2 rifles.

**bgriggsy** · 12-13-2012, 08:58 PM

Hello all.

I hope someone can help me.

My father was a collector of sorts many years ago, and I have recently discovered 2 lee enfield rifles in my mother's loft!
I remember them from when I was a kid, and all I seem to recall that one, a no1 WW1 dated rifle is a very old de-activated item, not to current specs I imagine and a bit of a mess to be honest.

The other, a WW2 dated no4 was I think, smoothbored and owned on their shotgun licence.

If this info is correct, how do I stand legally on them (in the UK), and how can I get them properly de-activated so I can keep these "heirlooms"?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian.

**ph3s** · 12-13-2012, 10:40 PM

You could take/send them to Birmingham guys or any other arsenal that provides service. Check the MK3 if it has proper deactivated markings, you are fine, unless you want to have the paper.

**Ben Evans** · 12-13-2012, 11:00 PM

Brian, the .410 you would have to get a shotgun license for or get it deactivated, the other one you would have to take advise on. You can deactivate them yourself and the weapon does not have to have deact cert, when Ade reads this he will be able to advise you more he was telling me about it

**bgriggsy** · 12-14-2012, 01:01 PM

Thanks for the advice.
I will have a look for markings when I am next able to.
Will I be able to transport them or is there a specialist courier?

Regards,

Brian.

**m3bobby** · 12-14-2012, 05:08 PM

Have a look at the Mk3, have a look at the bolt head and see if it has been ground to an angle. This is done so that the bolt can no longer support the base of the cartridge. The firing pin should also be cut down, removing the tip. The barrel should have a slot/slit along the barrel and as it has a full length stock, the slot will probably go nearly the whole length of it. There may or maynot be a rod welded into the bore. The chamber may or may not be cut but it should have a pin across or a plug in it. If it is deactivated in any other way then it will not be a officially approved job which the guidance states is a 'Definate defence to prosecution'. This means that any gun can be deactivated in other ways but it would be upto a court to prove otherwise, a prime example is the official DP SLRs and No.4 rifles.

If the No.4 was ever on a Shotgun license its doubtfull the licence was surrendered without the gun having being tranfered in some way so theres a good possibility its either an original rifle or converted to .410 many moons ago and may not have the magazine restrictions. My advice is to get them checked ASAP by a dealer, that way he can confirm if the SMLE is deactivated and if the No.4 needs a Shotgun or sect 1 license. If you don't want to get a License to hold it on, he could most probably deac it for you for a charge and the proof costs about £60 at the moment. Any chance of some photos?