cno7 long branch
- Thread starter gordonlbyrne
- Start date
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
Good place to start before buying is to read the artilcle on them over at milsurps.com: http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=152-1944-C-No.7-.22-Caliber-Lee-Enfield-Training-Rifle
The article mentions that there are two kinds of Cno7s out there: factory and post factory put togethers. Factory models are worth anywhere from $1300 to $2800 these days. Put togethers are usually asking in the bottom half of that range, but in my opinion are worth $900 to maybe $1300 if all the accessories are there and in it's transit chest. Less if it is poorly done.
Read up on the serial numbers vs year of production. Check the wrist of the rifle you are purchasing for a flat spot where the serial number is, or signs of scrubbing. Some decent digital photos blown up on your computer will let you see the actual pebbling of the surface in that area to tell real from fake.
Note since that article was written there have surfaced 51 and 53 dated Cno7s in the low 2L serial range. I have not had a chance to update the article yet.
The article mentions that there are two kinds of Cno7s out there: factory and post factory put togethers. Factory models are worth anywhere from $1300 to $2800 these days. Put togethers are usually asking in the bottom half of that range, but in my opinion are worth $900 to maybe $1300 if all the accessories are there and in it's transit chest. Less if it is poorly done.
Read up on the serial numbers vs year of production. Check the wrist of the rifle you are purchasing for a flat spot where the serial number is, or signs of scrubbing. Some decent digital photos blown up on your computer will let you see the actual pebbling of the surface in that area to tell real from fake.
Note since that article was written there have surfaced 51 and 53 dated Cno7s in the low 2L serial range. I have not had a chance to update the article yet.
I personally don't think they are fake unless someone has put a serial number back on to a scrubbed receiver, maybe even force matching numbers and then represents it as original. The scrubbed recievers started out life as legitimate regular cno7s like the article states and were later broken down for spares/surplus. You could have the original serial extracted from the stamped area if you had access to forensic tools but that's pretty much out most peoples reach.
Its an an interesting point of view when it's said that it's a waste of time to make a garand have period correct parts as they had been thru many rebuild programs yet still has the same value. Then a rifle like this is assembled in a similar manner from parts and then call it a fake. Representing it's history accurately is important and I agree that a serial matched unit would be more desirable than an armorers special.
Its an an interesting point of view when it's said that it's a waste of time to make a garand have period correct parts as they had been thru many rebuild programs yet still has the same value. Then a rifle like this is assembled in a similar manner from parts and then call it a fake. Representing it's history accurately is important and I agree that a serial matched unit would be more desirable than an armorers special.
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
If you read my post, I call the rifles "factory" and "post factory". The issue with the post factory rifles is generally the lacking quality controls, incorrect parts, and often serial numbers that are either out of sequence for the year of the rifle, or totally incorrect. I used the word "fake" to describe the re-serialisation of the scrubbed receiver. In that case, if it has the factory serial number, it's original. If the person who assembled it post factory tried to make it look factory to get the highest value possible and pass it off as a factory original, I'll use the word "fake" to describe the serial area. You could possibly use the term "restored", but if it is to misrepresent, I would want to know about it before paying top dollar.
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