07-05-2010, 09:28 AM
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#41 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The Old Dominion State
Posts: 78
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You guys have helped me out before! Tell me if I did good or not and be honest as I don't know but what I have learned from you guys on Enfields. I bought a 1944 Long Branch No. 4 Mk I* this weekend at an auction. The serial number is 65L57XX. One the reciever after the star it is engraved and not stamped like my other No. 4 (F)FTR and the serial number is engraved again on it. I gave $120 for it which I was guessing a fair price. I know the other two guns that I bought were excellent buys (1893 Remington Rider No 9 single barrel $140, and a Colt Police Positive 38 for $130), but I just don't know Enfields that well.
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07-05-2010, 11:32 AM
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#42 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 172
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$120? Even if it is quite beaten up, that is a good price  My first Long Branch cost me $300, and I thnk I had got a good deal lol.
As always, PHOTOS!!! Then we can marvel at how well you did. How's the bore and what is the state of the metal and wood parts? What type of rear sight does it have? How many parts are stamped Long Branch ("LB") and/or with the broad arrow in a circle? Oh, heck, now we need a range report Oh, no, I have Long Branch fever (slightly rarer version of enfielditis, and a bit like Savage syndrome, the BSA blues, Fazakerley flu, etc).
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07-05-2010, 01:11 PM
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#43 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The Old Dominion State
Posts: 78
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spinecracker  $120? Even if it is quite beaten up, that is a good price My first Long Branch cost me $300, and I thnk I had got a good deal lol.
As always, PHOTOS!!! Then we can marvel at how well you did. How's the bore and what is the state of the metal and wood parts? What type of rear sight does it have? How many parts are stamped Long Branch ("LB") and/or with the broad arrow in a circle? Oh, heck, now we need a range report Oh, no, I have Long Branch fever (slightly rarer version of enfielditis, and a bit like Savage syndrome, the BSA blues, Fazakerley flu, etc). | The bore is excellent. I really wasn't going to bid on it but when it got stuck at $110, I threw my hand up. It has been partially sporterized. It is far better shape then the No. 4 Mk I(F) FTR that I picked up for $95 a while back. I haven't fired this one or the other yet. Honestly, I probably never will and I know that is a shame. It is difficult for me to find a place to shoot around here anymore. I try to pick up firearms at auctions and gun shows that I feel are good investments. I try to pay what I feel is 30 to 40 cent on the dollar of what they are worth. I have now got a massive collection that has no direction! Well, it does have a direction, as dad always taught me invest in good firearms and their value will only go up! Enfields are uncharted waters for me. I see a lot of Mosins going cheap also but again they are uncharted to me. People are paying way too much for Mausers though and I know a little about them. I figure that every Enfield that I can pick up that looks like it is nice shape is probably a safe investment for $100. You asked for pictures, and this is what I got for $120.
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07-05-2010, 02:37 PM
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#44 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 172
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An FTR'd Long Branch that has not had the metal work cut down for $120? I think it is safe to say that you got a very good deal lol - good work
Edit -mind if I ask if you are buying rifles at local auctions or via online auctions?
Last edited by spinecracker; 07-05-2010 at 03:05 PM.
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07-06-2010, 12:04 AM
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#45 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northen CA.
Posts: 2,243
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$120 yea good buy!
frenchy
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07-08-2010, 11:27 AM
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#46 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 53
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Your rifle is very similar to my 1943 FTR'd No 4 mk1 that I picked up locally for $100. I am missing the sling on mine but other than that and the colour of the woodwork (mine is lighter) they could be brothers. I think you did very well at that price.
Chris.
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07-10-2010, 05:18 PM
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#47 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The Old Dominion State
Posts: 78
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spinecracker An FTR'd Long Branch that has not had the metal work cut down for $120? I think it is safe to say that you got a very good deal lol - good work
Edit -mind if I ask if you are buying rifles at local auctions or via online auctions? | Sorry I did not get back with you sooner. My kids put me through a large amount of weekday evening activities. You have heard of "Soccer moms", well I am the "Dance Dad".
I personally try to attend at least one gun/coin auction or estate auction a week. I just got home a little while ago and struck out today. I travel all over my state to build my investments. I am not going to get burned by Wall Street again. You might burn me once but never twice.
My parents, grew up in the depression and always believed in hard money. With dad it was always guns and silver. With mom it was always dolls and glassware. They were very good at what they did to raise six kids on an average income. My income is average also, but what they taught me is building my retirement plan and my kids college fund when it comes time to reap my rewards. By the way, my eight year old is learning the tricks of investing in firearms and coins. She will advise me regularly to bid on the Colt daddy!
I highly recommend estate auctions as a way to invest in firearms. There are some excellent deals to be found.
If anyone is interested, I can post the guidelines that I came up with that I set for myself to be successful.
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07-19-2010, 03:18 AM
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#48 | | Firearm Aficionado
Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Down south.
