Looking for value...... 303's

do i spy a laminated butt on the top rifle or just funky grain?

i would bet you have no problems disposing of them for $600 a piece, maybe more if they are consecutive serial numbers, would also help to include any unit info and pictures of the previous teams to use them for a buyer
 
I believe that serial number range are "Irish Contract" rifles of which only 50000 or so were produced. In my opinion they will command a premium and will sell like hotcakes. There's one on the EE for $1350 right now. I'm interested in one if they are for sale at a bit more reasonable price.

Here is a link to another forum on the topic.

http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/topic/33924#.VYSkNMIcHVI

Tyson
 
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The top one looks like it has the Ishapore screw through the stock, and if so that may lower the value slightly. The Ross on the bottom seems to have no bolt and it looks like there's a steel bolt threaded into the side of the receiver. Better pics on the Ross would be helpful as it may be a dewat. If it is, that would be a heartbreaker, but it would be very valuable still as a "parts" rifle.
 
The prices of nice, original No4's have gone up significantly in the past two years. It's easier to ask more money and go down than to ask low and then try to go up! A No4 in "excellent" condition, number matching, with no parts swaped will sell for more than $600. I would say $750 is probably a reasonable estimate for a reasonably quick sale. Near-unfired, or "mint" ones do sell for quite a bit more than that. Hey, you can find quite a few examples of bitsers, put back together by guys like us, being offered at (at least) $650!
 
tswancoat said:
I believe that serial number range are "Irish Contract" rifles of which only 50000 or so were produced. In my opinion they will command a premium and will sell like hotcakes. There's one on the EE for $1350 right now. I'm interested in one if they are for sale at a bit more reasonable price.

Here is a link to another forum on the topic.

http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/topic/33924#.VYSkNMIcHVI

Tyson
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This!�� I am no appraiser but if these are unissued, each will be close to the $1000 mark. If the serial numbers are consecutive, then they are worth much more as a set. I spoke to my appraiser friend and she tells me that as a set they may command 30 to 50% more but once broken up the value decreases significantly.
 
Unfortunately they are not numbered consecutively. Some of them have the appearance of brand new yet one is "shiny" on the bolt handle indicating to my uneducated eye that it's seen some use.
Going to talk to the execs about possibility of having them appraised given the range of values being put out there. Either that or maybe just asking $750/ea and seeing what happens.
Thanks again for all the input!
 
LawrenceN said:
The top one looks like it has the Ishapore screw through the stock, and if so that may lower the value slightly. The Ross on the bottom seems to have no bolt and it looks like there's a steel bolt threaded into the side of the receiver. Better pics on the Ross would be helpful as it may be a dewat. If it is, that would be a heartbreaker, but it would be very valuable still as a "parts" rifle.
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I don't think that's a screw. Think it was just a natural indentation that is reflecting light. As to the Ross, I'm not even sure if the bolt is around. Either way, that one saw military action with one of our past veterans so isn't for sale. Would love to find the bolt though.
 
First question that comes to mind is have they all been "de-activated"? Also I take it these are at a Legion hall or military armoury? If you want to reduce the display I'd recommend keeping a couple of Canadian LongBranch No4's with correct bayonets and store or raffle off they the British made ones and the Ross. That model of Ross never made it to France in WWI by the way. If those rifles have been de-mill'd they are parts value only. Just my opinion.
 
Interesting to know that the Ross likely never saw duty. I'm just going by what I was told, and it's not like it was documented that it saw duty, just what I was told 5th hand. Was donated by a past vet though. That's all I know for sure.
 
Not all that long ago if you're a tree. No doughnuts desecrated either. Absolutely essential you get a professional appraisal and 'replacement value' on those rifles. Insurance companies think everything depreciates in value over time. Those are already at top dollar value(assuming numbers/parts match, headspace is good).
A Ross without the bolt is worth the sum of its parts. Like longbranch* says, so are any DEWATs. No collector value at all.
 
Lots of DEWATs have value to people who can't have the live guns. I have a few FA guns that are Deact and trust me they are collectible. A bolt rifle mush less so though because so many people can own them and shoot them.

Anyways, if your Veteran served in WWI or possibly even WWII he could have trained on a MkII Ross such as that one. Lots of pics of our troops training with them in WWI and at least one photo known of Commonwealth troops training with them in WWII.
 
flying pig said:
Lots of DEWATs have value to people who can't have the live guns. I have a few FA guns that are Deact and trust me they are collectible. A bolt rifle mush less so though because so many people can own them and shoot them.

Anyways, if your Veteran served in WWI or possibly even WWII he could have trained on a MkII Ross such as that one. Lots of pics of our troops training with them in WWI and at least one photo known of Commonwealth troops training with them in WWII.
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True many MKII Ross' made it to England for training, but none were sent to France officially. The "myth" about soldiers keeping their service rifle is just that, a myth. Not to say the odd rifle didn't get "snagged" by someone over here from some remote base. Not to be confused with "private purchase Colt 1911's in WWI which were the soldiers legitimate property. I suspect those British made No.4's were donated to the hall from families of Veterans who acquired them in post war years. Are any of them marked with C-broad arrow on/near receiver? That would at least indicate they had been in Canadian inventory at some point.
These are just my opinions and with all due respect.
Geoff
 
All those pictured Lee Enfields are No.4 Mk.2's and are probably numbers matching including magazines and bayonets! I have one just like these that were part of a large batch of used ones that sold in Canada in the 1980's!

Also there were over a couple hundred thousand of these post war No.4 Mk.2's made so they are not rare but when all matching with bayonet are worth more than the usual No.4 Mk.1* that were made in the many millions!

They are not Canadian military issue ones unless they are from the ones later bought by the Canadian military from arms dealers for the Rangers!
 
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