Rifleman Q&A: Oddball Enfields

by
posted on September 22, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Enfield

Q. I was at a gun store and saw an Enfield No. 4 rifle that looked to be a pretty standard model to me, except it had a pointed stacking swivel. I have never seen one like this before and was wondering if you could tell me something about it. Is this some odd variant, or is it a common one that I have just never seen before?


Enfield No. 4 Mk I barrel muzzle gun parts rifle

A. I, too, have seen these rifles around and about. Apparently, Century Arms acquired a significant number of Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I and Mk I* rifles with this uncommon feature from a Middle-Eastern country’s war-reserve supplies that were sold off as surplus.

A visit to centuryarms.com confirmed that this batch of rifles included both British- and North American-manufactured Enfield No. 4s. These rifles were likely standard-configuration No. 4s that were sold off to that country several decades ago, but were later modified with the addition of this odd stacking swivel. Our resident Enfield nut—I mean authority—verified that these are assuredly not British-issue parts.

As far as collectibility concerns go, it all depends on your perspective. Oddly enough, many military rifle collectors are very enthusiastic about modified surplus rifles that can be identified as part of a specific lineage. Regardless, they certainly have their place in the history of Lee-Enfield rifles. I hope this helps.

—Michael O. Humphries


This “Questions & Answers” was featured in the March 2006 issue of American Rifleman. At time of publication, "Questions & Answers" was compiled by Staff, Ballistics Editor William C. Davis, Jr., and Contributing Editors: David Andrews, Hugh C. Birnbaum, Bruce N. Canfield, O. Reid Coffield, Charles Q. Cutshaw, Charles M. Fagg, Angus Laidlaw, Evan P. Marshall, Charles E. Petty, Robert B. Pomeranz, O.D., Jon R. Sundra, Jim Supica, A.W.F. Taylerson, John M. Taylor and John W. Treakle.

To subscribe to the magazine, visit the NRA membership page and select American Rifleman as your member magazine.

Latest

FN “Moroccan” Mauser, semi-automatic LRB M14SA
FN “Moroccan” Mauser, semi-automatic LRB M14SA

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Trijicon Releases Green-Dot RMR

For the first time, the Trijicon RMR will now be available with a green aiming dot, providing some benefits to shooters with astigmatism and red-green color blindness.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 15, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Firearm Industry Companies Consolidate, Others Close Doors In 2025

This year has already seen some big changes in the firearm industry. They don’t quite reach the tectonic shift in 2020, when legendary firms owned by Remington Outdoor were auctioned off, but there have still been some notable shifts within the industry in 2025.

Preview: Uni-Loader

The easy-to-use Uni-Loader can save high-volume shooters a lot of time and finger pain.

CZ 600+ Introduces Switch-Barrel Capability

In 2025, CZ USA expanded its 600 series rifle lineup with the CZ 600+, a design that delivers on the company's promise of a switch-barrel platform.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.