Quote Originally Posted by Aragorn243 View Post
Not sure I hit the big leagues yet. I've only paid over $1000 twice with cash. Add Cabelas points and there are two more, but cash out of pocket for each wasn't much. Most I ever paid was just a couple of months ago for the Irish Constabulary Rifle.

But there are many which are likely now worth well over $1000 which due to Sapper's relatives I didn't pay anywhere near that much for them.
The rifles I mentioned bought in the last three years are all in near mint condition. I know 'near mint' can be a somewhat over-used and hyperbolic term but in the case of those rifles it is profoundly accurate. The Ross was the only issued rifle, the other three were all civilian target rifles in pristine condition and all came with micrometer peep sights of one sort or another. The Ross is one of the Essex County Home Guard rifles and although it was issued, you'd never know it and was obviously well cared for. The M.L.E. was the only rifle I paid the "Buy Now' price for, the rest were all won after spirited bidding by several collectors, especially the Ross but as I may have mentioned before in the past, what would you pay for the finest example of a rifle extant and one that your family carried in WWI?