I've had an Enfield no5 mk1 in the EE section for a little while as was wondering where is the value in such a firearm. Is it in the unmodified matching serial number on all parts with a age appropriate stock or a refinished non matching serial number firearm? I am not a collector of old military firearms , nor do I believe that this Jungle carbine is worth gold but I am curious to what you guys would do with this firearm. Is refinishing the stock going to depreciate it's value or does it's poor condition stock with matching serial numbers depreciate it's value?
Jungle carbine
- Thread starter danny45
- Start date
what do you think its value is?
I think twenty or thirty years ago you could buy one for under $20 out of whatever store.
Now I see people trying to get 400-1000+ for them. And I guess the value is only what someones willing to pay.
Anyways, no clue on refinishing vs. leaving original, matching numbers should be good for resale and unsportorized furniture should help.
If it was me I would refinish it and use it, but it sounds like your more interested in resale value than using it at this point.
I think twenty or thirty years ago you could buy one for under $20 out of whatever store.
Now I see people trying to get 400-1000+ for them. And I guess the value is only what someones willing to pay.
Anyways, no clue on refinishing vs. leaving original, matching numbers should be good for resale and unsportorized furniture should help.
If it was me I would refinish it and use it, but it sounds like your more interested in resale value than using it at this point.
I think that the value should be in the $300-$400 range based on others I've seen. You are right Cody that you could have picked these up for nothing a few years ago. That is why I am confused on what is best for resale. I will not use this firearm. I have enough modern day firearms to shoot for the rest of my days. It seems that having all matching numbers has no greater value when in comes to this particular firearm, which I can't understand why because in all other firearms, matching numbers has value. I can't imagine these war time rifles actually used in combat would have all matching serial numbers by the end of the war. I would think that the chances of this would be incredible due to having to interchange parts for repairs and get the troops back on the battle field. I think I am starting to like these firearms and will probably refinish the carbine for my personal satisfaction.
Matching numbers is nice, but in a No.5 rifle it is probably more important that it is complete and unmodified. Many have had the bayonet lug ground off, some have had the flash hider removed. Overall condition is also probably more important than matching numbers.
Most No.5s didn't see the kind of service that would cause them to get their parts all jumbled together. Most of them were used in low-intensity conflicts after WWII.
Most No.5s didn't see the kind of service that would cause them to get their parts all jumbled together. Most of them were used in low-intensity conflicts after WWII.
Absolutely do not refinish the stock. You will remove value with every stroke of sandpaper.
At most- Wipe it clean with baby wipes, and when clean and dry rub in a few coats of boiled linseed oil.
