No4 MkII: The Lee Enfield's Final Standard Upgrade

[@marciebalme588]

My Husband has a 1955 build No 4 Mk11 , he purchased it whilst it was till wrapped in the waxed paper

[@AreYouFinnished]

AKA a "mummy wrapped" Enfield. Very cool rifles

[@DerLaCroix1]

Me too...

[@michaelgagne3327]

I picked mine up, same year and same condition. Beautiful birch stock. They were apparently (upon further research) RAF contract.

[@samrodian919]

@@michaelgagne3327 I too had one of those in very light coloured birch, and was told it had been an RAF one. Shot like a demon but with a quirk. Being a handloader I experimented with using much cheaper alternative of heads rather than very expensive American Sierra boat tail spitzer .311 " diameter bullets, I used Israeli military spec .308"(7.62mm) bullets. Using a .308" Winchester die expander in the .303" British loading die and the groups were so tight I won a few inter club matches with that rifle, the bore was mint and can not have seen any rounds through it in service as there was not a bit of mercuric primer corrosion in the throat at all. It probably had had its proof rounds through it then went into RAF store until it was sold to the civilian market in the early eighties where I bought it from the second owner. Many in my club were dumbfounded at the accuracy of it using an undersized bullet, as am I to this day.

[@stephenbrooklyn7945]

@@samrodian919 brilliant rifle ive shot them in .22 aswell unreal accuracy when i was in the army cadets

[@turbogerbil2935]

Theres a body of thought that all of the post war Fazakerley production and FTRs was really all about "make work" - keeping a workforce and factory alive long enough to be tooled up for the L1A1. The British Army itself didn't really use Mk2s, as the Mk1 was perfectly serviceable and in the depots in very large numbers. A huge FTR programme was started in 1948 to keep Fazakerley busy, and they FTR'd Mk1s as both Mk1s - keeping them original - and as conversions to Mk2. New rifle production also overlapped by a considerable margin - about 80,000 (by observed numbers) Mk1s were built new after the first Mk2s were built. The PF- number range contains about 100,000 Mk1s, as well as most of the Mk2s. South Africa was the main recipient of new-built Mk2s, and most SA owned rifles are in the range up to PF-200,000 or so.

[@mrmagoo-i2l]

The British Forces always seem to look to cost effectiveness. The US seems to go a bit wild with its budget. Maybe it’s because we are a small island with less resources.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

There was a considerable belief that another war in Europe was likely if not inevitable, the Army didn't want to be caught with its pants down again and not have enough serviceable rifles to issue to soldiers called up. It would have been somewhat embarrassing to find that stocks had warped into unusability in storage or the rifles were in terrible condition for some other reason. As it was limited numbers of FTRs saw service in Korea, Malaya, and the Suez crisis. I'm told they held on to the new production Fazakerleys until the 1970s then equipped the UDR with them. From what I gather the RAF issued refurbs to regular recruits but not national servicemen who got any old garbage, something similar happened in the RN/Royal Marines.

[@alexsis1778]

Ya, for a long time nobody really knew if the Cold War would turn hot pretty quickly after WW2 so it makes sense that you don't want your trained factory workers getting laid off immediately before another war. Also certainly doesn't hurt to pay them to remedy a known issue along the way to have a refurbished and fixed stockpile of newer guns for your existing troops. Keeping the old second quality guns for actual war time reserves and second line use has been the norm for most militaries since the beginning of guns being standard issue.

[@markfergerson2145]

@@zoiders WWII included the powerful lesson for all players that you should not trust that you can ship in resources from outside your national borders at will. That's one, if not the main, reason the US and USSR became the default superpowers afterward. Yes, the US shipped in shitloads of resources but quickly came up with internal supplies for war materiel. There are notable exceptions like rubber and titanium of course.

[@Alcochaser]

May be right, remember that they planned to turn these into L8A1, L8A2, L8A3, L8A4, L8A5 rifles in 7.62 to supplement the L1A1 if a war kicked off, they only did a few and gave up on the idea.

[@zeb3144]

Two friends of mine bought one each from the US where they had spent 50 years in a military armoury (unfired), imported them back to UK where they both had to be proof fired. They're gorgeous rifles but because they stayed covered in cosmoline for half a century not exposed to daylight the wood is very pale.

