Scotarms (UK) Auction Report 14th July

[Alan de Enfield]

Add 20% buyers commision to the following prices :

1) No5 metal complete but all woodwork replaced with 'sporter' wood £95

2) 7.62 Sportco Model 44 with PH5C rear sight £80

3) Lee Speed (Lovely condition) Serial No 143603 £28

4) SMLE Sporterised wood £28

5) Lee Speed complete with cut-off but bored to 410 shotgun £100

6) No4 with sporterised wood in 410 shotgun £70

7) SMLE (missing safety but otherwise complete) in 410 shotgun £200

8) SMLE (very nice) in 410 shotgun £160

9) 303 SMLE £110

10) SMLE 1917 in .22rf (No2 Mk4*) £180

11) 50 rounds of 303 marked "Small Ball Cartridge" (Headstamp 8Z) by Kynoch £10

12) 38 rounds of 303 marked "British Government Magazine Rifle" (soft nose) by Ely £10

13) 2 original boxes (of 20) 303 marked "Red label Synchronised Guns RAF" £14

14) 120 rounds 303 in clips and bandoliers £8

To get equivalent in US$ multiply by prices by 1.5

Information

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[bigduke6]

Thanks for the report Alan, I was away so couldnt get there, seems to be a lot more SMLE,s than normal, can you give a bit more detail on the Lee speed (lovely condition) and the .303 SMLE that sold for £110 (what was the condition etc)

[newcastle]

Serious -= a Lee Speed sold for TWENTY EIGHT POUNDS?

[Alan de Enfield]

Serious -= a Lee Speed sold for TWENTY EIGHT POUNDS?

Yup - £28 + 20% buyers commsion - a bargain.
I only have one 303 slot left on my FAC (Firearm Certificate) and as I have a No1 MkV on the way I do not want to use it (although I was 90% of the way to using it - sorely tempted)

I didnt take a lot of notice of the SMLE but it looked 'clean & complete'

I did have a look at the Lee Speed.
The catalogue description : "A BSA Lee Speed bolt action rifle serial number 15565, leaf & ladder rear sight, walnut half stock grade 2"

Grading works :
New
Near New
Grade 1 almost near new
Grade 2 (had use but good /V good condition)

The metal work was nicely blued with no scratches, the woodwork was 'used' but no dings or dents. It did not have the schnabel forend but was nicely made.
The butt socket was just marked BSA
Bolt was quite 'stiff' (not unreasonably so) to close the last 1/4", maybe just a powerful spring or just the 'newness' of the rifle.
Button cocking piece

If I hadnt commited to the No1 MkV you'd now be drooling over the pictures of this years bargain.

NB : I did pick up a few boxes of Israeli 7.62 NATO ammunition - anyone any experience of this ammo ?

[Peter Laidler]

Israeli ammo has been described to me as '.....made like their lives depend on it!'

[bigduke6]

Alan,

I wouldn,t worry too much about the Lee speed bargain, the fact is how many times have you seen in the auction Enfields that have been cut down, sporterized etc.

I would say thousands have passed through (not all Lee speed) but how many times does a No1 mk V come on the market?

You cant go wrong with the MkV, as for bargains i reckon i got the best one, with the LEC i bought when i last seen you.

Just a point regarding your last .303 slot (and anyone else in this position), i would look into getting a variation for a collectors slot, you could put your No1 MkV and No4 T on, this does limit your use with them, but how many rounds do you plan on putting through them? worth enquiring about.

[Alan de Enfield]

Israeli ammo has been described to me as '.....made like their lives depend on it!'

I take it that means its good stuff then ?

[bearhunter]

I'm quite surprised at how reasonable the prices are, overall. Lee Speeds, usually bring much higher prices, in North America. The ammunition, is no screaming deal but in Canada, we can't even get any of that stuff in. The red tape required to get it approved for import, puts the prices much higher on average.
Any complete SMLE, would go for over $300, even in 50% condition.

Is there such a plethora of milsurp Lee Enfields in the UK, that the value is so low, or are the qualified buyers getting low in numbers?

[enfield303t]

Had a PM from Gunner the other day and he told me a Savage No4 Mk1* was available at his dealer for 10 Euros. Holy mackerel that is virtually FREE. Even if Gunner meant to put in another 0 it is still VERY VERY cheap. I bought one from Bearhunter and he gave me a super good price and it cost alot more than that. Time to move to Europe, buy alot of guns then move back.

[bigduke6]

Had a PM from Gunner the other day and he told me a Savage No4 Mk1* was available at his dealer for 10 Euros. Holy mackerel that is virtually FREE. Even if Gunner meant to put in another 0 it is still VERY VERY cheap. I bought one from Bearhunter and he gave me a super good price and it cost alot more than that. Time to move to Europe, buy alot of guns then move back.

They are not all cheap, but there are some bargains to be had, an average sporterized Enfield can start around £50 or a lot cheaper at auction, its a case of being there at the right time, my best Enfields have all been in the £50-£60 this includes a No1 MkV (restro is in the Restorers corner forum as a sticky) and a LEC 1* which is in very good condition, all matching numbers etc, the forend had been cut down at some point, but apart from this it wont take too much to put right. pics of the LEC