RPM,
That's neat! Where did he see active duty using one?
There really hasn't been a better time to get an as-issued Enfield No. 5. I don't know where my rifle came from but I see that
http://www.centuryarms.com has them. A word of caution if you haven't bought surplus military rifles before . . . "good" means bad, and 'very good" means acceptable. Make sure you get one with matching serial numbers, at <font color=blue>least</font color=blue> get one with matching serial numbers on the bolt and reciever. This is not just because those rifles appreciate in value more rapidly, it's also a safety issue in many rifles. Mismatched parts can cause excessive headspace, which may result in a ruptured cartridge case.
Interestingly enough, in the Enfield this is not a safety issue, because the end of the bolt could be replaced with a longer or shorter piece to adjust headspace if the bolt was not original to the gun. Mine has had this piece replaced by the importer, even though it is the original bolt, probably to bring it back to spec. The Enfield, although not as intrinsicly (sp?) accurate as the Mauser, is in my opinion the best bolt-action battle rifle every developed because of it's reliability.
As of right now, you can expect to pay between $225 and $275, including transfer fees from your local dealer, for a No. 5 with matching bolt and reciever numbers. Prices usually fluctuate, and they usually go up. For example, the Swedish rifle I mentioned earlier cost $69 four years ago, but I could sell it tomorrow for $200. Anybody else buy an SKS when they were $89 or less? Now they sell for $225 or more. Your results may vary.
