S&T Lee-Enfield has landed !

[Algy]

5 hours ago, Druid799 said:

For once nope not the case , it’s what the going price is . From HK it’s the same price in US $’s as it is in UK £’s so by the time you add all the ‘extras’ on there’s a very good chance it could end up costing more to import than buying in the UK ! 😳

The going rate on Japanese and Taiwanese sites for these rifles seems to be £260-300. I think it's just the scarcity over here that is driving the high price, the SMLE has been out in Japan for some time, but obviously being closer to the source they've had fewer supply issues.

[Druid799]

13 hours ago, Algy said:

The going rate on Japanese and Taiwanese sites for these rifles seems to be £260-300. I think it's just the scarcity over here that is driving the high price, the SMLE has been out in Japan for some time, but obviously being closer to the source they've had fewer supply issues.

Yea some sites over seas are a lot cheaper BUT once you factor in all the charges that will accompany buying it from the Far East and importing it yourself you end up with around the same price as you’ve got over here .

[EvilMonkee]

It does have the added benefit of not giving that scalper DCA any money though....

[Spartan09]

On 11/01/2022 at 21:51, EDcase said:

We await your fondling report...

While we await @rocketdogbert fondling report,  I have just seen this video on YouTube.  Guess this is the best we can do for the moment

 

 

[Spartan09]

Well..   update time...

 

 

I caved in and bought one...

Bought from Onlyairsoft in stevenage, and I got the last one they had in stock.

 

I have been looking at this rifle all week, and watching them quickly go out of stock everywhere,  that combined with a couple of friends expressing regret at not buying a RIF they really wanted (believing it would be restocked but then weren't), I decided to take the plunge, as well as buying the one spare mag I could find at wolf armouries.

 

I haven't been able to field it yet, so can't comment much on performance,  but the rifle feels very sturdy, the action is easy to draw back (unlike the upgraded spring in my Well Hecate). I did try doing a "mad minute" with the rifle on the test range at onlyairsoft and it fed well, with only one double feed that was down to user error more than the rifle (didnt pull the bolt all the way back to engage the sear on one shot)

 

Couple of things I do feel wary of though are the magazine release, as it is not spring loaded. I can easily imagine catching it accidentally in the heat of battle with a gloved finger and dropping your mag. The lever is high up in the trigger guard so I don't see it being a common issue, just that one time you try to rapid fire and accidentally catch it.

 

The other thing I have noted is some sideways movement of the rear sight.  The sight is not so loose that it will move on its own when firing the rifle, but there is enough movement that an accidental nudge, for example with the rifle slung on your shoulder, could move the sights out of alignment, so without attention it will be difficult to zero the sights and keep them zeroed.  I havent looked too closely, but I believe I can sort this issue with some shims on the pivot

 

I will eventually be stripping the wood furniture and trying to give it more of an aged look, as I personally think that would suit the rifle better than its current pristine appearance.

 

Also going to be looking at making/buying some attachments to give the rifle different looks for ww1 "trench tommy" or ww2 paratrooper or BEF loadouts I have planned

[EvilMonkee]

Taiwangun listing them at £243 not incl tax and shipping.  Still will work out cheaper than DCA.  Minor problem is they STILL aren't shipping to the UK

Edited January 17, 2022 by EvilMonkee

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

RS stocks apparently fit.  Loads around and not expensive.  

[Diemaco]

1 hour ago, Tactical Pith Helmet said:

RS stocks apparently fit.  Loads around and not expensive.  

 

I don't know about that. Woodwork for the No.1 MkIII is not as common as for the No.4 rifles, and even repro stocks are quite expensive. 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

A

20 hours ago, Diemaco said:

 

I don't know about that. Woodwork for the No.1 MkIII is not as common as for the No.4 rifles, and even repro stocks are quite expensive. 

Apologies if I'm wrong, it's been about four or five years since I last bought some.  It was cheaper than Hogue back then I do remember.  

