For example, how about in the Memphis area, Jackson, TN or Starkville, MS?
Could anybody make a somewhat-educated rough guess?
Totally impossible to 'guess' but lets throw some statistics in :
16 million Enfields produced.
50% lost or destroyed.
Population of Europe 830 million
Population of the USA 303 million
Population of Australia 21 million
Population of New Zealand 4 million
This gives roughly 1158 million people
If there are 8 million Lee Enfields still in existence that equates to 1 Enfield per 144 people.
Population of Memphis is 677,000 so there should be about 4700 Enfields.
It is an interesting guess....
I am sure I would factor the fact that people in the USA have more chances to have one, people in some parts of Asia and/or Africa less chances to have one....Not counting Canada ? I am sure they still have some right ?
But as you said it is really impossible to guess... Alan, I do like your "educated" try though....
It is an interesting guess....
I am sure I would factor the fact that people in the USA have more chances to have one, people in some parts of Asia and/or Africa less chances to have one....Not counting Canada ? I am sure they still have some right ?
But as you said it is really impossible to guess... Alan, I do like your "educated" try though....
Yes did forget Canada - Sorry Canadians !!!
I cannot imagine a huge number of Enfields in China / Japan but as we know many are still in use in India.
If we throw in the population of India, China & Japan I believe it will distort the figure disproportionally.
South Africa will have a few but as a percentage of the whole can probably be discounted.
An interesting theory! I like it. I have 2! I don't know as there is any way to tell how many are in any city, unless a figure of averages is taken like Alan did. Maybe we need an Enfield roll call thread so we know where they all are
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Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!
My curiosity came from wondering why they are seldom seen in gun stores. Called about ten stores in small cities on the phone lately.
The last gun show in or near Memphis was in the spring, before my interest was 'sparked', so to speak. Doubt that any (in nice condition) will appear this fall.
A guy who operates a fireworks tent southeast of Starkville on the east side of Highway 45 told me yesterday that he has a #4, but that the well won't hold a magazine. Until he said that, I was about to ask to go see it and offer money.
There must be many thousands in good condition (in the US) sitting untouched in closets or trunks until somebody dies and a son/daughter decides to sell it, or worse.
A guy who operates a fireworks tent southeast of Starkville on the east side of Highway 45 told me yesterday that he has a #4, but that the well won't hold a magazine. Until he said that, I was about to ask to go see it and offer money.
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There are only two reasons why the 'well wont hold the magazine'.
a) The magazine is either the 'wrong' one or has the retaining tab damaged.
b) The magazine retaining catch is broken or missing.
Either problem is a simple fix.
Just check it over to make sure its all original and has not been sporterised (sporterized as I believe the colonials spell it !!!)
There's Enfields of all models in Canada from coast to coast , from the southern border to the Arctic Circle.
The Canadian Rangers are still issued No4's because of their reliability.
Everyone I know in the shooting sports will have an Enfield in their gunrack.
Mind you , many of these will just sit there mainly because the owner can't hit a barn wall from the inside , and need a rifle thats accurate out of the box with very little practice.
For "Europe", read "Britain" and reduce the population stat accordingly. That takes you down to 50 million or so, and Canada adds another 30-odd million. IMO most Europeans who own ex-military (bolt action) rifles would probably own that which their own nation used - which is almost invariably a Mauser action of some description in Northern Europe, a Mannlicher-Carcano south of the Alps (and a Schmidt-Rubin in certain parts north of them) or a Mosin-Nagant as you get closer to the Russian border.
The number in China and Japan must surely be (proportionally) vanishingly small, yes?
For "Europe", read "Britain" and reduce the population stat accordingly. That takes you down to 50 million or so, and Canada adds another 30-odd million. IMO most Europeans who own ex-military (bolt action) rifles would probably own that which their own nation used - which is almost invariably a Mauser action of some description in Northern Europe, a Mannlicher-Carcano south of the Alps (and a Schmidt-Rubin in certain parts north of them) or a Mosin-Nagant as you get closer to the Russian border.
The number in China and Japan must surely be (proportionally) vanishingly small, yes?
I thought about Europe before including it but there are (a lot) of Enfield collectors in Germany and France, just as there are a lot of Mauser, Mosin etc. collectors in Britain.
Its pretty academic really and it was just put forward as a potential hypothesis.
No-one is going to know the true figure and trying to get a 'little list' (ala Gilbert & Sullivan) will not work as I doubt the vast majority of Enfield holders are not registered on this forum.
I own three of them. I have to say that everytime I stop in at a local gunstore or pawnshop I also see one or two MK III's or No. 4's on the racks. I also come across the occassional Ishy in 7.62 NATO. I guess the .303 was pretty popular with folks in Idaho at one time.
I know there also has to be one so and so on a forum who is contrary, but I'm telling the truth. So come to Idaho and get your LE.
Checkman: You are fortunate.
Just went to my first gun show since being infected with the LE virus; despite the higher prices, if cheap ammo were easy to find they would steal much more limelight from the Mosin Nagant (don't tell 'Gandog', 'Mike 82' 'Tex' and the other MN Gurus). It is a good #4 (my first) with matching receiver/bolt, vg bore and overall metal, though over-priced.
For the small size of the show, I suppose that having two LE #4s was unusual-or was it?
This was Batesville, in nw MS.
If you ever drive through the Memphis area a few months from now, carrying an extra, nice #4 (with very nice bore/rifling), give me a call first from Idaho etc with a few weeks notice. Thanks very much.
Will need time to develop a plan to hog-tie my wife, but have no access to chloroform .
If you ever drive through the Memphis area a few months from now, carrying an extra, nice #4 (with very nice bore/rifling), give me a call first from Idaho etc with a few weeks notice. Thanks very much.
Will need time to develop a plan to hog-tie my wife, but have no access to chloroform .
I know the feeling. Been there, done that.
You know I went on and on about my home state, but the first SMLE that I picked up was at a little gunshop in Upper state New York ten years ago. Little town called Black River. It was owned and operated by a retired NYSP trooper. A few weeks later I picked up my 1907 Pattern sword bayonet at a gunshow in another town called Sacketts Harbor.
Never though I would start my gun collection in New York. Guess you never know.
Checkman: She's actually pretty tolerant, so far, taking into account that this hobby (Any gun/ LOTS of Wolf and some surplus ammo-buying) only started in Oct. '07.
Now with the Mini 30, SKS, MN 44 and the LE #4, #5.
Sold the 'AO' M-1 Carbine and three others (the Mini 14 operated perfectly: better than some AK clones but already had the 30).
The problem now is that the LE virus is more resistant to medicine than the MN ever was.
Oh yes. I know what you mean brother. Did you know that Colt manufactured a few Mk III Lee Enfield rifles in the years just before WWI? Find one of those and you can write your own meal ticket partner. Colt made a few for the Australians. The cypher consists of the letter C surmounted by a "broad Arrow". I'm always looking but I don't think I'll ever find one. Still you never know.
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