the previous owner placed a lot of value and appreciation for this remarkable rifle.
Pretty rifle and caring work - I like that a lot.
Excellent video, and an excellent find. Rifles like this one always peak my interest. Congratulations on the acquisition.
Thanks Ta - amazing workmanship.
Beautiful!
Wow, you got a gem there, I agree that these type of guns are much more interesting than a synthetic stock ruger american or like the axis you mentioned. You have the same taste in guns I do, i just unfortunately do not have anything like the size of collection you do. I am 30, so lord willing maybe someday i could accumulate a quarter of what you have. Thank you so much for sharing this. I did the same thing yesterday at a local gun shop, asked what's new in the shop, and guy shows me a Hembrug 1918 matching numbers and original sling. Now I don't know much on the Dutch, but there were several versions of they're carbine. Cant recall if the one I looked at had the tangs that hold the peice of wood there where the fixed magazine / trigger housing for use on wearing it across your back, it didnt have that little peice of wood, but for $490 I wasn't sure if I should have grabbed it or not. The 6.5x53r is hard to find, and I dont know much about them so I passed. It's still there, I may end up getting it for conversation starter and a peice of history. Well again, love your video, someday you should film that gun shooting at the range, just a thought.
Thank you Judy! That is a tricky one - the 6.5x53R - I would hesitate too. Still, hard to come by and ammo may show up one day. I'd buy : )
This is the best looking Enfield No4 mk1 sporter I have seen. It's an incredible value. I have a No4 mk1 that appears to have been made by Maltby. It has been sporterized but falls short of the one you just showed us. It has a blond stock, white oak I believe with only the fore grip below the barrel. The receiver is in like new condition and the bolt is in good shape as well. I need to make another trip to the range with it. Have some 150 gr and 170 gr 303 rounds.
I didn't mention the case that came with your sporter. That's quite a value in its own right.
Yes you did pronounce "Onalaska" correctly.
I grew up not too far from there.
Brilliant example of a sporter done right!
I keep storing it away and find myself taking it out of the vault again - such a fine rifle.
Thank you...just beautiful...Nostalgia is setting in
Powerful sentiment - maybe more important than one thinks. In the moment things are fine; looking back on them - usually better still. IMHO
Mr. USOG, that is marvelous! It is a gentleman's rifle. Primarily for sporting - hunting - use, but also a work of art. The action (Lee-Enfield) is considered backwards, crude and downright ugly by some, it is reliable, strong enough for the cartridge involved and handy. The .303 British round is of full rifle power category. (Karamojo Bell killed several elephants with his.)
I must mention, for a man who appears quite 'ordinary', sounds monotone and somewhat dull, you display a great deal of knowledge. I really like your work. This display shows great taste and discernment. Now I may have to build a L-E based hunting rifle just to appease my unbridled lust.
I believe you hit the jackpot on that one , beautifully done and a plus to any collection , thanks every so much for sharing 👍
I feel that way too! Such good fortune to own it.
that is beautiful ....
Thanks Daren
Showing that beautifully done sporterized Lee-Enfield up against today's "Tupperware" stocked generic rifle is very telling. Yes, the Lee-Enfield is ten times the rifle. And the younger shooters of today would be well advised to try aperture sights. They allow much more accurate shooting than their simple appearance would suggest.
It would be interesting to see you do a video shooting that rifle off of a bench to demonstrate just how accurate you can be with an aperture sight.
Very classy, rugged (in a good way), and nice looking rifle. Thanks for sharing it.
Steel and walnut rule!
Thank you Tim - my pleasure to share.
What a superb Rifle,with all those accessories which compliment each other perfectly. I love these sporterised Enfields when they are done correctly and there is no doubt that this particular example falls into that category. Incidentally the lock on the case you referred to is called a Hasp and Staple. Another excellent video,cheers from the UK.
Thanks Stephen - I try to get the words right and sometimes...they just escape me : ) - Hasp and Staple - I never knew. The Enfields are just fantastic - more people are now seeking out even the bad sporters and rehabilitating them if the barrels are okay. The UK got it right with the SMLE - what a great country and people actually; not that I'm an expert or anything - but one doesn't have to be to know it : ) Best to you.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Pronounced as Hasp an' Staple... 'a' as in apple not 'a' as in able.
Get these while you can folks. They will never be as inexpensive as they are now. When you can get a quality Mauser or Enfield sporter for 1000 or less, it's recommended to do it. These were all hand done. They were able to produce these because the surplus rifles were so available and inexpensive. Yes, they are heavy but their balance is unbelievable.
