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Just missed by 20 minutes on the joe salter site a unaltered 1931 trials rifle
Item # 15840
1931 trials rifle Item # 15840
Almost new condition,great pics for reference on the site.
I don,t know the selling price.
Maybe another 20 years before I see another one!
Saved auction data and pics for research posterity ... ;)
Regards,Quote:
Seller said:
Lee Enfield No 4 Mark I Trials Rifle - Sold for $6,750 U.S.
We are pleased to offer a rare Lee Enfield trials rifle. Serial # A0888 with bright, excellent bore. For reference see Chapter 7 "The Lee-Enfield" by Ian Skennerton at page 211. This piece is marked on the left stock socket "GR crown Enfield , 1931 No 4 MK I over C and serial # A0888". This was the B Pattern rifle following the No 1 MK VI. There were a total of 2479 of these trials rifles built. The survival rate of these trial pieces is very low. factory records indicate that 2000 were rebuilt and many were used in the sniper conversion program of early WWII. This rifle retains 95% plus of its original blued finish. The wood is excellent and is matching with clear sharp stampings and raised grain feathering. The piece is fitted with the MKVI front sight protector, cut off, and stock disk. The only damage to the piece is a small stock gouge on the left above the trigger guard and a 1" surface crack ahead of the cut off. The background history of this trials gun is as follows: This piece originated from an estate in Massachusetts. The information is that it was given to one of the former owners by Oliver M (Jack) Knode who was the vice president of Savage Arms. This piece came out in the 1960-70 period of time. The best guess regarding this rifle is that it probably came to America with the original tool set for the Stevens No 4 production. This is based on the former owner and that it originated out of Chicopee, Mass. A very rare item for the advanced Lee Enfield or British Military collector. FFL or C&R
Doug
Attachment 18032 - Attachment 18031 - Attachment 18034 - Attachment 18033 - Attachment 18035 - Attachment 18036 - Attachment 18037 - Attachment 18038 - Attachment 18039 - Attachment 18040 - Attachment 18041 - Attachment 18042 - Attachment 18043 - Attachment 18044 - Attachment 18045 - Attachment 18046 - Attachment 18047 - Attachment 18048 - Attachment 18049 - Attachment 18051 - Attachment 18050 - Attachment 18052 - Attachment 18054 - Attachment 18053 - Attachment 18055 - Attachment 18056 - Attachment 18057 - Attachment 18058 - Attachment 18059 - Attachment 18060 - Attachment 18061 - Attachment 18063 - Attachment 18062 - Attachment 18064 - Attachment 18065 - Attachment 18066
Oh my god thats so clean and the history is so good it's beyond drool worthy!
Re the comment that many were used in the sniper conversion programs. I've always wondered just why the trials rifle were chosen, seemingly as a group? Was there something better about these rifles that made them good snipers? Did they shoot better? Or was it just the business of having them handy in storage and not issued, and therefore easily available, at a time of great need?
Who ever it was deserves a medal; for creating some of the finest and most sought after sniper variants that will ever exist!
The trials rifles were chosen because they were a) available in number, b) simple to convert with the flat side vertical to the barrel, c) proven to be more accurate and durable than the existing rifle and d) better still, were already earmarked for production which was already getting underway. There was very little in the way of trials for it's acceptance. But none the less, a wise choice
I think I logged on somewhere between 12:08 and 12:12 and it was already sold!! Most likely out of my price range, but I will never know!:crying:Quote:
Originally Posted by superbee
Joe sold it for 6750..he did mention a crack in the stock, forward of the cut-off, and a dent or chip, still gorgeous..That buttplate material is the same as the Savages..I figured they would have used brass??
$6,750.00.
stunning.
I've got to get cracking on my restoration.
Holy crap!I didn,t think it was that much!
Based on what he has been able to sell his rifles for, I was thinking it would be no less than $4000 to $5000.
I have been to his business...lots of gems, I picked some for myself, but missed out on a MKVI, it was in my hands....I failed to recognize the rear sight...for what it was...
And the Fultons no1 mk3 remains forlornly on its shelf, tempting me ...
Ive seen that in person, but am not familiar with them. I was searching for Dispersals.
I know that particular rifle, it's changed hands approximately twice over the last 22 years. Buy the rifle not the story.
I wasn't aware there was a story, interesting ...
I'm just daydreaming though, I really wanted it because I'd never seen one with the top strap/springs set up that hadn't been later modified, but a few months back that gap in the safe was fixed, so I like to look the pictures over and I'd love to visit the store, but its not the incurable itch that it was.
For you to visit...its in New Hampshire, about 1 hour outside Boston, Mass...it takes me 2 hours from CT...youre in NZ?
This rifle surfaced several years ago and was on the block for some time. The story is the same that it came from the estate of personnel from the Savage plant. Nice to see it back in circulation.
Miketv, good to see you here. Haven't seen you around the boards in a while.
Everyone, Mike is a good guy. He helped me refurb a No1MkV back in the day.
Welcome Mike ... :)
Thanks for helping out limpetmine ... he does need help ... ;) .... :lol:
Regards,
Doug
Oddly, I think some additional value come from the fact that it WASN'T converted into a scoped rifle. Nice to see there's at least one floating about in reasonably "as manufactured but used" condition.
Well, that is a museum piece.
It's actually one of only 57 Model C trials rifles made acc. to IDS.
I had one of these and have since passed it on to a friend who has restored it (it had been made into a 7.62mm target rifle by Fultons.) Interestingly the SN was in the A195- range, so it doesn't look as though a block of numbers was set aside for these.
Note the aluminum alloy buttplate and the sling swivel on the guard (the swivel is missing but the 'eye' is there)
That and the regular No4 backsight plunger showing that the area had been milled out to accomodate it. Interesting that this one appears to be refinished after that cut was made, whereas mine was not.
How interesting that the relief cut for the backsight battle aperture is the same as that used on the Long Branch MkI backsights. Obviously the inspiration for same.
It would have made sense to send this type out to Savage (and presumably Long Branch) when they were tooling up for production, rather than the "B" type Salter mentions, with the non-standard backsight etc.