[@mcgram2347]

Cosmoline? Nononono forbidden jelly

[@acomingextinction]

Mmmm, aged cosmoline. Delicious.

[@subterfusion4005]

I bought one still wrapped in wax paper with matching bayonet for 189.00 about 1993-94.

[@mrbeast85]

​@@subterfusion4005 Yeah the Irish production batch was never delivered or at least not delivered in full due to political wrangling. So they were simply placed in storage, covered in Cosmoline or its British equivalent and wrapped in brown paper. Later they were surplussed out, hence you can still occasionally find a brand new, from the factory condition rifle. But I should think they ae getting quite rare now.

[@liammeech3702]

@@mrbeast85 didn't know Rifles where made in Ireland?

[@boingkster]

Ah, the very last of the So Many Lee Enfields! Top notch as always, Ian!

[@a_shuchu_601]

And even it sort of has 1/2 and 1/3 subvariants. Old habits die hard, I guess

[@petesheppard1709]

I wonder if the Bloke is lifting a glass...

[@88porpoise]

Not the last, just the last for general service.

[@beast0339]

Wow, good timing. Just opened up my feed

[@stuartmacleod259]

It's been interesting to follow the history of the Lee Enfield rifle.

[@mrmagoo-i2l]

@Google Ghey It’s got a lot of history, I find it interesting hearing history from a different perspective. Given how taboo firearms have become it’s good to see a channel cover it and still have a strong footprint on YT.

[@TheFanatical1]

@Google Ghey I don't think this is too much of a stretch honestly. Ian isn't like other youtubers in that he never puts out stuff you don't want to watch. Everything he makes is worth watching. I've been watching every video he puts out for at least two years now, probably three.

[@TheFanatical1]

Even his filler videos (and they aren't really filler videos, but filler is the closest word) aren't filler because they're low in content, they're "filler" because by god Ian told us he'd do 6 videos a week and there's no chance he will ever let us down so if he has to turn a "dissassemble-and-shoot video into "dissasemble" and then "shoot" I say we let him!

[@gaveintothedarkness]

Gives me bergman series vibes. Not saying thats a bad thing.

[@althesmith]

I used to own an original Long Lee, gave it to my great-nephew when he joined the Canadian Forces. This was made in 1898 iirc, and by the London Small Arms factory, and the woodwork was nothing short of a thing of beauty- old, naturally dried walnut. The metalwork was also perfectly finished.

[@darraghoconghaile2391]

It was my standard rifle back in the day ,I used them all for the four years I served, the SMLE up to the No4 mk2 and to be honest I loved the smle but the mk2 was a pure killer at five hundred yards you'd put the whole mag into a matchbox sized hole and never, not one issue after thousands of rounds, a great gun. Keep up the good work.

[@xgford94]

So the Magazine cut of finally passed into history in 1955… that’s a long time for an antique idea

[@Stevarooni]

It's not a great idea, but it doesn't usually hurt to have one. If you're doing individual shots, being able to use hand-feed rounds means your magazine is still there and ready, if you need to switch to a regular rate of fire.

[@petersattout3956]

@@Stevarooni Post 1909 the British never kept it for single loading and used it purely as a form of safety mechanism where they could close off the magazine and close the bolt on an empty chamber.

[@ScottKenny1978]

It came back in the Scout Rifle.

[@Enraged-Gecko]

The only practical application for a magazine cut-off on a repeating rifle would be to allow a soldier to single load a blank cartridge for use with a rifle grenade.

[@jkfozul2316]

I'm of the opinion that a magazine cutoff sounds great on paper and for an individual not in combat it probably is a neat feature to have. Unfortunately none of those things are positive marks on the national military level.

[@gregfair1749]

Very enjoyable video on the No4 MKII!!! I own two Enfeild rifles. One is a No 1 MkIII from 1917 and the other is a No 4 Mk1*. Both are extremely great rifles and fun to shoot!!!

[@Estop117]

Thank you for this awesome series on these rifles!