100% - these are real rifles that will work for decades more. Even the ones that are not pretty are worth buying if the bore is good.
I’d love to know just a little about the gentleman that owned that rifle. Obviously he was successful at whatever he did for a living because that would’ve been quite an investment for the times. Thanks for showing that rifle.
A work of art.! Definitely a Parker Hale ramrod.I'm pretty sure it will have 303 inscribed on the brass part just below the handle.
Thanks Rupert - think I'll take this one into the mountains in the Fall - or even sooner.
Man oh Man, what a beautiful looking rifle. Nice job done.
Thank you Frank. A truly special find.
Great find! Sometimes I wish I lived in an area with a larger population so the gun shows would have a better selection. That is definitely a keeper! :-)
Hi Rick - can't believe this one! I'll make a range video. Have a super and safe weekend. : )
Now that is beautiful.
Truly so my friend. He cared.
Very beautiful. It's nice to see people take such care of a rifle. I wonder if he carried that in the military or a family member did? Thanks as always your videos are great.
Thanks Brian. One always wonders who and when and how - I guess that is part of the mystique - this particular rifle is extra-rich in effort and meaning.
Good catch Sir .....of course those old rifle are the nicest ......
Very nice
I have a Parker-Hale no 4 mk 1/2* FTR (Fazakerley Thorough Repair) . It's far from being as beautiful as the one you show. The combination of the walnut stock and the dark mate bluing is amazing.
Hi Eric - that's still a very fine rifle - quickly becoming scarce.
Thats a beautiful rifle. Im so jealous.
I never take for granted the luck I've had - this was a gift from destiny.
I am just rewatching some of your videos. You are correct, those are indeed superior rifles. Not to mention, unless there's a "reset", we will never see the level of affordable craftsmanship like that again. I actually prefer military sporters with the exceptions of the K31 and Fazakerly MK2s. Those seem to look better in their factory guise. Here in the states, you wouldn't touch that particular package for the price of an Axis. Great video my friend. Thank you.
I like the military sporters - so much for such a reasonable price. The Ais and the like are okay as well - but not the same kind of okay : )
Thank you for sharing!!🎥👍😊
You're so welcome Max - my privilege.
Thank you for your kind words! Sorry about my English! As a german i have not so many chances to speak English in daily live. And schooltimes are so long ago😊 But let me say i appreciate so much the way like you are presenting your collectorguns on your RUclips Channel! You know so much about rifles that is me learning with each video more about! As a hunter myself uses a rifle more like a tool! But I'm interestet in the way a collector views at them too! And at least you have a so symphatic way to show us users all these different rifles!👍👍😊
thank you for sharing your knowledge ,that is a fine rifle.
Thanks Ratrod.
I bet that rifle shoots every bit as good as it looks 😉
Hi Nigel - I actually did take it to the range and you're right. It was a cold day with wet snow yet with the irons I was still able to hold shots into about 2-3" at 100 - pretty good for me. All the best.
Mike,
That is an incredible find. Like you, I would have a difficult time letting that one go. Rather sure that I would not...
I have trouble putting it in the vault : )
Excellent. I'd much rather see more hunters afield with something like that than a 338 Loudenboomer Magnum they're terrified of so they never practice and end up wounding game.
Hi Bret - There's a lot of truth to that - better a well placed shot with a .243 or .270 than a wound with a .338 or something. On the other hand, many people shoot the magnums just as well. Thanks for the note.
Wow, that is such a beautiful rifle.
I can tell that the previous owner really took good care of it. I am very happy that it all ended up with You, It is in good hands.
I wanted to give You an update on the Arisaka 6.5-257 Sporter I told You about earlier. I just received some new .257 Robert's brass, and I am waiting for a set of dies, and some 140 grain bullets to arrive that I ordered.
I also ordered some screws from the William's gun sight company to mount the scope back on it.
I will review as much of this as I can on video, I would like to video some of the reloading too, but RUclips's new rules I may just have to explain how I did it.
I am thinking about trying to do a table top review similar to how You do before all the reloading and shooting sequels. You are My inspiration in this Sir.
I thoroughly enjoy You're reviews.
To Me , You have the most interesting firearms channel on RUclips.
