My 1944 No.4 T Sniper rifle

[JT76]

I was told this is where the T-sniper gurus hang out?

I purchased this rifle a few months back, traded a CMP garand and some cash for it to an acquaintance. He inherited it from his father who bought it in the early 1960's from a neighbor. Rifle has no import marks on it so it must have been in the country for a while. Ill let the pictures do the talking. From what i see it looks to be correct as it would have been issued in WW2? What is the ballpark value of this example (i have no intention of selling, just for my info)

Information

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[Roger Payne]

You have one of the nicest most honest BSA Shirley No4 T's that I've seen on here in a long time. As regards value, I will keep out of it as I am in the UK not the US, but it is worth money whatever country you're in. Thank you for letting us see it.

Incidentally, it has one of the very lowest serial numbered Mk3 scopes on it, only just after the transition from the Mk2 scope.....

[GeeRam]

Echo what Roger says........that's a wonderful example...

Do you have the transit chest and contents such as scope tin etc as well, or just the rifle?

[JT76]

Someone on an Enfield FB page said that the scope number on the wrist is questionable because it’s placed too far back? Said they didn’t leave H&H like that and maybe the scope was added later?

Sadly no, no transport chest or other accessories . what you see here is what i have.

[Ovidio]

Really wonderful. And great looking woods at that!

[Roger Payne]

JT76 the scope number is fine. You have a peach of a rifle. Some people are so keen to see problems they see things that aren't there......

There is considerable variation in the precise positioning of the scope serial number just behind the cocking piece. Likewise with other markings such as the S51, but this is not surprising as they were stamped by hand in a hurry. Also, if the rifle had originally been assembled as a 'less telescope' rifle, it is unlikely to have been stamped with the body side wall T, which is clearly there for all to see. Don't fret about your rifle, it's a belter!

P.S. If you'd like a little more reassurance try removing the butt from the butt socket & have a look at the rifle serial number stamped into the usually hidden part at the very front. I would be exceedingly surprised if it is anything other than the number of your rifle.

[GeeRam]

JT76 the scope number is fine. You have a peach of a rifle. Some people are so keen to see problems they see things that aren't there......

There is considerable variation in the precise positioning of the scope serial number just behind the cocking piece. Likewise with other markings such as the S51, but this is not surprising as they were stamped by hand in a hurry. Also, if the rifle had originally been assembled as a 'less telescope' rifle, it is unlikely to have been stamped with the body side wall T, which is clearly there for all to see. Don't fret about your rifle, it's a belter!

Exactly.

People are too quick to forget that there was a war on........and slight variations abound with everything. H&H were in London, and this rifle's conversion at H&H dates put this firmly in the one of the peak of the V-1 flying bomb campaign, so no doubt much to-ing and fro-ing from shelters were the name of the game during the late summer and through the autumn of 1944, when this rifle was converted at H&H.

[JT76]

I never thought about the aspect of London basically being under siege. Very cool history.

I had to look up what a belter was 🤣

[Gil Boyd]

Great rifle there, and perhaps I will stick my neck out and say somewhere in the £4500-£5000 GBP pounds range, but if you have any provenance, that could go further.
As Roger says, I would not argue with that if it donned my hands, lovely piece and thanks for the images which to me confirms a genuine piece alround regardless what certain people have told you..........they are simply splitting hairs, it was busy times and things sometimes didn't go to plan.
Enjoy!

[Daan Kemp]

Sling?