[@keithallardice6139]

Loved this whole series, learnt so much about the iconic Lee Enfield - forever grateful, Ian :-)

[@cmonkey63]

At one time my father owned a Lee Enfield mk 2 rifle. I was only a teenager then, but I still remember it as an iconic rifle.

[@damnperrys1]

I was introduced to the Enfield #4 MK 2 rifle when I bought one about 25 yrs ago. It's a fantastic piece of kit and I will often put AR rifles to shame with its accuracy. Not "SMELLY" at all!

[@killer13324]

kinda makes me glad that my MK I rifle was FTR'd in 1949 and kept to its original configuration. sounds like they did a fuck ton of refits to these rifles and it makes me wonder if the examples in their original configuration are a bit rarer because of it.

[@darrenpamplin23]

Another great informative video Ian... However that rifles sling is on Backwards! . The British Military Always insisted that the brass faced inwards.

[@roygardiner2229]

Is that to minimise reflections of bright objects?

[@darrenpamplin23]

@@roygardiner2229 yes to reduce the risk of giving your position away with light reflection off the metal ends of the slings.

[@roygardiner2229]

Thanks! @@darrenpamplin23

[@blamokapow137]

Mine was made in 1955 and unused when I got it. Very fine rifle.

[@Tonks143]

IMO the best bolt action infantry rifle of the second world war

[@tylersmith3139]

I see where you're coming. Highly accurate, fast and carries a lot of ammunition. It even remained in a lot of countries militaries up until the 2000s. The Canadian rangers used this as their main rifle up until the 2010s.

[@73F100]

I have a beautiful Mk1/2 that because of this video I now know was refurbished in 1951. All of the questions about the specifics of this model have been answered for me. Thanks for posting!! The only number that doesn't match on this rifle is the magazine which is 7565A, whatever that means.

[@Teknofobe]

This was the very first military weapon i trained on in the army cadets. Once my bruised shoulder healed. I absolutely loved it. It's power & simplicity where awesome.

[@ericplaysbass]

The first centerfire rifle I ever owned was a No.4 Mk.2. As I recall, it was used, but in decent condition. We had a 100 yard range a few miles from us. My wife and I used to go down there and shoot it. On weekends, we would go pick up unbroken clay pigeons off the shot gun range and set them up on the dirt bank at the end of the rifle range. She, as well as I, got pretty good at busting them up. We both got bruised shoulders until we got used to it. I moved on to other rifles over time, but that is one that I wish I hadn’t gotten rid of.

[@RickHawkDavison]

Love your channel, loved your show with your dad, being a son and father... That ment much... God bless you and yours. Much love brother, Forever + 1 day.

[@CowboyJuice]

Wait there is a show with his dad?

[@Tuning3434]

@@CowboyJuice I think he is referring to some of the interviews Ian did with his dead. If I recall correctly, Ian's father (Duncan McCollum) was an early US expert on Japanese WW2 rifles and published a book about it. Around Ian's launch of Chassepot to Famas some attention was given that authorship ran in the family

[@johnfullerton7986]

I have a UF.55 that I bought on Guns International a few years ago and I love it. It's more accurate then either my M1 or my 1903A3. It was in excellent condition and had a Parker Hale target sight mounted when It came to me and I have left that on it. It also had the original battle rifle sight with it. Probably the smoothest bolt action that I have ever shot, but the cock on closing bolt does take some time getting use to it.

[@RyanYouTubs93]

I’m a simple man, I see Gun Jesus and I click play.

[@samrodian919]

@ Rayan Corbett, ha ha! Gun Jesus I love it! Perfect description for Ian lol

[@taylormartin4346]

I just sold my No4 Mk2 still in the original factory wrapping from 1955 from the Fazakerly factory. Hard to say goodbye to it for sure.

[@kylebradley3]

Those are worth quite the premium

[@hansgruber9685]

I’d sleep in my car before I sold one of those. 😩

[@johnpatrickmcp]

I was actually pleasantly surprised when I ordered a "B" Grade No4 MkI Enfield from Royal Tiger Imports to find out that what I was sent was actually a numbers matching No4 MkII. Condition is still rough be just needs a little TLC and makes a unique addition to my collection.

[@markmiller897]

You are seriously the best channel on KZbin. And the most prolific. If I come on and there's 10 notices, you are 9 of them. You rock Ian!