Posts: 894
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Good move.
Buying a sporterized Enfield has never popped into my hard head.
If only the wood has been cut back, how much does a stock and hand guard cost?
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07-19-2010, 07:51 AM
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#49 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Orygun
Posts: 3,081
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Laufer | Good move.
Buying a sporterized Enfield has never popped into my hard head.
If only the wood has been cut back, how much does a stock and hand guard cost? | Restoring a sporter can be fun, furniture sets run up to $100 for a complete set. You normally need the fore-end and both hand guards.
I bought a MkI Savage sporter for $100, another $70 for the wood, I had the correct metal parts. Ended up with a nice rifle for about $200. A MkI (no star) should be worth $500 plus, hard to tell with todays economy.
$100 
Finished 
Another $100 sporter 
Traded the sporter wood for a scope mount. 
__________________
Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die.
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07-19-2010, 10:30 PM
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#50 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northen CA.
Posts: 2,243
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That turned out really nice mcb, how hard is fitting the butt socket?
frenchy
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07-23-2010, 01:16 AM
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#51 | | Firearm Aficionado
Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Down south.
Posts: 894
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Excellent question Frenchy.
And how about the cost for a front sight?
Might look into this in the future (after the first Garand).
If somebody want to check a pretty good condition Savage #4, a private seller in the Memphis area might still have it, listed for $300. Most of the bluing is gone, but the bore is good.
Saw it a few months ago and can reach him for a phone # to check on the status. He is selling about a dozen rifles in a family hobby business, plus old helmets and such militaria.
They have a US Marines Huey helicopter-missing most of the flight instruments etc-in their back yard.
Last edited by Laufer; 07-23-2010 at 01:23 AM.
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07-24-2010, 11:40 PM
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#52 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northen CA.
Posts: 2,243
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Hi Laufer, thanks for the heads up on the Savage. Sure like the sound of ("after the first Garand") hope to own one someday too, the Huey would look great with pad and spotlites but doubt the wife would agree 
frenchy
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07-25-2010, 01:21 AM
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#53 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 53
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frenchy Hi Laufer, thanks for the heads up on the Savage. Sure like the sound of ("after the first Garand") hope to own one someday too, the Huey would look great with pad and spotlites but doubt the wife would agree
frenchy | We are apparantly married to the same woman Frenchy  | |
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07-26-2010, 02:01 AM
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#54 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northen CA.
Posts: 2,243
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Invalidsession We are apparantly married to the same woman Frenchy | Yes the lack of artist vision for historical artifacts is truly tragic... 
frenchy
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07-26-2010, 12:48 PM
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#55 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 172
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Added some photos post-clean up. The rifle now looks very nice - about time lol. New Long Branch 1941 pictures by spinecracker - Photobucket
This one may have to be sold sometime soon - it seems that our health insurance doesn't cover ultrasounds during pregnancy - grrrr
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07-26-2010, 11:33 PM
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#56 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northen CA.
Posts: 2,243
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Yes great job spinecracker! she's ah fine looking rifle!
frenchy  | |
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07-27-2010, 12:01 AM
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#57 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 172
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I think so too, Frenchy, and I need to dig out more of my surplus .303 ammo for a range day. I have to put my Mosin Nagant 91/30 through its paces, too (just got a can of 440 rounds of 7.62x54R, and my fingers are itching - of course my wife would tell me she has a cream for that...).
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08-12-2010, 02:48 PM
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#58 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 172
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As I suspected, the Long Branch will have to go - who thought sonograms would cost so much? I would just like to have 1 Enfield - is that too much to ask for???? (wails and gnashes teeth :P ). The upside is that there is a gun show this weekend - you never know what might turn up | |
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08-16-2010, 01:24 AM
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#59 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northen CA.
Posts: 2,243
| NO SPINE NO, crack some backs, quick man quick!! Natural child birth? Midwife? just kidding, congrats my friend.
frenchy
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08-16-2010, 10:55 AM
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#60 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 172
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The gun show was not that interesting, except for a No.1 Mk.1 (or Mk.I or whatever you call it - there were no *) that was complete and matching, and the only thing that detracted from it was the fact that it had apparently been fitted with an Ishy screw at some point, and someone had removed it and put a wooden dowel in the hole. It was nice to see, but far out of my price range (heck, I didn't even have a price range lol?). There were the usual Indian .308s, a Lithgow .22 trainer going for $800, an L39A1 going for $2500 (who was that seller trying to kid?) and some very beaten up and/or bubba'd No.4s, No.1 Mk.IIIs and a No.5 Mk.1 (not sure whether to laugh or cry at that one...). I saw someone trying to sell 32-round boxes of POF .303 for $24, and it was at this point that I walked out. Ho hum lol.
Frenchy, this will be our 3rd. The missus will be going into hospital (the same one she and our first 2 children were born in). As for backs, I am fixing them as fast as I can!!!
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