Belgian No 4 .22 trainer

A friend of mine has a Belgian .22 trailer it id marked As Arm cal.22 L.R. No552-1948. The bolt has been renumbered to match, The rear sight which is stamped construction has been scrubbed and restamped for 25 50 100 meter ranges. The magazine has an insert that acts as a guide for loading round into the chamber and spring loaded spur to act as an ejector. My friend wants to sell it to me but has no idea what it is worth and neither do I. Does anyone have any idea as to worth. This rifle was converted from a 1944 BSA Shirley. Thanks Alan Abramson

Very rare, up there with the No7 MK I, though in truth because they are not UK military they bring a wee bit less than an official model would. Something less than 1000 but not all that much , my guess would be in the 750 to 900 range, depending on condition.

Is there ANY provenance that this was a Belgian Govt conversion and Belgian Army issued trainer. Anyone could do a simple conversion as you describe. Is it liosted in any Belgian Army small-arms literature. If it were an official issue then it would certainly be documented somewhere

I had sn's 554 and 559. Both sold now but I did keep one in my collection for a while. They were unique. I always wondered if they were an official Belgian Army conversion too. They were conversions of bog standard No.4 service rifles and the markings painted on.

Had a chance to buy No 555 up in Vancouver BC many years ago. Let a friend buy it instead.

I sold one for $1000 + about 8 years ago. Regretted it almost instantly but I needed the cash. incredibly accurate

They are in IS's book. There was one in a local shop that was sold through one of the auction sites. I had a chance at it but didn't go all in. Seems like it went higher than I expected. Around $1,100 IIRC. Would have liked to have it. Still will. :)

But are they a local gunsmiths creation or are they an official Belgian Forces conversion with some degree of official sanction. That's the $1000 dollar question. Literally in this case!

I am surprised at the high price. No7 MK I rifles, incomplete are only around 200~400 in PA (depending on what and how much is missing). My two No 8 rifles cost me 390 and 770 respectively, I am surprised a NON British rifle conversion would demand so much money. Not that I doubt it, but that would imply the price for British .22 cal conversions should be far higher these days.