[@Andrew_is_tall]

Fantastic video & extremely helpful. There’s a nice Mk2 at a local gun shop that I frequent that I was considering. I’ll definitely use your video to help me figure out more information on that particular one. Thanks!

[@qbeck11]

Cool insight. My No 4 probably had an interesting life. It still has the Mk 1 trigger, but the bolt has a MkII stamped on the bottom. Either way, good rifles and very fun to shoot

[@wreckanchor]

I bought one of these still in the arsenal wrapper coated in cosmoline about 25 years ago. I still have it and its beautiful gun that shoots well.

[@Sunfade38]

I had a No4 Mk1 that was FTR'd at one point into a Mk2. Interesting gun, was originally made in 1943 by Maltby.

[@richardbrown9069]

I love the lee enfields...i think there my favourite subject Ian has done to date 🍻

[@mazkact]

My UF 55 stayed in the wrap for a while but eventually was removed from the cocoon and gets shot occasionally as it was intended to. I like old war horse rifles with history but it is nice to have some examples that are as new.

[@johnkinsel5027]

I picked one up in the cosmoline and wrap back when they were $160. Cleaning one up and developing loads for it used to be a great "winter project" i have traded other project guns off, but still have the Enfield.

[@roygardiner2229]

It seems to me that the superior quality of build in the post war rifles is very evident: that, of course, is hardly surprising. Thanks for a great series on the Lee Enfield rifles. I shall be viewing them all again from time to time. 🤟

[@georgesheffield1580]

Thanks for all of minor different variations of the Number 4 Enfields .

[@happisakshappiplace.6588]

My Dad who was in 2/7th Queens Royals Reg in WW2 would have loved watching these videos. He's been gone for 21 years now. He used a Lee Enfield, I don't know what mark he used.

[@lordsummerisle87]

Very likely either a No1Mk3 (SMLE) or a No4Mk1. Both good rifles for their day, he would have been well equipped with either.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

He is watching you watch them with a big ole grin!

[@SM-zz4gx]

I have a 1953 No.4 Mk2 Fazakerley. Brilliant rifle, tons of fun to shoot. Still like my No.5 better though.

[@burville100]

I also have a 53 Faz. I believe it was part of a Burmese contract which was never sent out.

[@DeathbyDawn141]

I am so happy I managed to find (at my Grandparents house) a No.5 MK1 Jungle Carbine. She's in rough condition but with time I'll make her shine again.

[@bill8784]

Absolutely brilliant. We had the Lee Enfield in the school Combined Cadet Force in the 70s and also had .22 for target shooting.

[@roadie3124]

Same here, but I was about a decade ahead of you - 1961 to 1966. We had the SMLE in 1961. They were replaced by No4 around 1963. I was in the shooting team, so I used a No4 on the outdoor range (22 yds and 600 yds) quite a lot. We also had some that had been converted to 22 LR for use in our indoor 25 yd range. I think that they used something called a Morris Tube. From memory, the forestock had also been cut down to make the 22 LR weigh the same as the original SMLE. That's where we did group, rapid and snap (prone). Using a sling correctly makes a huge difference.

[@bill8784]

@@roadie3124 Interesting. Sounds like you had a well resourced CCF.

[@roadie3124]

@@bill8784 Very much so. We had a strong military history and the school was conceptually divided into Military and Classics. None of us knew what that meant, BTW. The CCF wasn't mandatory, but, if you didn't join, you had to do community service things like cleaning the loos at the retirement home with your own toothbrushes.

[@bill8784]

@@roadie3124 Yes. We had the same thing. Repairing old desks or gardening for elderly ladies if you didn’t join.

[@roadie3124]

@@bill8784 Ah yes. The good old days :-) Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

[@stuartpeacock8257]

Superb explanation and analysis Ian

[@EmperorHirohito-kv2uc]

Lee Enfields are awesome, and no one can change my mind

[@blunderingfool]

Yea, but what does this "Noone" fellow know? I'm pretty sure 'no one' has ever seen him.

