M1918 - what is it 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!!!!!

In the mid-1970's I bought one of the BARS from Hercules on Yonge street in Toronto. They sold them out of barrels: one barrel for BARs, one for Brens and two more for No.4 and SMLE's.The only 'bad' thing they had was a grossly welded Mk.II Sten that they kept on a hook high out of reach behind the counter. Not for sale (but after looking at it I no longer wanted it). When I asked for some packaging for the BAR as I was taking the subway home the sales guy obliged by wrapping it in newspaper and tape, but with the sling exposed so I could carry it. Home I went.
 
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I do find that a lot of these "What is it worth?" threads are amusing. Perhaps they should be titled "What would you PAY for this?" Then, the person who quotes the highest amount could be told "SOLD TO YOU" and would end up buying it. This has the obvious advantage of having the item appear on the EE a few days later, and many BTT posts, "Reduced for sale" posts, and taking up space on the EE. It would also get more realistic quotes.

Realistically, just how many of the people quoting a "worth" are willing to buy the item at the price they quote.

Many years ago, at an Edmonton Gun Show, a guy came along with a well used SMLE and wanted to trade it --even of course --for a very nice sporting rifle that was on my table priced at $600. He was quite adamant and insisted that it would be an even trade as his soprterized SMLE was worth the same amount. After about five minutes of listening to this, I asked him just how he arrived at the price and valuation of his rifle. The answer was that he was sitting in the bar with his good friend, and since his buddy knew "all about guns", he asked him what is rifle was worth. His buddy, apparently well into his cups, replied that it had to be worth at least $600 and probably more.

I suggested he go over to his buddy's place, sell him the rifle for $500 and come back with the cash and we could dicker a bit on the rifle I had for sale. Funny thing though, I never saw him again. Wonder why?

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"...receiver has been cracked..." That's not a crack. That's the result of applying a torch to the receiver and bolt when it was dewatted.
 
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