The Ultimate Enfield

Alan De Enfield · 06-14-2009, 03:39 PM

Well I finally got my "Holy Grail" of Enfields, the pinnacle of Enfield engineering and truly the last of the bolt action Enfields.

What is it ?

An Enforcer.

Only approximately 700 built for the Police forces of the UK ( + Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, and Bangkock Police) and with something like 50% destroyed rather than being sold to the civilian population they must be one of the rarest Enfields about, less Enforcers than L42 or 4T's and yet the prices are remarkably affordable (well thats what I told her that holds the purse strings)

For those who dont know about the Enforcers have a look at the link below : (for some reason its called 'body')

Body

No4 Action and 7.62 target barrel by RSAF Enfield and apparently the forend and handguard woodwork (manufactured by Colin Moon) along with the 'Parker Hale Monte Carlo' butt (manufactured by Sile in Italy) was assembled and the sights added by Parker Hale. The butt was often a slightly different colour to the forend as it came from 2 different manufacturers.
Anyway - here is a couple of pics of mine :

Iron_Colonel · 06-14-2009, 07:51 PM

She's sure a beauty. Thats a nice looking rifle you have there. How does it shoot?

SightNSqueeze · 06-14-2009, 08:10 PM

That is an outstanding find. Beautiful in every way. It looks similar to a news image of a British sniper rifle in use during the Falklands War. I will try to find it and post it.

Alan De Enfield · 06-15-2009, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Colonel

She's sure a beauty. Thats a nice looking rifle you have there. How does it shoot?

Not been to the range yet but I have set up a 100yd target in the 'garden' and shot off a couple of boxes of Nato 7.62.
Started off about 2" low and 2" to the left, after adjustment was getting sub 1" groupings and even had a 'cloverleaf'.

Need to get out to the range and really give her a good try out.

GlockMeister · 06-15-2009, 02:55 AM

As already stated, she is a beauty. Might I ask how much it cost you since they're that rare yet you feel they're affordable?

Alan De Enfield · 06-15-2009, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlockMeister

As already stated, she is a beauty. Might I ask how much it cost you since they're that rare yet you feel they're affordable?

Quote from another forum :
Given that Enforcers are minimally more numerous than specimens of rocking-horse droppings and/or hen's teeth, the price is largely set by the greed and/or the ignorance of the vendor and the desperation and/or wealth of the purchaser.

How much did I pay ? I dont care !! How much is the rifle worth ? I have NO idea, nor do I care - because it is Not For Sale. It does not represent money to me - it represents one of the last of the Lee Enfield bolt-action dynasty.

Depending on "what comes with it" they vary between about GB pounds £1200 and £2000+ (US$1800 - $3000)

A 4T or L42 in the UK are making about twice that price.

The UK Police were working to tight budgets and some were ordered without scopes and / or without bipods, some had spare magazines and others didn't, most (but not all) had the Parker Hale 5E sight.
The 'plan' was that as budgets allowed the Police armourers would add the extra bits & pieces over time.
Some of the Metropolitan (London) Police Enforcers had 'Night Sights' fitted.

The price of the basic Enforcer at the time (1974) was GB pounds £90

If you are fortunate enough to ever see one for sale - BUY IT - you wont regret it, it will probably be the most accurate Enfield you've ever handled and if you are looking for an investment I reckon it will appreciate in value faster than any other model / mark.

Palladin8 · 06-15-2009, 10:48 AM

Alan that is a very good looking rifle you scored. And if there are only 350 in exsistance than you really got a great deal.

I know you will enjoy it.

MmMongol · 06-15-2009, 05:16 PM

Truly spectacular!
It looks practically new.

Are those original optics?
The way the forestock is relieved for the scope gives it a great look.
I see there are 3 sling swivels as well. Was that for additional sling configurations?

Alan De Enfield · 06-15-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MmMongol

Truly spectacular!
It looks practically new.

Are those original optics?
The way the forestock is relieved for the scope gives it a great look.
I see there are 3 sling swivels as well. Was that for additional sling configurations?

Very few of the Enforcers saw much use, they only shot the occasional cow that had escaped from the slaughterhouse. UK Police were not (and still to a great extent are not) 'gun-happy' relying on their trusty 12" piece of wood (the good old truncheon) to get them into (sorry - out of) trouble.
My Enforcer was issued to the South Wales Police 26th April 1974

The scope is the original Pecar 4-10 times magnification that was supplied with the rifle. The Pecar optics are absoloutely amazing and even at 30 + years old would compare very favorably with any brand of optic you could name today.
A unique (at the time - and maybe still today) design feature was interchangable reticles. A small 'pod' complete with reticle unscrewed from the centre of the scope and you dropped another one in.
As standard the Enforcers came with a No2 reticle.

The 3 sling swivels were to allow the Police Marksman to use it however he was comfortable. NOTE - Marksman NOT Sniper.