[@EmperorHirohito-kv2uc]

@@blunderingfool Shit, i didn't press the goddamn spacebar

[@PopeHeavy]

I mean, no one will probably try to, I think Lee Enfields are universally loved

[@hendrikbootha7285]

Boer with a Mauser has entered the chat ...

[@drevil2783]

@@hendrikbootha7285 sana ook

[@LeePenn2492]

Always does a good informative interesting show this lad.

[@ScottGpa]

Still luv 'em. Fired my first one as a 12 year old army cadet (fibbed about my age). We were issued 5 blanks and spent part of that rainy day on manoeuvres where we split into 2 teams. For many of us it was "playing war" but with real rifles. Might blow a few minds in this day and age but we actually took aim and shot the enemy (blanks remember). This was the early sixties in Northamptonshire. Can you imagine this type of fun and excitement for a kid today? Left England in '63 bound for Canada. Have kept a No.4 handy to this day and as I said, still luv 'em. As always thanks Ian.

[@liammeech3702]

Northamptonshire is something else lol

[@chriscamp8608]

Just obtained a brand new 1-1955 Number 4 Mark 2 Its never been issued and in beautiful condition honored to own it. Im reading up on all the history behind this iconic rifle.

[@StrangerOman]

Looking forward for some special versions if you find them. Good series. :)

[@Trey_816]

I have a 1955 SMLE No 4 MkII and I love it. I have slain many bucks and does with it.

[@scroggins100]

How about the L39 Target Rifle. 7.62 Parker Hale sights and heavy barrel. Shooting that at a 1000 yards at Bisley with the wind chart etc. Only 45 seconds a shot..Some fun. Loved it.

[@rodroper211]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqqXiJyir8h_g7s

[@shawnoandrew]

I've got an $89.95 no4mk1 from Springfield Sporters. Also selling a 1944 BSA Shirley M47C.

[@66kbm]

As an Army Cadet in the UK in the late 70's, we used DP, Drill Purpose, No4's, various bits cut out for explanation purposes. Of what exact Model, i do not know. We had no4 with both sliding and winding rear sights. Lets face it, the best was not going to the Cadet Force. All the wood stocks were smooth though. When, after what seems like years and probablly was, i got to fire this beast as a 14 year old at "Tregantle Fort" ranges near Plymouth, Devon but actually in Cornwall. The woodwork on all live firing rifles had the grooves cut into the foreward woodwork. BANG....what an experience as a 14 year old. I do remember the serial of one of the DP, Drill Rifles, serial number....10410. Thats all i can remember, is it enough to track its history? Also the UK Cadet Force i was in used these on yearly Camp/Exercise/Manouvres using the Blank Ammo, pain in the arse as it was shorter than the actual round and had to be individaully fed into the breech.

[@onmilo]

Best of the best in Enfield Bolt Rifles. I've owned a #4 Mk2 and an L42A1 and both were uniformly good battle weapons.

[@shootingwithmitch5921]

Back in the eighties when I was an army cadet we did all of our drill with number 4, dps (drill purpose) rifles and got to do some shooting with un-deactivated ones. I can still remember doing my skill at arms star two, with the nco giving the order, "Down test and adjust!" And then "with a magazine of five round rapid fire!"

[@derekp2674]

@@zoiders At school, we never learnt rifle drill. We did have some old drill purpose SMLE's complete with volley sights. As far as I know, none of them had bolts, so they would have been no use for training loading and unloading. But our two drill purpose cut away BREN's were suitable for training loading and unloading etc.

[@derekp2674]

@@zoiders I'm sorry, you weren't there in 1976. I am reporting on the language we used, whether not that was formally correct. Many of us came from farming backgrounds, so naturally referred to long arms as guns. We were also a good Christian school, so we learnt the different between right and wrong. Since I've mentioned a bit of my service background, when and where did you serve? Or are you just a KZbin pedant?

