To Buy or not to buy - that is the question

[Fred G.]

I'd go with the Long Lee! I've a BSA Mk I* that has matching numbers on the bolt handle, receiver, barrel, top underside of rear sight ladder and bottom flat of bolt sear. The buttplate is marked with the rack number of 818, the date of 1901 (boer War), N.Z., and a capital S. on the tang. There is a matching S. at the bottom of the butt socket underneath BSA Co 1900 Mk I*. I don't know what the S. stands for. Suffolk Regiment? The bore is excellent and the wood undamaged and unsanded. The butt compartment has the correct round bottom Mk III oiler that was issued between 1899 and 1906 and the brass pull through and cord. I Gladly paid $1,150.00 for it and was VERY happy to do so. I considered it worth far more and I believe it is. There are other Mk I*'s that have been on Gunbroker lately that've gone for less, but they've had the stock altered by having wood removed from the Volley Sight area, Volley Sights missing etc. One Mk I that had been converted to take Charger clips but still had the original Mk I rear sight and front sight (thus not a complete CLLE), recently sold for $2,010.00 . I paid $1,400.00 & $1,500.00 for my two CLLE's that were fully converted at V.S.M. in 1910 and 1909. I considered them well worth the price paid. Simply put, the available Long Lee rifles, when complete and undamaged, are getting harder to find, while those wanting them are increasing in number. They just ain't making them anymore. Yes, the other rifles are also not being made anymore, but the Long Lee's get noticed more when they're carried into a gun show. You can't go any distance before someone will stop you and ask if they can look at them. Your final selection will be based upon what YOU want though, not what others want. What do YOU like most? No decision on your part will be wrong as long as it's what YOU want.