God Bless You My Friend
Hi Rick! Can't wait to see the Arisaka 6.5-257. The table top way should work very well - there will be a lot to see and learn from. The cartridge alone is unknown to many. I have a Steyr in 6.5X57 Mauser which is close to the 6.5-257. A friend of mine from Italy hunted the world over using the 6.5x57 and told me he was never wanting. The Arisaka is legend. Altogether - you have a great idea and it will be a great video. Thanks for the inspiring and supportive words Rick - they help me a lot. God Bless you Rick. Thanks for being here.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns You're Welcome My Friend
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns I made a short video with the Arisaka yesterday, here is the link. ruclips.net/video/rhJMfgg4FAw/видео.html
I love mine. It's a Parker Hale and has a five round magazine rather than the ten round one. It's about in the same grade as the one in this video. No mahogany case though!!! (Oh, that five round mag looks truly cool. Wouldn't trade it for two ten rounders.)
Thanks Doby - I like those 5 rounders too.
I think a properly set up Lee-Enfield sporter would work great on a driven hunt
About perfect. Not easy to find a better action/rifle/cartridge.
Especially with a 10 round magazine!
Wow! Absolutely beautiful.
I couldn't believe it Timothy - and it sits just right in the hand - and no scope so I can carry like a Model 94. This one is like a Black Lab - just wants to go hunting. All the best!
I often look on the back shelves of my local shops to see what older/ odd rifles and shotguns they may have . Sometimes you find classic or just old forgotten pieced.
Great rifle some rate the Long branch rifles as the best ever made of the Lee Enfield.
Hey Gump - I didn't know that. Long Branch it is then. I looked it up and Long Branch is a neighborhood in Toronto and the arsenal was there.
Google John Inglis lots more info. New Toronto is out there my friends mother built mosquito bombers there during the war.@@UnitedStatesOfGuns
I Love this Rifle 😀😊😊😊
Beautiful modification ..... those were very popular in Quebec, I've seen a couples
Hi Jay - so many special rifles based on the Lee Enfield.
always educational
What a great find! Lee Enfields are wonderful rifles and very underrated. Thanks for sharing and for making some of the younger viewers aware of firearms that are truly special vs the mass produced bland plastic and steel guns of today.
Hi Tom - one of my hopes is that through the channel, even if only in a limited way, a younger person or two can be moved to head out into the wilds, avoid a few hours of the media crush, look away from a screen and find meaning in the things and ideas that brought us here - would be wonderful. Perhaps I dream; but I try.
The 303 is a utility round Thad has taken probably every form of game.
It’s shot down ww2 aircraft and faced off with combat troops of axis forces. It lends itself to a variety of hand loads. You could go on and on about it. It’s well worth sporterizing. It’s excellent performance on game more than makes up for what it may lack on paper targets.
As an English cabinet maker and shipbuilder I doubt the cabinet was made in England. I would say the box sides are twice as thick as they need to be and the joints would be mitred hidden dovetails and not lapped jointed as you have there. The piano hinge has the screw slots running correctly though.
Hi Tony, I was hoping someone like you would write. The case is for sure not too right and I thought as much - and far too heavy - but my goodness he cared. I'm glad he got the screws correct : ) Wish you had a line of properly and professionally made gun cases - I'd buy - but maybe I'm the last one. I buy these commercial slippery hard cases and they fall over and fall apart - the soft ones remove front sights and hoods, then the handles fall off and then the nose falls off. Strange times we live in Tony - nothing seems to matter. Oh well. There is always the future. Take care my friend and maybe build a great big ship - people tell me it's going to rain for 40 days. Ha.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Hi, have you tried Pelican gun cases? I have one and it certainly is a nice case. Also, an uncle of mine who is a retired TSA agent told me that is the exact kind of case a person who is transporting their gun on a flight should be using. So, I figure a case that is designed to handle the abuse of airline baggage handling just may be tough enough to deal with your hard case issues.
With regard to "nothing seems to matter" when it comes to quality firearms and firearm products I agree. Unfortunately what people seem to want more and more of are guns featuring the "elegance" of plastic, are somehow more modular and tacticool, and are seemingly designed for the person who doesn't care to maintain their lawnmower.
Lovely video.My club has one. These rifles as sporters are still around here in the UK.
Unfortunately military surplus ammo is no longer available so one tends to buy Privi or reloads.
I have found PPU to be very good ammo. People here dislike the 303 because the brass has a rim and is not 'sexy'. It is as good as any rimless case of the same basic size.
The long branch model is the best of the Lee Enfields. You could do a couple of things to enhance it. One would be to line the box with green felt. The other would be to get the original woodwork and missing metalwork so it could be converted back to original if you wanted to.
I understand the sentiment James, but I don't know if anything can really be converted back to original. Does the fountain of youth exist for guns or is it an illusion? But I do get what you are saying and in some ways it was a shame that so many of these military rifles had the mud, blood and tears wiped away before they were re-purposed. God bless the solders who fought for our safety and freedom!
