Question Regarding Volley or Long Range Sights on the No 1 Mk III

[Ridolpho]

Demand is definitely high right now in Canada due, I think, to internet fueled interest and currently favorable ownership laws. I talk to a lot of people at gun shows and often encounter newcomers looking for a first milsurp. Two distinct groups- young guys looking for a $175.00 SKS and older, well healed types looking to start a collection with a No.4T or similar high end piece. Level of knowledge is often low and for serious collectors bargains can still be found. But not No. I MkIII's- everyone with a $5.00 copy of Stratton wants one. I've probably only seen 3 or 4 for sale at shows in the last 3 years. One on a larger commercial company website was priced at $2300.00! Meanwhile nice, original MkIII*'s can be found for $300. I had to import a MkIII from the US early this year to finally have one in my collection (meanwhile I've had no trouble getting a reasonably priced MKI***, Mk V, MLE, T's, etc, etc). I believe it is a supply vs demand situation but one in which non-market forces (politics) drive spikes in demand. If our esteemed Liberal Party ever regains power we may see another glut in the marketplace like that which accompanied the imposition of the now defunct long gun registry.

Ridolpho

[5thBatt]

I have
1907 BSA MkIII Imported by me from Australia





1909 EFD MkIII (No2 MkIV*) My first Volley sighted SMLE, brought at a Auction & was my representative MkIII for a few years





1911 BSA MkIII Brought at a auction 3 years ago, full matching numbers & in great condition, was willing/prepared to go $1600, got it for $410





1915 LSA MkIII (No2 MkIV*) Imported by me from Australia, sold on, then reacquired back.





1915 Lithgow MkIII Brought as a sporter & rebuilt by me.





1916 Lithgow MkIII (No1 MkIIIH) Imported by me from Australia.




In my 30 odd years of collecting, i have only seen another 2 or 3 MkIIIs that were any good for sale but seen others in collections but also seen a few collections that were short a Volley sighted MkIII, IMO, quite scarce in NZ

[Homer]

Except that's clearly not true, in the case of run-of-the mill .303s. They made quite literally millions of them (Wikipedia says 17 million and I know a lot of your roll your eyes at Wikipedia as a source, but the article is extensively referenced so I think it's a reasonably ballpark figure) and there are still (admittedly fewer) millions of them about. There's about 770,000 licenced gun owners in Australia and most of them don't want a Lee-Enfield. There's certainly more than enough .303s about here for everyone who wants one to have several - so there's no reason (in my mind) for them to cost what they do.

Bear in mind I'm talking about generic Mk III*s and No 4s here; not Mk IIIs.

Yes but clearly this discussion is about MkIIIs with volley sights and not just any SMLE.

[Lance]

SMLE Mk III types with volley sites:

1907 Enfield Cond IV
1910 Enfield Cond IV
1912 Enfield Mk III
unk BSA Mk III Commercial
1914 BSA Mk III (converted to SMLE Mk I**IP, now .410 conversion, dial sight patched over)
1915 BSA Mk III (now .22 Sht Mk IV)
1915 Enfield Mk III (now .22 Sht Mk IV*)
1916 Lithgow Mk III (now MK III H)

[RobD]

5th Batt, I now see why there are so few Mk IIIs with volley sights about - they are all sleeping at your place...

[Homer]

5th Batt, I now see why there are so few Mk IIIs with volley sights about - they are all sleeping at your place...

And this is one reason there are so few for sale on the market. Collectors are never happy with just one or two and will usually acquire whatever becomes available. These then usually don't get advertised for resale on the open market and pass from one collector to another. This is my own experience acquiring rifles and also selling. I've very recently sold almost my entire collection and never advertised one rifle.

[ufo8mydog]

5th Batt, I now see why there are so few Mk IIIs with volley sights about - they are all sleeping at your place...

There are even less in Australia now as I note that three of 5th Batt's are imported from Australia.

[5thBatt]

There are even less in Australia now as I note that three of 5th Batt's are imported from Australia.

My MkV is ex Australia as well, all imported via Daniel C @ Guncollectables which is now shut down.

[Homer]

My MkV is ex Australia as well, all imported via Daniel C @ Guncollectables which is now shut down.

He was probably mugged by a frustrated Aussie collector

[5thBatt]

But i have helped you guys get a few N9s & a couple of No8s so you still owe me!