[@derekp2674]

@@zoiders By background, I meant involvement with but not necessarily employment in. But I was definitely armed and I was serving the intent and purpose of our CCF. But we certainly weren't training to go to war. Also, our CCF liaison warrant officer was a serving army person and our school masters did formally count as reserve officers. One or two of them had even served with distinction in WW2. Getting back to the OP's point, you might well be correct that deactivated rifles were originally intended for weapon training. But obviously they were suitable for parade ground rifle drill too. The OP seems to have experienced deactivated No.4's being used for, whereas the ones I had were only old SMLE's still with tangent sights for volley fire. As we tried to do as little "square bashing" as possible, we never paraded with rifles. Also, with no bolts and different sights. those SMLE's were not of much use for any weapon training that we did. At least back then, we did not work to formal written objective and outcomes. Instead we focussed on basic firearms handling lesson, so cadets would know what to do on a .303 range. Unlike some posher schools, we did not have our own .303 range, so we only shot .303 on camps and on field days, if we could book a local MoD range. We had our own .22 range though, and shot our No.8's there several times a week.

[@derekp2674]

See: www.rifleman.org.uk/L59A1_and_A2_DP_Rifles.html

[@Ken_oh545]

That language oh yes....we had a Scottish instructor who came to our school CCF on Wednesday afternoons, Sgt Hammond, he used to discuss taking the spring out of the magazine : "you take your centre digit".... Centre sounding like centrrrre....a very colourful way of saying 'middle finger'. Still, things like that you'll never forget.

[@kennethp1423]

I picked up one of these way back in the early 90’s from Sarco NJ. Paid $89 bucks for it. It’s a 1952 edition. Was packed solid in cosomoline. Took forever to clean up.

[@sorryociffer]

Bought an as new/unissued MkII for $115 20yrs ago… Finest Milsurp I own. Shoots like a dream. Mirror bright bore.

[@tonybuk70]

im officially jealous, we are not allowed them here in the UK :(

[@oncall21]

Brilliant series. Thanks for sharing!

[@larryelliott8030]

Outstanding series, thank you.

[@vaclavholek4497]

Great series, Ian!

[@jpwphotographicstudio3891]

I have a MK2 with Stensby stamped on it, it's a Fazak as has the F marked on it also F on the mag. Its fitted with Parker Hale sights rear 4c and got PH on front, also the sniper butt piece. I picked it up many years ago relatively cheap from memory . I intended to put original type sights on it, strip it all down and basically make it mint, but was told it had been accurissed by Stensby and leave it be,... So left it and can confirm it shoots remarkable groups ...

[@semajniffirg230]

Bought mine still wrapped and greased, one of the nicest shooting rifles you can buy.

[@bernardprice8551]

A fascinating series..thank you

[@patsyroberts3967]

Always fascinating, thank you!

[@adamhanes4431]

I got two with consecutive serial numbers great shooters

[@bundook303]

Good informative video Ian, now turn that sling the right way out. Cheers!

[@mikecmoore]

I'd just watched a previous vid on playback 0.25 I thought Ian had suffered a stroke before I realised I needed to change the playback speed back!

[@robgoodsight6216]

What is a rifle that doesn't like itself? ... ... ... A self loathing rifle! I show myself out now!

[@dksdg]

Sad this series is at its end honestly, now I will have to watch all of it in a row

[@sarah20025]

Trained and fired the No4 Mk2 in 1980s, 20th Battalion FCA (Ireland). Ours were manufactured in 1954. I remember having to boil out the barrels after a day at the firing range, then running the pull through full of oil through. 3 of us did the whole company's rifles before we were allowed to go home! I think they had an FN stamp?

[@joshuathinker8546]

Crazy to think a rifle design lasted for near 100 years in military service.

[@hansgruber9685]

There are Russian Mosin Nagants in service right now in Ukraine. That’s over 130 years of service. Same for the 7.62x54r cartridge.

[@michaelallen2221]

@@hansgruber9685 hans gruber lol

[@tylersmith3139]

@@hansgruber9685 That's a dumb comparison. Those are old retired stockpiles that are only being brought out due the lack of weapons like how you see SMLE mkIIIs in Afghanistan. The Mk4 lasted well into the 2010s for some commonwealth countries like Canada for example with their Canadian rangers unit.

[@davidherbst]

The wood on that No. 4 Mk 2 looks exactly like the wood on mine. It's also a Fazakerly, built in '52. Bought it 30 years ago after (?) years in storage. Has "glenda" carved in the pistol grip, right behind the trigger guard.

[@mattheefisher2104]

Great series. Enjoyed it.

