No.1 MkVI and Alexander-Martin sniper conversion on Gunbroker

[Badger]

Two recent items of interest on Gunbroker for Enfield (and sniper) collectors…

Enfield No1 MKVI : on GunBroker.com

Bidding reached $1,100.00 U.S., but didn't sell due to not reaching vendor's reserve price.

Enfield No1 MKVI, Matching and original. VG, Original MKVI magazine, MKI rearsight, a later replacement as is typical. Buyer pays all shipping and insurance charges. All Federal and State laws apply.

Attachment 14656 - Attachment 14657 - Attachment 14658 - Attachment 14659

Enfield P14 Sniper Rifle : on GunBroker.com

Sold for $6,450.00 U.S.

Enfield P14 Sniper Rifle, Alex-Martin conversion with PPCo Scope. Scope & rifle are matching. Overall VG. Buyer pays all shipping and insurance charges. All Federal and State laws apply.

Attachment 14660 - Attachment 14661 - Attachment 14662

Based purely upon our own experience with this seller, a caveat for our membership. His feedback appears to be positive, however, his communication skills are abysmal. We contacted him about his first item for more pics and a better description since what he provided in his auction was very sketchy at best. We received one reply from someone named "Diana" saying "Unfortunately, I will be unable to get any more pics until after the auction expires. Do you have specific questions I could answer. In 35 years of collecting I have only seen 4 of these for sale & I have two of them." I have no idea why additional pics could not be provided, but that alone was enough for us to step back from bidding, particularly on the expensive nature of the items being offered, plus his ads indicate that his Inspection Period / Return Policy is Unspecified.

We sent 4 follow up emails with clarification questions and never received a reply to any of them. All in all, a very weak communicator which also sent up red flags for us and might explain why his No.1 MkVI didn't sell. I hope the buyer of the Alex-Martin conversion with PPCo Scope item in the second auction turns up lucky and the piece is all correct, when compared against the all correct example of a No.3 MkI* (T)A Sniper Rifle - (Pattern 1914 Mk1* W (T)A Sniper Rifle) displayed in the United Kingdom - Milsurp Knowledge Library

BTW, a big thank you to Lance for spotting these auctions for us in the first place...

Regards,
Badger

Information

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[jmoore]

Thank goodness that we were "afield" when the the No.1 Mk.VI came up!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, an odd Ross is afoot...(.280 M-10 Sporter that's peculiarly suited to one of my "handicaps".)

[spinecracker]

They did not respond to my polite requests, either. Maybe the seller will be more communicative if he puts the No.1 Mk.VI back up for sale...nah, who am I kidding?

[RJW NZ]

Thats a most peculiar indentation above the V1 trigger, right side.

I was unaware, is there some method of IDing a magazine as being from a no1mk6?

[jmoore]

I was unaware, is there some method of IDing a magazine as being from a no1mk6?

One easy way would be the "EFD" marks on the body and follower. Of course, it could then also be the common No.4 Mk.1 "trials rifle" mag....

[Lance]

The SMLE Mk VI mag/Trials No. 4 mags are unique. If anyone has a spare I am in need. Here are the markings off my Mk VI

[jmoore]

The SMLE Mk VI mag/Trials No. 4 mags are unique. If anyone has a spare I am in need. Here are the markings off my Mk VI

You and me, both! Aside from the scope, that's the only thing missing on my trials No.4 Mk.1(T)...I reckon there's one lurking on every No.4 and 5 rifle that we don't inspect!

BTW, I didn't realize that the No.1 Mk.VI rifle had it's own follower. Thanks for the photos!

[Surpmil]

I was expecting to reply to Krinko's post, but I see it is gone.

I'm 99% sure I know who the seller is and in my experience he is a gentleman and not one with the need or inclination to indulge in fakery. I know at least one other person here reported similarly.

I suspect he is also quite busy and his 'significant other' is handling typing the emails.

There is nothing about the No3 MkI*(T)W that makes me think it is not what it appears to be. Nor the NoI MkVI for that matter.

The PPCo. scope supports my theory that there were no scopes held in store from the WWI SMLE sniper rifles, and the scopes fitted by Alex Martin in 1940/41 were simply whatever could be scrounged up from the gunmakers, museums etc. of the 9000+ scopes sold off after the scrapping of the SMLE sniper rifles in 1921.

If the Aldis No3 & No4 scopes had been held in store, as was mooted when the SMLE snipers were broken up, even a measly 421 of them, that is what we would see on these rifles, not a grab-bag of 4 or 5 different types, including even a few German scopes of WWI vintage by one report.

Just one more example of the folly of the "scrap it all" mentality.