[Armo1000]

Patrolbase have them "coming soon" up for £299.99. Much more reasonable price!

 

https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/s-and-t-airsoft-lee-enfield-rifle-no-1-mk-iii-bolt-action-rifle

[Spartan09]

I think I speak for all those who bought the first batch (many probably wishing to avoid missing out and forever regretting it) when I say...

[EDcase]

On 21/02/2022 at 20:27, Armo1000 said:

Patrolbase have them "coming soon" up for £299.99. Much more reasonable price!

 

https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/s-and-t-airsoft-lee-enfield-rifle-no-1-mk-iii-bolt-action-rifle

I'll bet the price goes up when actually available 🙄

[Armo1000]

23 hours ago, Spartan09 said:

I think I speak for all those who bought the first batch (many probably wishing to avoid missing out and forever regretting it) when I say...

 

Yeah man, never settle for something which is clearly overpriced. I always knew these were worth like £350 at the most (they are just a springer after all in a nice body) so was a clear no until i saw more realistic prices. Unfortunately these people know how much demand there is for Enfield's so will ramp up the price unnecessarily any chance they get, as they know people get exited and will pay way overprice to finally have one of these....

23 hours ago, EDcase said:

I'll bet the price goes up when actually available 🙄

 

I'm not so sure about that. All their other S&T rifles have sold for about that price or less. So I'm pretty confident it will stay. 

[EvilMonkee]

Patrol Base have them in stock now for order.  Just got mine.  Now to find an extra magazine.....

[Armo1000]

4 hours ago, EvilMonkee said:

Patrol Base have them in stock now for order.  Just got mine.  Now to find an extra magazine.....

 

Me too just now. Very much looking forward to it. 

[EvilMonkee]

Mine just arrived, ordered yesterday!  Great work Patrol Base, not so much UPS who just dumped it on the door step and rang the bell once.  So much for it needing signed for.......Really impressed so far, looks and feels great, the wood is much less orange than in most pics.

 

[Nick G]

Got mine today too, Patrol base at their best ! Does look and feel right (I learned to shoot with a 303 at school) Anyone seen spare mags in stock anywhere ?

[EvilMonkee]

Just now, Nick G said:

Got mine today too, Patrol base at their best ! Does look and feel right (I learned to shoot with a 303 at school) Anyone seen spare mags in stock anywhere ?

Annoyingly Patrol Base have just put them up on the website. ......

[SilentSparky]

Mine arrived today also, very speedy service.

 

Here it is next to a real steel version;

 

I think I'll age the wood at some point

Edited March 4, 2022 by SilentSparky

[EvilMonkee]

Any ideas on where to get real steel parts like the nose cap?

 

[Nick G]

1 hour ago, EvilMonkee said:

Annoyingly Patrol Base have just put them up on the website. ......

Showing as out of stock already !

1 hour ago, EvilMonkee said:

Any ideas on where to get real steel parts like the nose cap?

 

Lots of genuine parts on ebay. Just ordered a nose cap. Father in law's bayonet should look a treat on it 🤣

[EvilMonkee]

1 hour ago, Nick G said:

Showing as out of stock already !

Lots of genuine parts on ebay. Just ordered a nose cap. Father in law's bayonet should look a treat on it 🤣

Glad I jumped on mine then.  Will go have a look, gradually want to replace all the metal with genuine bits if I can afford it.  

 

[EvilMonkee]

And now the rifles are out of stock.

 

[Nick G]

Bespoke have got some again , but priced at £459 ! making a profit is one thing as is supply and demand, but hell's teeth thats 50% more than I paid Patrol base last week 

[EvilMonkee]

15 hours ago, Nick G said:

Bespoke have got some again , but priced at £459 ! making a profit is one thing as is supply and demand, but hell's teeth thats 50% more than I paid Patrol base last week 

Bespoke are in the same realms as Daves Custom Airsoft for being scalpers.