[@YanDoroshenko]

I did enjoy this series of videos.

[@kuro_neko5863]

The Canadian Forestry Service was still using Lee Enfields up until about a decade ago when they finally ran out of spare parts and couldn't easily source any more.

[@semajniffirg230]

Americans probably have most of them, especially the Irish contract rifles. I bought mine still in the wrap and greased up, absolutely brand new.

[@zeppelin5000]

Funny that this video just came out today. I have a No 4 Mk 1/2 in the mail right now :-)

[@robertgriffin662]

I have enjoyed this series! Hoping that your going to do a vid(s) on the jungle/tanker carbines. Had a .303 for several years and miss to this day.

[@MonkeysInSpacee]

Just picked up a Longbranch from early 42 👌

[@theoldenfield4106]

My late uncle had a sporterized No. 4 MKII that he used to hunt with. It was one of my favorite guns of his to shoot. His sporterized No. 4 MKII had a US government marking stamped on the receiver. (Possibly an import stamp.)

[@Ashcrash82]

The No4Mk1* guns built by Savage in the US were marked US Property. If it was one of those, it should have been marked No4Mk1/3, if it was updated to Mk2 standards. If it was refurbished earlier, it should just have a FTR marking somewhere, without any change to the model designation. My Canadian Longbranch was FTR'ed in 1945, so not up to Mk2.

[@DymondzTrucking1962]

Thank you for the series Ian my favorite rifle I have one of each one made

[@hansgruber9685]

Impressive. That’s like 10 or 12 rifles.

[@johnfisk811]

Useful to see clearly how walnut was long gone in production replaced by beech. BTW it would be nice to follow up the Lee with a Home Guard 0.300” P14 and/or P17 with the red band on the fore end. Normally in companies all in 0.300” paired with a BAR or 0.300” ex US Lewis.

[@3ducs]

I really really needed more confusing Lee Enfield nomenclature, thanks!

[@timbrwolf1121]

I have one made by savage in 42. Not sure if it saw action, but the barrel is totally shot out and the headspace is between .090 and .10...It shot a whole lot of something. The stock is gorgeous though and it has a rare size #3 bolt head

[@robertbaird9267]

Don't know if this has been said or not, but the Lee Enfield was used by the Canadian Rangers (those who mostly patrol the arctic) up until 2018. It's wood stock held up in the extreme cold, few moving parts made it reliable, and a .303 could stop a polar bear in its tracks. In 2018, they started to finally replace them with the Colt Canada C19. Canada is the last country to finally take the Lee Enfield out of active service. That's one hell of a lifespan for a rifle. My dad even has one now, and it's my favourite to shoot at the range.

[@hansgruber9685]

Good to know the wood held up so well. Interestingly an xbox360 is tough enough to stop a .303 in its tracks. I couldn’t believe it.

[@michaelwimmer1063]

I bought a mk4 nr2 irish production 2 years ago, still a perfect rifle to shoot…

[@lloydask]

Great series.

[@MENSA.lady2]

In the late 1960's I served in the RAF and regularly shot rifle competition against the Army, Navy, Police and other NATA Forces under SRA Rules, so no mods allowed. My rifle was serial number PF833837. Until I saw this video I never realised it was a Mk.2. It was optimised and super accurate. I just hope it has a very happy owner today. .

[@samstarkweather5172]

One of the very few Forgotten Weapons subjects I actually own.

[@dirtegarbage]

mine passes the waiting period in a few days

[@NeilT3485]

I have a 1956 No.4 Mk1/2 Fazakerley had the rifle for over 20 years, fantastic range rifle fitted with a Parker Hale 5c target sight. It was re imported into the UK from Australia. It's as old as I am 65 Ian excellent videos of the Lee Enfield rifle. When are you back at Bisley?

[@captainswoop8722]

Mk 2 is the version we had for drill at the Sea Cadets back in the 70s.

[@richardlahan7068]

I'd love to have one but affordable Enfields that haven't been abused or shot out are difficult to find.

[@supersixx9916]

I love my mark 2 , it turns 70 this year and this thing shoots like hell, its very precise. Mine is pretty much like out of the factory, thats prolly why i don't shoot it that much :>. been looking for an irish contract weapon for longer but their prizes are going up atm paid like 1.1k € for it, but its worth every cent.

