That is one of the so called "Irish contract" rifles. But further research over the years has shown that only a certain range of the serials were supposed to go to the irish, but many were made for UK service. These used to show up everywhere in Canada for around $150 back around 2000. Now they will show up over the $2K mark.
No question on that one: Do not unwrap.
In the wrap adds a high premium to the price. I have seen posts on the gunnutz site where someone paid the premium price, degreased it, and shot it. I congrstulate them, as they just flushed $1500 down the toilet.
There will be a matching numbered bayonet in the wrap as well.
I have a couple of unfired Enfields in the safe. The next owner can do what he wants, but I can guarantee I won't be firing tham.
Stolen from the web:
An incomplete list:
PF301548-PF304047 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
PF309348-PF359347 Irish Republic
PF359748-PF359817 Zambia
PF359818-PF359952 Singapore
PF359953-PF360052 Jamaica
PF360053-PF360202 Trinidad
PF360203-PF360238 St. Vincent
PF360239-PF360258 St. Kitts
PF360259-PF360459 War Office
PF360460-PF381159 Uganda
PF361160-PF361259 Parker Hale
PF361260-PF401086 Burma
PF401087-PF401459 Allocated for T conversion
PF404157-PF404206 Parker Hale
PF405393-PF405412 St. Vincent
PF405513-PF405712 Admiralty contract
PF405813-PF405848 Fulton
PF407649-PF407648 Trinidad
PF407649-PF407728 Zanzibar
PF411229-PF411264 Fulton
PF411265-PF411461 Kenya
PF411462-PF411471 Hong Kong
Some of these contracts were not delivered. A case in point being the "Irish Contract". Daft spams pay a premium for these because they think they're getting a piece of Oirish history. In fact most of the rifles never left UK warehouse until they were sold as surplus.
|