1931 trials rifle

[yardbird]

How would I get a price check on a 1931 trials rifle??

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[louthepou]

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

[Badger]

How would I get a price check on a 1931 trials rifle??

I think it could be $5,000 plus, depending upon market conditions and correctness....

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

[No4Mk1(T)]

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.

[louthepou]

There just isn’t enough of these around to fix a price at the moment.

See, at least I knew there weren't many of them in existence

With a rifle like that though, proven authenticity beyond a doubt will also be something potential buyers will be looking for.

[Amatikulu]

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?

[breakeyp]

See, at least I knew there weren't many of them in existence

With a rifle like that though, proven authenticity beyond a doubt will also be something potential buyers will be looking for.

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.

[No4Mk1(T)]

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 don’t know if I can explain what is required but I can offer up a few opinions on the subject.
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.

I have been collecting Lees for thirty 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.

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?
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.

I see more "bad" No.4 (T)s lately than I have "good" ones.

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.
It’s been said before here “Buy a gun-buy a book”.
Just my two cents on the subject.

[rayg]

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

[Lance]

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.