If anyone has an Enforcer I am in the fortunate postion to have access to the old sales register and can tell you which Police Force it was supplied to and what date it was sold. Just quote me the serial number.

moosemike · 06-20-2009, 01:05 PM

beautiful rifle.

MJ11 · 06-21-2009, 01:44 PM

Well done. I pass on one 15 years ago and as always still regret it today. I did plonk down the dough on the less collectable one. Nice picture work you have done also.

Pura Vida
..MJ..

Alan De Enfield · 06-21-2009, 05:53 PM

Thanks MJ - I've seen a number of pics of your collection and you dont seem to have many missing out of the "Enfield Sniper Family"

MJ11 · 06-22-2009, 11:53 AM

I don't have a reliable shooter WW2 SMLE.

remchuck · 06-22-2009, 02:37 PM

thanks for the post alan.i guess collecting enfield rifles is sort of like collecting webley revolvers,the variations seem endless.

Flaming Day · 07-01-2009, 06:38 PM

I feel like an Enfield novice.Thats a very cool rifle Alan.Sub 1'' and just goofing off....don't wanna mess with that gun.

MJ11 · 07-02-2009, 12:08 AM

I have a friend in Derby that just got one I will have to get a picture from him. Nice find Alan, good for you. Very happy for you.

Treat your self on me.

Pura Vida
...MJ...

06-14-2009, 03:39 PM	#1
Alan De Enfield Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Eastern England Posts: 278	The Ultimate Enfield Well I finally got my "Holy Grail" of Enfields, the pinnacle of Enfield engineering and truly the last of the bolt action Enfields. What is it ? An Enforcer. Only approximately 700 built for the Police forces of the UK ( + Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, and Bangkock Police) and with something like 50% destroyed rather than being sold to the civilian population they must be one of the rarest Enfields about, less Enforcers than L42 or 4T's and yet the prices are remarkably affordable (well thats what I told her that holds the purse strings) For those who dont know about the Enforcers have a look at the link below : (for some reason its called 'body') Body No4 Action and 7.62 target barrel by RSAF Enfield and apparently the forend and handguard woodwork (manufactured by Colin Moon) along with the 'Parker Hale Monte Carlo' butt (manufactured by Sile in Italy) was assembled and the sights added by Parker Hale. The butt was often a slightly different colour to the forend as it came from 2 different manufacturers. Anyway - here is a couple of pics of mine :

06-14-2009, 07:51 PM	#2
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 3,275	She's sure a beauty. Thats a nice looking rifle you have there. How does it shoot? __________________ Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!

06-14-2009, 08:10 PM	#3
SightNSqueeze Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Intercoastal Sea Islands, SC, USA Posts: 2,725	That is an outstanding find. Beautiful in every way. It looks similar to a news image of a British sniper rifle in use during the Falklands War. I will try to find it and post it. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Was "Your" Voice Heard Today? NRA-ILA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

06-15-2009, 02:55 AM	#5
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 9,674	As already stated, she is a beauty. Might I ask how much it cost you since they're that rare yet you feel they're affordable? __________________ "The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." "Edmond Burke"

07-01-2009, 06:38 PM	#15
Flaming Day Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Currently on a marching field,getting yelled at for uneven stick heights.Darn left hand. Posts: 112	I feel like an Enfield novice.Thats a very cool rifle Alan.Sub 1'' and just goofing off....don't wanna mess with that gun. __________________ Watch The Trees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06-15-2009, 10:48 AM	#7
Palladin8 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,451	Alan that is a very good looking rifle you scored. And if there are only 350 in exsistance than you really got a great deal. I know you will enjoy it.

06-15-2009, 05:16 PM	#8
MmMongol Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 108	Truly spectacular! It looks practically new. Are those original optics? The way the forestock is relieved for the scope gives it a great look. I see there are 3 sling swivels as well. Was that for additional sling configurations?

06-20-2009, 01:05 PM	#10
moosemike Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lebanon PA Posts: 239	beautiful rifle.

06-21-2009, 01:44 PM	#11
MJ11 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 140	Well done. I pass on one 15 years ago and as always still regret it today. I did plonk down the dough on the less collectable one. Nice picture work you have done also. Pura Vida ..MJ..

06-21-2009, 05:53 PM	#12
Alan De Enfield Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Eastern England Posts: 278	Thanks MJ - I've seen a number of pics of your collection and you dont seem to have many missing out of the "Enfield Sniper Family"

06-22-2009, 11:53 AM	#13
MJ11 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 140	I don't have a reliable shooter WW2 SMLE.

06-22-2009, 02:37 PM	#14
remchuck Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: nashville Posts: 348 Blog Entries: 1	thanks for the post alan.i guess collecting enfield rifles is sort of like collecting webley revolvers,the variations seem endless.

07-02-2009, 12:08 AM	#16
MJ11 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 140	I have a friend in Derby that just got one I will have to get a picture from him. Nice find Alan, good for you. Very happy for you. Treat your self on me. Pura Vida ...MJ...