"Ol' Number 1"

[Rick the Librarian]

I still have the first high-powered milsurp I ever bought. It struck me that I had never really taken any pictures or mentioned it. I'd be curious how many of you still have your first milsurp (assuming you've been "interested" for the last 8-10 years or so, or more).

It is a No. 4 Mk. I Lee-Enfield I bought in 1966, I believe, before my 17th birthday. I worked in a cold storage warehouse to earn the $18.95 that this cost. A local department store, had a rack of Lee Enfields, M1917s and a M1903 or two. Why, do you ask, did I not buy the M1903?? The Lee-Enfield was $18.95, while the M1917s were $29.95 and the M1903 a whole $39.95!!

This rifle had been refinished with the black enamel finish the Brits sometimes used, Suncorite, being the name, IIRC. The forestock had been replaced by what looks like birch, but it looked almost new to me! The bore is still pristine, although I admit I haven't fired it much. It appears to have a 2-groove barrel.

The rifle was made in 1943 at Maltby and it has one of the later micrometer-type rear sights. It has British proof/export stamps on the muzzle and a rather peculiar five-pointed star on the receiver. The star has been identified to me as Israeli, Thai, etc. Any other comments on the markings in the pictures?

Although FAR from my most valuable rifle, being the first of a LONG line of milsurps, it will remain in my "Only From My Cold, Dead Hands" section of my collection! Oh, by the way, showing early symptoms of the dread Milsurpitis, I managed to finagle enough funds over the next few months to buy a M1917 AND the M1903 from the department store!!

Anyone else still have "ol' number 1"???

[ebeeby]

Nice. My No.1 was a Hakim because, like your case, I could afford it. Never did find any ammo for it and sold it off.

[JB White]

My first milsurp was an Eddystone M1917. My divorce attorney got the resale value in 1985 along with nearly every other one of any value at the time. Recovered quickly though and started buying milsurps again in 1990. Still have the 1955 Faz I started round two with.

[stratocaster]

My first milsurp was an M1 Garand that I got through the DCM in 1994. Man that was exciting when the mailman brought me that box!

[Hal O'Peridol]

My first milsurp was a M1888 Commission rifle. Badly eroded chamber. Only worth parts. Broke it down and got rid of it. BTW Rick, that star stamp is what is know as the Weedon repair/refurb stamp. It indicates the rifle went through a repair/refurb at the Weedon Royal Ordnance Depot ( http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/s...on/index.shtml ).

[Rick the Librarian]

Hal, thanks for the mention of the star. I'm familiar with Weedon - I saw a different type mark on the "Red Star" M1903s I examined a few years ago.

Stratocaster, the first milsurp I got in 1999, when I resumed collecting after over 20 years was also a CMP M1 - still have it today and it is my main shooter. I was equally excited to get the box, I remember!

[Allen Humphrey]

Funny timing on this thread Rick, I just bought my very first No. 4 MkI last night, but no pics yet. My first Milsurps ever was a M1903 built in late 1918. Bought it on GB. The stock it came with was butt ugly which is why I could afford it. By blind dumb luck the metal was perfect, bore was perfect, and the trigger is perfect. Has a new stock now, but it outshoots any of the other milsurps by a mile. I'll have to post some pics of the new No. 4 soon.

[joem]

My first mil surplus was a worn out M1 Garand. Cost me $275.00. I still have it although I've replaced the barrel and some internal parts.

[RCS]

I bought my first rifle from Golden State Arms Co, a high number 1903 with a SA 9-35 dated barrel, cost $39.95 plus shipping, a lot of money when in high school. Use to buy 30-06 for $7 per 200 rds. First M1 was a Lend lease from Milt Klein who was a customer at the gas station where I worked part-time. He said to just put the $80 in an envelope and he would have one of his gunsmiths put it in his car trunk. Later in the same week he came in to buy gas and told me to get the rifle from his truck. I still have both rifles.

[Rick the Librarian]

I heard that MOST of the M1s sold in those days, at least by Kleins, were L/L M1s.

I have a L/L M1 very close to yours (which I did NOT get in those days, unfortunately!), 329,895.