From a distance I spied wood stocks and walked over, thinking they were yet more of the Chinese bang sticks.īut there, in the crates before me, were Lee-Enfield No. Sometime between 19, I walked into a gun show and on one of the dealers’ tables were two wooden crates of rifles. After everyone and their brother had bought two, you could find them for as low as $99 in my neighborhood. Every dealer at every gun show had at least 20 of them, and if I remember correctly, they were originally priced at about $150. The American market was being flooded with Chinese SKS rifles-new, unfired SKS rifles-by the tens of thousands. How did that happen? Ever hear of the “Irish Contract” Lee-Enfields? Let me tell you a story. Thousands of Americans just like me bought them new in the box.
And yet I am the proud owner of a Lee-Enfield No. When it comes to used guns, I have a poor track record in separating trash from treasures.
