The SMLE 1903-1989
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  1. #21
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    The really nice ones have risen some.
    Regards, Jim

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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #22
    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
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    I wonder if the painted mag was an effort to provided some kind of added corrosion resistance in a damp, tropical atmosphere??? No idea by who but perhaps after it was sold by the U.K.?

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  5. #23
    Contributing Member Gil Boyd's Avatar
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    I can only speak for myself and our Regiment. If I, or any other soldier had "hand painted" a magazine in such a way, I know where I would have spent a few nights........in the slammer!! The wroth of the REME ARMOURER would have hurt your ears to boot

    It wouldn't have been done by a trained soldier, because a trained infanteer would know better and realise such slop or paint on the metalwork of a magazine, would eventually lead to paint coming off and intermingling with rounds and causing the inevitable stoppages that would definately follow.

    In the jungle we ensured our "best friend" was oiled daily including the inner and outer workings of the magazines.
    I would counter a guess that this magazine was painted to enhance its sales prospects on the civilian market following some heavy scratches or dents.
    The only outer covering I have ever seen on a magazine is tape on sniper rifles, or odd white tape cuttings well away from the action for Arctic warfare camouflage usage!
    IMHO anyway for what its worth
    'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA

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  7. #24
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    Harlan (Deceased)'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Vincent View Post
    Yeah. It’s the same at our local gun shows. Some people ask way more than they normally sell for. They bring the same overpriced guns to every show...... and take them home.
    It's the exact same here in Dallas, Vincent... I've always wondered what those guys are doing at shows with the same six or so WAY overpriced guns month after month, and even year after year that never sell. We have a gun show here about every other weekend, and I see the same shady guys with the same crazy priced guns at shows all over the D/FW Metroplex... It costs $50 - $60 for a single table here, plus parking fees both days, and I've always wondered what those guys are about... Even if they did get someone to pay their crazy prices someday, they've still lost money. I guess they get a thrill out of hoping to sell a 'sucker' their overpriced gun someday... I'm certain these sellers MUST know the real market value of their guns after all those shows they didn't sell anything month after month.

  8. #25
    Legacy Member Colonel Enfield's Avatar
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    Sometimes I think they're just showing off - "Look at this gun I have", rather than expecting to sell them.

    Several years ago I was at a gun show in Queensland and there was someone there with a couple of deactivated machine-guns for sale (They still require a special, hard to get licence, a permit to acquire, and have extra security requirements, despite effectively being paperweights.) I recall seeing a BAR for about $20,000 and I think there was an Austen or something similar for not much less.

    Point is, a collector or re-enactor with a spare $20k lying about isn't going to be wandering about a gunshow and go "Ah, a deactivated BAR! And for only $20,000! Lucky I brought some walking-around money with me today. I'll have my butler put it in the boot of the Bentley after tiffin."

    The stuff at that price/collectability level changes hands among a select group of Serious Collectors on a word-of-mouth basis; the average punter almost never sees it because they can't afford it.

    I can only surmise one of the major reasons for having guns like "for sale"* that at a gun show may be to basically say "Ho, ho, ho, I have a machine-gun. Look upon my collection, ye mighty, and despair."

    I see similar things with some of the pawnbroking/auction hunting-type shows on TV - someone shows up with an improbably expensive or rare item (In an episode of one of those shows I recall someone had a Hotchkiss 2pdr Mountain Gun they allegedly wanted to sell!), but of course they can't agree on a price and so the owner departs with the item. While it makes for interesting TV, I think we all know the reality is that anyone who has something as interesting as a Hotchkiss Mountain Gun or an actual Sengoku period Katana that they need to sell for whatever reason would be infinitely more likely to contact other collectors, their local museum or historical society or even go on the internet before deciding to take it into a pawnbrokers (even one which features in its own TV show).

    *Air Quotes fully intended

  9. #26
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    I was just wondering, do you think maybe some of these guys are jacking the prices way up because their wives told them to sell and they don't want to? "Yes dear, I'm trying to sell but the right buyer just hasn't come by yet".

  10. #27
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    reading the prices for No5's around the world is interesting, in NZicon they seem to often sell for less than a No4 in the same condition-the last one i followed at auction sold for under nz$350 but have seen them go for less.

  11. #28
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    20 years ago I paid $350.00. I would not hesitate myself to pick one up for $550.00 if I didn't have one already with no import marks and all matching numbers. The non-matching magazine can bring it down a little bit but it wouldn't settle for less than $550.00. It seems like we are seeing a lot of WWII rifles hitting the market.

    I just picked up a nice Remington 1903A3 all matching but has a Smith Corona bolt. Easy to find one if I want to change it. It gave me a nice 1 inch group yesterday.

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