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303hunter

Loves Tommiegirl
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59E408E2-2F0C-462D-97FC-A6D714416E20.jpeg 17877D70-4D9D-4683-873C-849859647D2B.jpeg 76FE7DAF-491E-4C9A-8086-E9B947350620.jpeg Last week, I acquired this #4 mkII Lee Enfield. It’s unissued/unfired, and like new in every way. I’m hoping some of you will help me with the numbers on the rifle(UF 55 A 1755). I’ve looked online, and can’t find what I’m looking for. I believe it was made in 1955 at Fazakerley, but don’t see info on why they were stored for so long. Fellow I got it from says he bought it in the mid to late 90’s. Any info would be welcome.
 
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A number of these rifles came into the US as unissued surplus in the 1990s/early 2000s. Fazakerly made them until at least 1956 for various contracts - Ireland, Malaysia, Royal Air Force, etc. Seems most seen unissued in the US fall in RAF serial number ranges. Yours is probably an RAF gun, given its serial number. I can't find the chart at the moment, but off the top of my head, I am pretty sure it is RAF. They came to be known as "Irish Contract" Enfields, though the Irish serial number range is relatively small compared to total production and it is questionable that Ireland ever took delivery of their rifles.

There are various theories as to why certain rifles came in unissued, many in the mummy wrap in which they were placed when they were built. In short, though, the world was moving over to semi-automatic and select-fire battle rifles and the Enfields were of a bygone era that was rapidly passing away. There were no major conflicts in the mid 1950s in which these were needed by groups like the RAF, so they sat unissued until surplussed decades later.

Very nice find. They are fantastic rifles and shoot really well.
 
A number of these rifles came into the US as unissued surplus in the 1990s/early 2000s. Fazakerly made them until at least 1956 for various contracts - Ireland, Malaysia, Royal Air Force, etc. Seems most seen unissued in the US fall in RAF serial number ranges. Yours is probably an RAF gun, given its serial number. I can't find the chart at the moment, but off the top of my head, I am pretty sure it is RAF. They came to be known as "Irish Contract" Enfields, though the Irish serial number range is relatively small compared to total production and it is questionable that Ireland ever took delivery of their rifles.

There are various theories as to why certain rifles came in unissued, many in the mummy wrap in which they were placed when they were built. In short, though, the world was moving over to semi-automatic and select-fire battle rifles and the Enfields were of a bygone era that was rapidly passing away. There were no major conflicts in the mid 1950s in which these were needed by groups like the RAF, so they sat unissued until surplussed decades later.

Very nice find. They are fantastic rifles and shoot really well.
Thanks for the reply sir. Haven’t decided if I’ll shoot it yet, as I have a #4 mk1 that I’ve had for years that I hunt with. What should I use on the wood and metal to preserve it? I’ve never owned an original rifle in this condition.
 
Thanks for the reply sir. Haven’t decided if I’ll shoot it yet, as I have a #4 mk1 that I’ve had for years that I hunt with. What should I use on the wood and metal to preserve it? I’ve never owned an original rifle in this condition.


Ballistol works well for both purposes.
 
The Fazakerly plant was kept busy making #4s that the Brits didn't need in order to keep the workforce together so that they would be ready to produce the L1.

I've owned three of these, two unfired. My current one is in the Irish contract range. Do yourself a favor and see what a factory new #4mk2 is capable of and shoot it.

When I visited Collins barracks in Dublin several years ago they had #4mk2s on display in the museum, confirming that the Irish did indeed purchase and use the #4mk2.

joKxljy.jpg


VdKkBTul.jpg
 
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The Fazakerly plant was kept busy making #4s that the Brits didn't need in order to keep the workforce together so that they would be ready to produce the L1.

I've owned three of these, two unfired. My current one is in the Irish contract range. Do yourself a favor and see what a factory new #4mk2 is capable of and shoot it.

When I visited Collins barracks in Dublin several years ago they had #4mk2s on display in the museum, confirming that the Irish did indeed purchase and use the #4mk2.

joKxljy.jpg


VdKkBTul.jpg
I’m planning on searching for another #4 mkII that’s already been fired to add to my collection. This one that’s unfired will remain unfired, for now anyway. Thanks for the pictures!
 
The Fazakerly plant was kept busy making #4s that the Brits didn't need in order to keep the workforce together so that they would be ready to produce the L1.

I've owned three of these, two unfired. My current one is in the Irish contract range. Do yourself a favor and see what a factory new #4mk2 is capable of and shoot it.

When I visited Collins barracks in Dublin several years ago they had #4mk2s on display in the museum, confirming that the Irish did indeed purchase and use the #4mk2.

joKxljy.jpg


VdKkBTul.jpg


Great info and pics! I should have been more clear in my post about the Irish contract guns - there is debate whether the ones that were surplussed and wound up here in the US ever were in Ireland. Some researchers thinkthey wound up here because the Irish did not take delivery of those guns and the Brits kept them until surplussing them in the 1990s. I don't have a clue or an opinion on that. :) The Irish definitely did use the No 4 Mk 2, though.
 
I agree with you, the wrapped rifles that made it here were from war reserve in the UK. I also obtained a war reserve #4 that was so tagged, a #4 gone through and inspected, sorta a FTR . They were inspected and gauged and if they passed then they were placed in reserve. I've read that some folks obtained mummy wrapped #4s only to find them to be what I just described, not an unfired rifle at all.

Xy1hm5sl.jpg


This is the war reserve #4 described above after being converted to 7.62mm. It is a great shooter!
 
I’m planning on searching for another #4 mkII that’s already been fired to add to my collection. This one that’s unfired will remain unfired, for now anyway. Thanks for the pictures!

Your choice of course but if you don't shoot it, when you are gone someone else will. I've been shooting Lee Enfields since I was in my very early 20s and the unissued Mk2s are capable of amazingly good accuracy for a military rifle. Goes to show what 70 years of use and abuse can do to a firearm. Also goes to show how good a product can be when stocked with seasoned timber and assembled by experienced workers who aren't being bombed on a daily basis!
 
It’s out of the wrap, you might as well shoot it. They were all test fired so technically they can’t be called unfired.
 
It’s out of the wrap, you might as well shoot it. They were all test fired so technically they can’t be called unfired.
That’s kinda like saying a new car isn’t new because it’s been test driven.
 
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It is a nice looking Enfield. I have a really nice one as well. Plus I have a rough one (from Cubrock) that has taken many deer. With my 125 gr SP reloads it is a minute-of-angle shooter. Congrats on a nice find!
 
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It is a nice looking Enfield. I have a really nice one as well. Plus I have a rough one (from Cubrock) that has taken many deer. With my 125 gr SP reloads it is a minute-of-angle shooter. Congrats on a nice find!
I’ve got a sporterized “T” marked no 4 mk1 that I’ve hunted with for years, so I know they’re accurate. This rifle is where my screen name comes from. This one has kept my freezer full for many years!
 
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