Milsurp price insanity
- Thread starter Eaglelord17
- Start date
Now I've got this thing cleaned up a bit more, your both correct. The electropen scribe is actually the serial number. Looks dumb, but that wasn't the big concern when it was done.
Mines dated 1943 if thats matters or not on these rifles.
Are mags serial number matched?
If I remember correct almost all of them were made in 1943
Not sure about serial # on mag but I know the mags are extremely rare and hard to find
You asked that question here:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2231830-egyptian-hakim
and got your answer.
No need to re-hash the question.
The thing that is really bothering people like myself about collecting is that there is so much to take in, history, evolution, markings, reals/fakes, prices. and the fact there isnt much breathing room for mistakes or regrets in the current market.
Personally im starting to take more interest in restoration instead of collecting.
I just restored a beat up reenactors garand into an repo m1d. I dont feel bad for bastardizing an already beat to death rifle, and i find a lot more pride in a restoration than a cool purchase.
View attachment 561473
My goal was that I had to do everything myself.
I only took the critical stuff like barrelling and head spacing to a gunsmith
Now all my friends want garands lol
Personally im starting to take more interest in restoration instead of collecting.
I just restored a beat up reenactors garand into an repo m1d. I dont feel bad for bastardizing an already beat to death rifle, and i find a lot more pride in a restoration than a cool purchase.
View attachment 561473
My goal was that I had to do everything myself.
I only took the critical stuff like barrelling and head spacing to a gunsmith
Now all my friends want garands lol
BlackPowderBurner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- the chesterfield
Sorry to be a pedant but you can't restore something to what it never was to begin with. Building a repro M1D is fine, it looks like you did a nice job. I totally agree with what you're saying about lack of breathing room, new collectors who got burned 10yrs ago by paying $180 for a $100 Carcano had a softer landing than the poor bugger today buying bubba's stock set sporter rebuld No4 Mk1 for $1000. With prices the way they are, research, reference books, and patience are far more important than a fat wallet.
Is a sporterized Enfield (No4 Mk1 Fez for reference) worth finding an original full stock to put on? (Dated Jan 49, number matching receiver, bolt and mag, uncut barrel, elevator sight intact. just missing the front sight hood (I think it should have had one)). Barrel looks really nice.
IF the guns worth say $300 (spitballing, no idea really) "as is", is spending $x on wood worth it for a regular, what I think is a run of the mill 303. Will it always be a bastardchild gun since the wood isn't original?
IF the guns worth say $300 (spitballing, no idea really) "as is", is spending $x on wood worth it for a regular, what I think is a run of the mill 303. Will it always be a bastardchild gun since the wood isn't original?
That would be true if most people buying them were doing so to have a "real" unmolested example for collector purposes.
Most people purchasing the put togethers, even at $1K are looking for "shooters" and at today's prices of commercial sporting rifles $1k doesn't seem to be unreasonable to them.
What's the difference between a put together and an armory FTR, other than the stamps, if the job has been done properly???
Snob appeal is one thing, the reality of actual supply is another.
That doesn't mean I don't really appreciate and unmolested piece by any means.
IMHO, YES, but it will only be worth what you paid for the rifle and the sum of its parts, give or take 10%, depending on how well the restoration was done and of course the flow of the market at any given time.
Prices tend to be slightly lower until tax return season gets underway.
Well, I purchased a couple 303's in a group of ten rifles, some of which Ive already sold for 110% if what I paid, so in reality this one hasn't cost me a thing. Cost base is zero at this point
No idea what original Enfield wood is worth. Guess its time to look.
Thanks!
Yes you are right 100% agree, the term "RESTORATION" is a misnomer. There is a proper word for what i have done to this rifle in specific, I just cant remember what it is. "Custom build", "refurnish", "desecrate" even?
Also, just saying this is an example of my latest project, not necessarily to prove the point of "restoration"
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Personally I am thinking of selling my stuff at auctions now. I have not sold anything on here for full price in awhile. I have started buying a few items on another online forum, where prices are a bit less than the EE.
I would never buy at an auction. I tried a few of the SFRC auctions, and stuff sold at crazy prices.
I would never buy at an auction. I tried a few of the SFRC auctions, and stuff sold at crazy prices.
BlackPowderBurner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- the chesterfield
I’ve bolded the difference. I personally know maybe 2 people who I would trust to assemble a No 1 Mk III and 4 a No4 Mk1 correctly. The specifics of bedding the draws, upwards pressure of the forestock, length of the guard screw bushing and more are all things that I have seen from personal experience are not understood by many parts kit builders. As I know you know, there’s more to it than plug and play. For people buying these rifles as shooters it’s even more important to have them built properly so that the system functions as intended. My snob appeal is for things that have been done properly with research and forethought.
Saved this one from Bubba. It came from the boonies of NL, well neglected, covered in the old dried-up cosmoline, full of rust, dust and other things from the past. Its bore was like a sewer pipe and even good cleaning didn't do any good. The good news is that it was purchased for a symbolic fee, with a box of vintage ammo included, and its bore was not counterbored. Big thanks to Jason from Complete Gun Repair, who helped restore this rifle to its original beauty. Firing a box of ammo cleared its bore to a shining glory! This an M-24 'Lotta' with Bohler-Stahl barrel, of course. I only saw a few of these for sale on the CGN a decade and a half ago for like 300 bucks or so.
The moral is that these things are still out there waiting to get rescued.
The moral is that these things are still out there waiting to get rescued.
I guess you don't know enough people????
I know several in my area, that could put just about any milsurp together in such a manner that it would be difficult to tell from a factory or armory FTR. Thankfully none of them would claim they were anything but.
You're trying to get people believe there is some kind of alchemy or rocket science behind the ability or the tech involved.
We are witnessing in 2021 a ' Sea Change' where a once affordable hobby and interest in
Military Surplus arms and ammunition is DOA in the current market conditions. How Garands
have gone from $125 apiece from Lever Arms in the 1980s to the present time when they sell
or list for two or three thousand dollars sums up the situation. I have had a good run simply
because my interest started in 1956 when I bought an absolutely MINT SMLE with CDN Navy
markings ' unfired' $11..about $100 oe $120 in today's dollars. Currently would a $1000 or $1500
purchase it?
IT'S OVER EH! However there are still ' underpriced ' ones. Until recently all those SKS sitting at
Lever Arms at $295 until about two years ago were an examply..now double and headed up.
Military Surplus arms and ammunition is DOA in the current market conditions. How Garands
have gone from $125 apiece from Lever Arms in the 1980s to the present time when they sell
or list for two or three thousand dollars sums up the situation. I have had a good run simply
because my interest started in 1956 when I bought an absolutely MINT SMLE with CDN Navy
markings ' unfired' $11..about $100 oe $120 in today's dollars. Currently would a $1000 or $1500
purchase it?
IT'S OVER EH! However there are still ' underpriced ' ones. Until recently all those SKS sitting at
Lever Arms at $295 until about two years ago were an examply..now double and headed up.
I originally started buying milsurp (and other old iron) as an investment - the plan was to sell and put my kid through university.
Well, when the time came, I just couldn't do it! Ended up helping her in other ways.
But, with; the current values, the political situation, my age and future plans - the time to liquidate may be coming. It will be very hard to do but I sure don't want to leave it to the wife to deal with.
Well, when the time came, I just couldn't do it! Ended up helping her in other ways.
But, with; the current values, the political situation, my age and future plans - the time to liquidate may be coming. It will be very hard to do but I sure don't want to leave it to the wife to deal with.
