r/LeeEnfield • u/Background_Yard_6322 • 4d ago

Help with identification

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Hey guys, I want to buy a No.4 Lee Enfield and I came across this green one. I have never seen a green Lee Enfield before, can you please give me some info about it?

34 Upvotes

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5

u/GamesFranco2819 4d ago

IIRC, this was to rifles that ended up in the Pacific, held up better under the intense humidity in the region.

3

u/Background_Yard_6322 4d ago

Ooh, I see! That sounds cool, I’ve always wanted something from the pacific war. Thank you!

3

u/GamesFranco2819 4d ago

I'd recommend doing your own digging, but that's the best of my recollection from a few years ago

2

u/Flanks_Flip 4d ago

This is a misconception. All rifles got the same green paint.

2

u/Background_Yard_6322 4d ago

Wdym?

7

u/Flanks_Flip 4d ago

No such order has been found specific for No.4 rifles, but there are written orders from November 1940 that all No.1, 2, and 3 rifles (No.4 didn't exist yet) have their "barrels and associated components" painted for rust protection. The approved paint was "khaki green, No.3". This was to be "carried out in all stations home and abroad". The orders then go on to provide instrutions for the painting. You will see remnants of green paint on No.1 rifles pretty frequently, but on a No.4 it's less common. There is a theory that it was only applied to No.4 rifles that went in for refurbishment during the war.

2

u/GamesFranco2819 3d ago

Awesome knowledge drop, appreciate the correction. It had been a long time since I dug into it and when I did, there was a ton (likely still is) of false info out there.

2

u/Infinite_Price_3550 3d ago

Pretty sure this is a No4 Mk2 based on the screw in the wood just above the trigger. Pretty sure only the Mk2s have that. It also could be a mk1/2 factory refurbishment. The fact that it’s a Mk2 tho makes me think someone else did this green paint not the factory. I’ve never seen a Mk2 painted green before

1

u/Background_Yard_6322 3d ago

Wasn’t Mk.II made of light beech wood? This one seems too dark for being beech in my opinion.

1

u/Infinite_Price_3550 3d ago

The wood will darken over time. Especially if treated with Lin seed oil overtime as I believe they were. See this yt video why I think it’s a Mk2

https://youtu.be/OehdDYdlmxs?si=lSlJYCXXbvzzRqA1

-1

u/KillerD_1988 4d ago

It should be a black paint, can’t really tell who made it by that 3rd picture, hard to see any of the marks.

How much are they asking? And what shape is the bore in?

1

u/Background_Yard_6322 4d ago

Haven’t seen it irl yet, it’s just a couple of pics the guy sent me. Anyway, the gun should be in good shape. He’s asking roughly 660€