Getting Expensive

Holts Auction Dec 8th Lot No 1127. An SMLE with an estimate of £800 to £1200. I knew prices were going up but not this much!
Holt's Auctioneers

But...it's a " 'No1 MKI SMLE" and it's about mint. We don't even see those around here.

It shows very well in the photographs, quite an attractive rifle.

Odd what information isn't included, though. Doesn't say anything about matching or not, which for that kind of money would be nice to know!

ed

And i reckon it will go for the higher estimate as well.

Oooo, just noticed the 25% buyer's premium, plus VAT as required. If it went for L1000, that would be about $1700 CAD, plus 25% is $2125, and that hasn't even left the auction house yet........still gotta row it across the pond!

Ed

I did send an enquiry about whether or not the numbers match and this is what I received in reply:

Dear Sir, thank you for your enquiry regarding the No1MKI (Lot 1127) in our December sale. These early guns had the serial number suffixed with a batch number, in this case 170. All the pieces you mention with the exception of the nosecap have this number 170 on them. The nosecap appears to be un-numbered, but may be numbered internally. It is certainly of the early style with rolled in fore-sight protectors, and I have no reason to doubt its originality. The only item that may be replaced is the barrel as that has ‘AGP’ markings (for ‘A.G. PARKER’) and later cordite markings. Hope this helps,
Yours,
Robert Morgan

Still, a nice looking rifle.

Ed