Sad day at the auction

[Capt Mil Coll]

It makes me really sad to see what a lot of people do to these fine old battle rifles. I hear over and over how they can do as they please because "it is their rifle and they can do what they want with it". So the rifles end up a piece of junk. Some of the worst offenders are the "gunsmiths" that take old battle rifles and bubba them to be tack drivers. Why? If I want a tack driver I would buy a 700 or something comparable. And the real tragedy is that they pass this piece of junk on to the next generation.

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[gsimmons]

Like chuck in denver says they spend $200 on an $800 rifle to turn it into a $200 rifle

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Then there was the NZ carbine I "rescued" from the local pawn shop. Bubba had taken a hacksaw to the forend,then thrown away the handguard and nosecap. Got it restored by a fellow in Canada, BUT I had to send him the timber from my other NZ carbine so he could copy it. If the postoffice had lost that I would have had TWO unrestorable carbines.. (They only made 1500)
Then there was the other chop job I bought localy, A No4 that I almost passed on UNTIL I saw the date (1931) That was a lot easier to restore, but since it was a "T" it took a year to find a No32Mk1 scope, and then find an excellent repo mount from the U.K. plus a scope tin

[Rumpelhardt]

All this talk about "monetary value" makes one think this is more of a business than a hobby done for the enjoyment of it. It probably is for some.

[Aragorn243]

All this talk about "monetary value" makes one think this is more of a business than a hobby done for the enjoyment of it. It probably is for some.

Hobbies are just that, something to get some relaxation and pleasure out of. I've had many, many hobbies over the years, some free, some expensive, some very expensive. My budget does not allow me to conduct any sort of expensive hobby without consideration for what sort of return there will be from it, probably after I'm gone because I can't get rid of anything. But the kids and the wife will have some extra funds that weren't wasted away on beer and song.

[Bear43]

I don't ever really look at the cost of what something will be to restore and I don't think too hard about end value. I really enjoy taking these rifles that have been cut down and otherwise molested and bringing them back to their glory. That's why my 1906 BSA/Sparkbrook Mk I*** has been patiently waiting for almost 4 years. I pick up a proper part now and then when I can but in the end the final result will be worth it to me.

[newcastle]

True, and we should also remember that th odd rifle that has been parted out can provide 'proper' parts for several others. Sort of like somone dying but saving 4 other people with their organs.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Sad day at the auction
I rarely run into a rifle that really makes me wince. I"m somewhat immune to sporterized rifles but today I encountered one that really made me think.

Thank you for not posting pictures. It would have ruined my day as well.

[muffett.2008]

Hobby aside, it's still a wise move to record a monetary value with each and all of your items/collections.
Otherwise these may be parted with by your family for much less than the real worth, or siphoned off by unscrupulous persons unknown, at a great loss for those you leave behind.
It would be a pointless exercise gathering all this valuable material, if it does not benefit your descendants.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I am doing my part in documenting the history on my small collection and hope the items make it into the hands of folks like the ones I have met here when I am gone.