Sad day at the auction

[gsimmons]

Like chuck in denver says they spend $200 on an $800 rifle to turn it into a $200 rifle

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Then there was the NZ carbine I "rescued" from the local pawn shop. Bubba had taken a hacksaw to the forend,then thrown away the handguard and nosecap. Got it restored by a fellow in Canada, BUT I had to send him the timber from my other NZ carbine so he could copy it. If the postoffice had lost that I would have had TWO unrestorable carbines.. (They only made 1500)
Then there was the other chop job I bought localy, A No4 that I almost passed on UNTIL I saw the date (1931) That was a lot easier to restore, but since it was a "T" it took a year to find a No32Mk1 scope, and then find an excellent repo mount from the U.K. plus a scope tin

[bigduke6]

Unfortunately at this time the cost to restore a Mk.V exceeds the value of the completed rifle.

It can be done on a budget, my own I reduced the calibre to .30 M1 carbine (more a safety aspect than anything else), not a collectors peice by all means, but its better than it was and doesnt look too much out of place next to its older brother, and shoots like a dream.

SMLE No1 MkV Restoration (Part's 1 thru 7)

[Rumpelhardt]

All this talk about "monetary value" makes one think this is more of a business than a hobby done for the enjoyment of it. It probably is for some.

[Bear43]

I don't ever really look at the cost of what something will be to restore and I don't think too hard about end value. I really enjoy taking these rifles that have been cut down and otherwise molested and bringing them back to their glory. That's why my 1906 BSA/Sparkbrook Mk I*** has been patiently waiting for almost 4 years. I pick up a proper part now and then when I can but in the end the final result will be worth it to me.

[newcastle]

True, and we should also remember that th odd rifle that has been parted out can provide 'proper' parts for several others. Sort of like somone dying but saving 4 other people with their organs.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Sad day at the auction
I rarely run into a rifle that really makes me wince. I"m somewhat immune to sporterized rifles but today I encountered one that really made me think.

Thank you for not posting pictures. It would have ruined my day as well.

[Aragorn243]

All this talk about "monetary value" makes one think this is more of a business than a hobby done for the enjoyment of it. It probably is for some.

Hobbies are just that, something to get some relaxation and pleasure out of. I've had many, many hobbies over the years, some free, some expensive, some very expensive. My budget does not allow me to conduct any sort of expensive hobby without consideration for what sort of return there will be from it, probably after I'm gone because I can't get rid of anything. But the kids and the wife will have some extra funds that weren't wasted away on beer and song.

[muffett.2008]

Hobby aside, it's still a wise move to record a monetary value with each and all of your items/collections.
Otherwise these may be parted with by your family for much less than the real worth, or siphoned off by unscrupulous persons unknown, at a great loss for those you leave behind.
It would be a pointless exercise gathering all this valuable material, if it does not benefit your descendants.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I am doing my part in documenting the history on my small collection and hope the items make it into the hands of folks like the ones I have met here when I am gone.