I have a milsurp problem - Ethical Question

[Riflechair]

Guys
I have this block of wood I've been using as a trophy for our Vintage Military Serice Rifle Shoot. We've just completed our 7th annual shoot. The old trophy is done.

I want to follow in BCRA footsteps and make our trophy something a shooter would be proud to receive and yet have some longevity behind it.

I'm thinking deactivated full wood 303 inset into wood.

What do you guys think?

No one seems to want to be seperated from their burned out 303's without asking way more than they're worth.

It would make an honourable trophy. Something to be proud of. Something worth competing for. Something to inspire people to shoot. A trophy worth winning.

Need help and your suggestions.

Information

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[Claven2]

Considering you can part out a sot-out Enfield on e-bay for over $200 US, I'm not surprised you're having trouble. WEre I you, I'd look for an old Lithgow SMLE with a crappy bore and forearm recoil shoulders that have been set back and cracked up (ie, stock no longer shootable). They usually still look fine from the outside but have no real value except as a display piece.

[Badger]

Iin my opinion, I think the worthy cause of the greater good wins out.

Simply pick a burnt out old girl that would otherwise end up in the parts bin.

Regards,
Badger

[stencollector]

I have sold a number of deactivated #4s in the last while. I have guys waiting for them at $300. And those aren't neccessarily LongBranch rifles either.

[Claven2]

I think alot of the demand is driven by re-enactors and living history guys. They have deep pockets

The says of cheap Enfields are LONG GONE.

Does it need to be an Enfield? Plenty of other 'surps are cheaper and easier to acquire...

[sdh1911]

I think you folks north of the border are getting the short end of the stick, we can still find decent .303 Enfields in these parts, relatively inexpensive. On the flip side of that Canadian military edge weapons are scarce and expensive. I think it all has to do with the supply/demand senerio. My personal preference for foreign rifles isn't shared by many fellow collectors, there loss-SDH

[OFF_Winters]

Hi Guys,

I think your trophy idea is a splendid one. further more if your club can afford it, I would encourage you to do it even at a slightly elevated cost. (this is only if your club can really afford the out lay)

The Broken Hill rifle club that I used belong to has a MkI NoIII sectionalised and mounted as a purpetual trophy for the service rifle shoot compitition.

Its wood frame mounted on a deepish red felt background, it also has a bayonet and strip clips etc mounted around the rifle, sort of showing the complete set of bits and peices, and it looks great. a bit heavy though LOL.

we are lucky here in Aus, that older shot out rifles can be picked up fairly cheaply.

As I said I think your idea is a great one, hope you can pull it off.

regards Rob.

[stencollector]

I think alot of the demand is driven by re-enactors and living history guys. They have deep pockets

Don't forget the guys with military vehicles. Since their fields of expertise are usually in the vehicle/mechanical end, they will pay what it takes to get appropriate guns to fill the various brackets.

A mk1 bren gun carrier needs:
1 Boyes ATR
2 Brens
2 Enfields
1 Ross or Enfield smoke discharger
1 1" flare pistol
6 no36M grenades
2 4" smoke rounds
Crates of dummy ammo in 303 and Bren mags
12 rounds of 1" flare rounds in 3 colours

And if a guy has an M38A1 and wants to dress it up, he needs a M1919A4 GPMG, a FNC1, and a SMG C1. They will usually have to satisfy themselves with other countries equivelants, otherwise they could easily spend what the Jeep is worth.