M1918 - what is it worth?

C

Canadian_Zuk

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Hi all,

I've been asked by a friend to gather some information on a firearm that belonged to his grandfather. It is an M1918 Browning that appears to be all original. The receiver has been cracked at some point and a very poor attempt was made to repair it. I'm not sure, but a proper repair may still be possible. The rest of the firearm looks to be fine and complete. I assume this is prohib in it's current state. Any information on the arm or it's value that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.

See pics below.

Thanks, CZ

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The gun was not cracked, it's been deactivated. That's the weld you see. Maybe bondo too. The whole gun's been stove painted black. They were available through the 80s as deactivated firearms from one company in Edmonton. You can still find them occassionally from Collector Source. If it's altered in any way, you become criminally liable to imprisonment. You can't legally do anything to it. If you don't want it just put it on the want to sell for military and it will go.
 
Thanks for the informationa and repy. Neiter I nor the owner have any intention of reactivating it. He IS looking to sell it and has asked me to see if I can find out what it is worth.
 
There was a HUGE pile of them deactivated in the late 60's by cutting a slot in the receiver hitting the receiver, slide and bolt. The barrel also had a hole blown in it and some gas tubes (not all) were also hit. The BAR's were ex RCAF from base defense units in Germany and also some used in Canada. A huge pile of the ones deac'd in Toronto were "rewated" and made their way to the Balkans and then the proverbial caca hit the fan and there were several arrests in the GTA area. The old days of Hercules and Acme Surplus will live forever....along with Albion Arms and many others. A large number were also sold in Calgary by another surplus dealer who used to get some real "gemy" kit!!!
Old memory mode OFF!!!!!
 
wheaty said:
There was a HUGE pile of them deactivated in the late 60's by cutting a slot in the receiver hitting the receiver, slide and bolt. The barrel also had a hole blown in it and some gas tubes (not all) were also hit. The BAR's were ex RCAF from base defense units in Germany and also some used in Canada. A huge pile of the ones deac'd in Toronto were "rewated" and made their way to the Balkans and then the proverbial caca hit the fan and there were several arrests in the GTA area. The old days of Hercules and Acme Surplus will live forever....along with Albion Arms and many others. A large number were also sold in Calgary by another surplus dealer who used to get some real "gemy" kit!!!
Old memory mode OFF!!!!!
Click to expand...

This is GOLD, JERRY, GOLD!!!! :D

Any more info on this story... :redface:
 
browningautorifle said:
The gun was not cracked, it's been deactivated. That's the weld you see. Maybe bondo too. The whole gun's been stove painted black. They were available through the 80s as deactivated firearms from one company in Edmonton. You can still find them occassionally from Collector Source. If it's altered in any way, you become criminally liable to imprisonment. You can't legally do anything to it. If you don't want it just put it on the want to sell for military and it will go.
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Later version BAR. Receivers were cast.. Still remember Crown surplus in Calgary had a bunch of these. Not very pretty.

Grizz
 
The right Devcon might produce a better colour match for the malleable iron reciever. I've used it to repair broken out chunks of large cast-iron castings, and when studded was very strong.

My stepfather was trained on these ,for Air wing defense in Germany and on the M-1 Garand as well.
 
Value: Well, I think scrap metal is trading around 300 a ton right now, so I'd put it in that range. As to a bit of metal to hang on the wall: whatever it is worth to the buyer.
The true value of anything is only what someone is willing to pay for it.
 
I've made a couple of rifles. One of my projects (all legal and registered) was a belt feed semi auto Browning 1919a4 that I made from a parts kit and a 80% side plate. I picked up an 80% BAR receiver some time ago with the idea of doing a BAR project but never found a BAR parts kits. This MIGHT be a good source. One of the problems is that it appears that more that the receiver may have been cut, i.e. the bolt. Anyway, depending on how many useable parts are left, I would be interested. Of course the more damaged parts the less its worth.

Cheers
Mark
 
They don't exactly come up for sale every day. I think $500 is way out to lunch-maybe someone wants a new toy for cheap :D . The last one I saw for sale was $1200, and it had been torched through the receiver and bolt on one side, as well as the gas tube and maybe the barrel. Start high, you can always lower your price!
 
MarkdevCanada said:
One of the problems is that it appears that more that the receiver may have been cut, i.e. the bolt. Anyway, depending on how many useable parts are left, I would be interested. Of course the more damaged parts the less its worth.

Cheers
Mark
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His gun is basicly destroyed Mark. I'll bet nothing's salvageable.

Revilo, 1200? Maybe, but he did say he wanted to sell it. He'll keep relisting it at that rate...
 
Wow ! how to dewat! Personally I think it is a piece of junk , a conversational doorstop at best .
I do agree with the previous poster that your buddy will have no problem getting around $1,200 for it !!---maybe more with some elbow grease. Bearing in mind any one drawing oxygen with a few bucks can legally buy it . ----- SADLY it's worth more in that bastardized condition than a comparable live /active 12.3 converted auto , or 12.2 full auto , with that dwindling market.
 
It isn't a dewat. Its a patched demil. And not done well, at that.
Maybe someone might pay the $1200 mentionned. Can't imagine why, though.
 
tiriaq said:
It isn't a dewat. Its a patched demil. And not done well, at that.
Maybe someone might pay the $1200 mentionned. Can't imagine why, though.
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I'm betting it's worth around the 5, 6 hundred dollar mark. Any ####ty old dewat seems to worth that nowadays and I sense a certain desire to own one of these. Saw a pretty pukey RPK at the Red Deer show, in that price range. Crown Surplus wanted 185. and that was 30 years ago.

Grizz
 
I had a chance to buy a converted BAR at a gunshow in Vaughan over 20 years ago. Think the seller was asking around $900 for it. Too this day I kick myself for not buying it.

Wouldn't mind having even a dewat one to hang on the wall today.
 
Speaking of dewats/ deacts , there is a 1918 WW1 era BAR on the wall of a local gun shop. Prior to it's deactivation, it was near pristine, & mint condition , Select fire -- still very nice to look at & handle. Not for sale , but likely worth 2,000 or better. considering what it WAS !! A crying shame yes, although still very nice conversation piece .
 
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