Korean War Lee Enfield Value?

[bostontom]

I have found my granfathers old rifle from the korean war. It is a BSA (Birmingham small arms Company) manufactured Lee Enfield cartridge rifle with a crown and King George's GR mark. It has the year 1918 and "lll*" also on it. I have the cartiridge, a few rounds and the bayonet for it. I'm not sure I want to sell it but if I did does anyone know how much it would be worth? it is in OK condition for being 92 years old. some of the wood is cracking, and someone put zip ties around in to reinforce the barrel. I have pic's and can share them.. thanks in advance

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[218bee]

First of all, welcome.....I have the same rifle, but a 1917 version....I would look for the serial number to be matching on all large parts like the bolt, receiver, barrel shank, front bayonet stud, maybe the wood, etc....

The rifle will get instantly more valuable if you can tell a buyer it's "all matching".....Having said that, probably millions of these were rebuilt, and armorers didn't care about keeping the original parts on the rifle..If it needed a new bolt, they went into the bin and got out a bolt, etc...you see my point...odds are it's not matching...

I would not hazard a guess until I knew more about your rifle, or saw some quality, close up pics......but just the fact that is has zip-ties holding it together isn't good....Are the letters "DP" anywhere on it?

This would mean it was demoted to Drill Purpose, and for some unknown reason, it probably shouldn't be trusted to shoot....

email me if I can be of any more help....or if you want to share pics..

ds1911@verizon.net

[enfield303t]

Please don't sell it. What a great piece of family history you posess and most of us wish we had something like it.

[Surpmil]

What force did your grandfather serve in? Only Australians used SMLE's in Korea, so he wasn't an Aussie....