Improved Gahendra values.

[Anzac15]

Hi all. First off, I'm not certain if this is the forum to put forth this question, so if it isn't, let me know. I have two improved Gahendras that I am considering selling, and would like to get some thoughts on the rarity and possible value on these guys. They are mint. All info I've found on the improved versions are a bit dated. Thanks for your tome!

[jamie5070]

You might try asking over on the british militaria website, I think it's: britishmilitaria.yuku.com. They have a separate forum for the non-martini rifles like the gahendra and francotte rifles.
john

[Richardwv]

There really is no established secondary market for the improved vice regular Gahendra, since the majority of them were obtained through ordering a Gahendra at then prevailing Gahendra prices. The resales I've seen reflect regular Gahendra prices as well. The reason is that very few folks (owners or buyers) know the difference and some have falsely listed regular Gahendras as "improved", adding to the "buyer beware" problem when differences are slight and ignorance rules. At a minimum, I'd ask the going rate of a hand select Gahendra, but wouldn't expect a whole lot more until these are better known and appreciated for what they are.

As to rarity, that would be speculation on anyone's part, since we don't have comparative production numbers. Likely guesses are in the multi-hundred....but that is only a guess. Really rare for the Gahendra is the improved carbine model, for which we believe there are no more than 15 in existence. However since any Gahendra can be considered rare compared to just about any other production military issued rifle of that era, the improved model is just that much more so.