[@davidharbron6907]

The Irish army was still using the Lee Enfield mk2 as their main rifle up until the 1980s, at least in the reserves.

[@slick_slicers]

I think the No8 stayed in use, at least with Cadet units, right in to the new millennium. Have you, or will you be talking about them? As a youth in the 80’s, these (No4, 8, L42 and Bren) were my weapons.

[@nowtelsematters]

No8s in use until 2015ish.

[@nguyenminhle8694]

What's a l43

[@nowtelsematters]

@@nguyenminhle8694 a typo. Should be l34.

[@slick_slicers]

@@nowtelsematters I knew it was quite recently. My old school was given air rifles instead, and I understand the No8 are all to be destroyed, which is very sad 😢

[@slick_slicers]

@@nguyenminhle8694 the 7 62 converted sniper version. Sorry it’s L42, I’ve chubby fingers!

[@deggs1975]

Would be nice if you could get your hands on a Canadian ranger no4 They were finally retired in 2018 and most were gifted to the rangers themselves. I’m sure some will turn up sooner or later. Also longbranch did some 7.62 nato conversions as match rifles I believe.

[@laurencehardin1745]

My No 4 MK II is dated May of 1949. So it is very early production. Unfortunately some one slathered it in varnish, including the metal. Took me a week to get it all off.

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

lol. I remember a mate who was in the BAOR when that bader meinhoff thing was going on. He said the Americans on guard duty got proper smgs, the French had those lil smg things and the Brits had pickax handles, well cured ones probably heh cheers for the vid Ian. Keep up the good work old chap.

[@turbogerbil2935]

At the peak of the IRA & BM terrorist campaign, I was still required to do my orderly officer rounds in the middle of the night on a giant open camp wearing my dress No1 uniform, gold crossbelt & sword slings, spurs and sword. At least the Guard could hear me coming, as my spurs made a chinking noise! Yes, the guard had pickaxe handles. They did carry rifles later on, but the ammo was usually locked in a safe.

[@johnfisk811]

Did the same thing guarding TA sites against the IRA armed with a pick axe handle. The (informal) advice was that if I hit them with the metal end, to dip the wooden end in the blood and claim I only hit them with the wooden end. Apparently it was all right if they shot me or blew me up with a bomb but perish the thought that they should be hit with a bit of steel on the end of a stick. That would be unspeakable frightfulness and unfair………

[@chadthundercock5641]

Oh beautiful, just beautiful.

[@fibonnacisq]

This chap most certainly knows his stuff. And unlike every single one his fellow countrymen, he doesn't need to automatically add the word "British" immediately after saying "303"!

[@jarodcrazyindian]

Love it ❤

[@evilscience3164]

I remember when a very good example of a No4 Mk1 fetched $90 and the first time I saw a No4 Mk2 they were $140. I was at a gun show and had about $50 I asked my friend for a loan and he about $40. I asked the seller if he would trust me for the remainder and he laughed. He had one rifle all cleaned up and at least 20 or more others wrapped in multiple layers of vapor barrier paper and somewhat of a cloth all of which was slathered in cosmoline.. The cleaned one was not for sale and he had a partially opened one that showed all the layers of protection. That always bothered me until 5 years ago when I finally got one at a price that was not a bargain but I pulled the trigger so to say and do not regret it. It's like the $ 89 dollar 1954 Tula SKS that was almost pristine will all the accessories that I sold for a song. Hindsight.

[@brendonbewersdorf986]

The lee is such a nice gun bolt actions have such charm

[@DayzedTransceiver]

*Question for all you gunsmiths out there:* For the modern sniper rifles, why did we not just free float these old bolt action barrels, put a polymer/chassis around it, and add integrated scope rails on it? What made the Remington 700 so much more popular than just putting existing bolt actions in a free-floated stock/chassis?

[@tonyjones80]

Originally the rem 700 and Winchester model 70 were adopted as wood stocked rifles- they found out really early the wood warps . As for free floating the barrels on a 303- they did in the L42. Why did they get rid of them- one simple word- nato . And who doesn’t like new gear?