BSA C 2 Value

[BritishBeer]

I'm in the UK if that helps narrow down a value.

Rifle I'm considering is marked as BSA C 2 with no other markings, apart from a serial - which I believe means it was a commercially produced rifle that was never pressed into military service?

Bore looks nice if a little bit dull, but if the surface rust on the outside is anything to go by it just needs a bit of a clean. Using the tactic of sticking a bullet down the muzzle, it looks quite tight and unworn.

One thing that does concern me is that the bolt is devoid of a serial number. It has a proof mark but that's it. It does look in quite good nick however.

It has a functioning magazine cut off and a target style rearsight, although I believe it's missing a rear aperture.

The woodwork looks very nice although it is quite shiny, so has possibly been varnished. They won't let me take the woodwork off but have confirmed there are no obvious cracks, damage or alterations.

As far as narrowing down exactly what designation to call it, it looks like a No1 Mk3 but as it doesn't have military markings and I'm a bit lacking in experience with rifles older than No4s.

At the moment the gunshop is trying to come up with a value, saying somewhere north of £500 - possibly agreed that £600 including a 1907 bayonet would be acceptable.

Hoping this will be a nice rifle at quite a good price to expand my budding collection of one enfield

Thanks in advance for any help.

Edit: Oops also realised I posted this in the wrong bit. Sorry to whoever had to move it!

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Best thing is to have a good detailed look at the breeching up ring as it would/might appear that it's been renumbered at sometime in its life.

I'd certainly be asking why I couldn't look under the rear handguard............ Like buying a car and not having a look at the engine bay or tyres.

Ask them if you can take detailed photos of the serial number area. That should bring on the pains if there's anything to hide!

[BritishBeer]

Thank you for the reply Peter.

I'll ask them if they'll let me take the woodwork off, or if they can do it in my presence.

From memory the serial number on the breeching up ring showed no signs of having been changed - as far as I could tell. It seemed to be smooth with no change in shape such as if someone had filed it down.

I'm planning on heading back tomorrow so I will take a large number of photos. Will be buying 6000 rounds of .22lr for my club so hopefully that will butter them up a little bit.

In terms of the history of the firearm - am I correct in thinking that BSA C 2 suggests that it was built for the commercial market? I find it slightly peculiar that they felt a need to include a bayonet fixing on a civilian arm, although it would make modern day Bisley more interesting!

[Robert303]

I am rather shocked to see SMLEs going for north of £500 but if that's the market then what can I say. I would say £75 retail for a good bayonet but perhaps I'm out of date.

[BritishBeer]

There were some standard No1 mk3 with mismatched bolts for £425 which were fairly beaten up.

I don't really know the current market value, I think unfortunately the nice looking woodwork and target rearsight has made him push the price up with no regard to how well the rifle shoots.

I'm going back for a look today as I didn't have enough time yesterday. Learnt from my No4 that it's best not to rush into buying a new rifle just so I have something to take apart and clean - so we'll see how it goes!

Thanks Robert for your reply, even if it's made me think I might be being taken for a ride!