How would I get a price check on a 1931 trials rifle??
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How would I get a price check on a 1931 trials rifle??
Hi Yardbird,
Good question. I know up here in Canada it'd likely be more than the average SMLE...
Not sure how many were produced, that'd probably be the important factor (besides the obvious overall shape of the firearm).
Nice rifle for sure...
Anyone from the US can provide more than my useless but yet polite comment? :)
Lou
I think it could be $5,000 plus, depending upon market conditions and correctness....Quote:
Originally Posted by yardbird
Here's a Knowledge Library entry worth reading for research and comparisons ...
With thanks for the research analysis and assistance of Advisory Panel members Lance and Roger Payne, there's an entry in the England - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here)
1933 No.4 Mk1(T) Sniper "Trials Rifle" (click here) .....
Regards,
Badger
There just isn’t enough of these around to fix a price at the moment. Most that are seen for sale have been converted to No4(T) configuration. Try this: Ask a bunch of collectors what they would offer you for it. Calculate an average of there offers and double it and then add a $1000.00 for good measure.
In other words I think Badger is right on the mark.
See, at least I knew there weren't many of them in existence :)Quote:
Originally Posted by No4Mk1(T)
With a rifle like that though, proven authenticity beyond a doubt will also be something potential buyers will be looking for.
The best way to establish value if you intend to sell it is to do exactly what you're doing here - ask.
If you don't intend to sell it, and want an insurance value, say its not for sale and one of the advanced collectors will probably give you an idea of what they valued theirs at for insurance purposes.
If your intention is to sell it, don't expect a correct answer on any site. Just post it on all the enfield foums indicating you intend to sell it and that you'll be putting it on an online auction.
What will happen is you will effectively have notified a lot of potential buyers for what is a less common rifle. They will then have the opportunity to bid for it at auction and you will get the most realistic price that way.
I am interested in buying your rifle..........are you selling it? :wave:
Would love to see a few more photos of it, like the front sight protector, the cocking knob, (looks like it may be an early one with the side screw), and more. Most Trials I see were converted to snipers or have been upgraded so an un-converted and one that was not upgraded would really be scarce I think, Ray
A non-sniper No.4 Trials has been on my want list for quite a while, so if you have one you are one lucky guy. More detailed photo's would be a plus and would help us out here to make sure your girl is original.
I know this Rifle has some down sides to it..I am not an expert, but she really looks nice.. I have had her for 41 years and she has just been a wall hanger for me..At one time they ground off the front scope base and I know that is a bad thing.. Thanks for the replies.. RoyQuote:
Originally Posted by yardbird
Nice girl, as you state, too bad about the front pad. It can be replaced but it will never be "correct" especially since Enfield put a very nice proof mark on their front pads. Hang on to it.
Your first photo of the rifle threw me off as I didn't think it had been set up as a sniper because it still has the unground battle peep sight on it as that was ground off on the sniper set-ups. Also is there a small screw on the side of the cocking knob? Ray
Ray I hope this is what you wanted to see.. RoyQuote:
Originally Posted by rayg
That's it. I believe that would be the early cocking piece found on the Trials, Ray
That's the fifth trials No4 to turn in WA that I'm aware of.
Someone has the right pad for you in WA IIRC. Saw a thread on one of the Enfield forums about a Long Branch with chopped down receiver and a RSAF(E) marked front pad grafted on by someone.
Can't find the thread or I'd link to it.
Its a real longshot, but if you could "sniff around" a bit for No32 Mk1 Scope #3345 the "down sides" would evaporate with the reunion. There happens to be a website that could improve your chances, if only I could remember what it was .......
Here it is, I was looking on the wrong site!
Longbranch Sniper? - Military Surplus Collectors Forums
Quote:
Originally Posted by louthepou
Can someone please explain to me what is required for "proven authenticity" in a gun? Even with a Government bill of sale, how does one determine if the parts have not be changed/switched since release?
I have been collecting Lees for thiry years and feel I can tell good from bad but I don't know how to "certify" anything as we don't have factory letters like Colt. If you worry about such things.
I see more "bad" No.4 (T)s lately than I have "good" ones.
I don’t know if I can explain what is required but I can offer up a few opinions on the subject.Quote:
Originally Posted by breakeyp
You’ll never know if parts have been changed unless you unpack the rifle from it’s original packing grease. Especially with Lee Enfield production having used subcontractors for many parts during both wars it may be impossible to ever know. However if the part is from a known supplier and “looks” original to the gun it should be considered correct. In the case of some rifles like the MkV (No.1Mk.V) almost every part on the few I’ve seen is marked EFD making it fairly easy to identify what parts have been swapped.
Many modern collectors want the work done for them. They want someone else to tell them they have a genuine collectable or that their item is in some way special. Even with a letter how would you know if, for example, a barrel or trigger had been swapped unless the original one had been serial numbered to the rifle or pistol?Quote:
Originally Posted by breakeyp
With the fine work of people like Ian Skennerton, Peter Laidler and many others Lee Enfields can themselves become their own letter of authenticity. We can now, with references in hand, review a firearm and determine to a reasonable degree of accuracy if a given example is correct. In a way your reference material becomes your letter as well. The whole point of this site was to offer collectors an online reference source with it’s many photos of known correct examples.
Welcome to a world where it is profitable to reproduce rare collectables. I think we can thank Century Arms for that one in many cases. This makes your reference material even more important. I understand even letters of authenticity have been faked so in some cases even they may not be a guarantee. Even if this is nothing more than a rumor we all know it’s just a matter of time until someone does it. A letter will add value to a “good” collectable but we have to keep in mind that we aren’t trading collector plates on the Bradford Exchange here. In the case of the Lee Enfields they were made for a give purpose with collectability never having entered the equation.Quote:
Originally Posted by breakeyp
It’s been said before here “Buy a gun-buy a book”.
Just my two cents on the subject.