Great review MIKE as alway's.That Enfield is a work of art. I hope my disregard for modern fire arm's like the axis is not a negative in the regard of all rifle's i just believe they can do so much better today. I have recently become involved in air cartridge's and am amazed at the foot lb's and distance not mention the silence that is so very much a fact of that field of rifle man ship and design. After many proto type's and test's i have seen a 357 also 50 caliber take game as large as white tail and wild boar all with cartridge 1 off rifle's.This to me is a new era and unlimited in how far we can go.ALREADY THERE IS A PRODUCTION RIFLE CALLED MODOX I HEARD ABOUT BASED ON THE REMINGTON ROLLING BLOCK AND AIR CARTRIDGE'S.Your friend alway's in regard's to any arm's MARTIN EDWARD WATTERS .
Hello Martin! For sure there is no limit to ingenuity and imagination; and I see no reason reason for you not to eclipse even the greatest minds. I wish you the very best. Please keep me informed. I'll look into Modox.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Sorry Mike the rifle in production is actually called MODOC AIR ORDINANCE has a review on you tube i believe.
Hi, I read about the Modoc. Quite interesting. I remember a couple of similar systems; I saw them in Europe. Quite old and; one shot reservoirs. The reservoirs were brass and round and wrapped in leather. One was Belgian; one was French. I like all these ideas. Maybe a double barrel with 2 shots would be nice. Best, Mike
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Yes that brass leather wrapped rifle with the reservoir was used by the Austrian's during the NAPOLEONIC WARS 1700's i believe.Also SAM YANG has a double barrel PCP and many other single shot's.I think you did a review on the dragon claw one of his pcp rifle's.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Also LEWIS A CLARK had a multi shot reservoir PCP on their expedition to cross AMERICA it's sure has been around FOR A WHILE and again is becoming very big and more inventive with all of today's new material's and high technology.I Think it may be unlimited how far it can advance and am very interested in the cartridge rifle's.
That is a beauty. TLC.
“It belongs in a mueseum!! So do you Dr. Jones!” In actuality I think USOG will be a better curator.
Thanks Bilge Pump : )
Excellent video as usual. Lovely old rifle, i wonder if it could tell its story, what would it be ? Carried by a soldier during the last year of the war ? Sold as surplus, to someone who knew what they were doing, and who had a bit of taste. Army and Navy ? Wonderful company, now "House of Fraser". When i was still at school there was an old gunshop who had a "gun of the month" deal. I was there one month and the gun up on the wall as a deal, was a lovely old Army and Navy side by side sidelock. I tried to get the money together to buy it, but could not of course, too young.
Rangoon oil, does any substance have a smell that evokes so many memories ? Everytime i smell it, it carries me back to being in lovely old gunshops, now mostly closed forever.
That is so sad - "closed forever." Why would we choose to close the best places and keep open the others? Life is a puzzle. I have to look up House of Fraser and I have to get back to London and the UK - such great places and people. Personal secret - I opened the bottle of Westley Richards Rangoon and left it open in the vault to recreate those places and times we remember. When I opened the door the air swooshed out - and was all the shops I had visited, I think some Africa was there and India as well; ...I remembered some books I've read.
Someone asked me what sense in us has the greatest memory. I thought that sight was it. They told me no, it is our sense of smell that has the greatest memory and holds the greatest meaning for us. I reflected on it - and of course : I may be too old to see and too old to hear, one day, but everyone always remembers the smell of home or the baby in a bonnet, of Mum and wife...you get the idea : ) Anyway - Rangoon Oil it is.
That’s the old red field sight
nice one. i would prefer non sporterized unit but this is a very nice unit.
Yes - the originals are the ticket - but now I, along with a legion of collectors, are seeking out the sporters - some of the most useful converted military rifles of all time - and the cost is so low - it is unbelievable.
I Have the same plastic oil bottle !!!
I have a no4 mk1 * with full wood except the front guard and the barrel band and also the ring holding the rear wood rusted and broke. The gun has been stripped minus the sear and spring. Oh and the front lug for bayonette and barrel broke off so i need to shorten by an inch and re crown. The wood is black. It would be nice to find an old beat up sporter no4mk1* and id put all the parts on this or switch wood back to the old beat up sporter.
Lots around Dalan and at very reasonable prices. Hope you get one.
Sir i totaly agree that this is a rifle with character... It was someones beloved piece of equipment .... Besides i would like to request you to buy a .315 Indian ordinence factory made rifle if possible and let us know if it is a well made rifle or not.