scarce australian HT SMLE sniper for sale at collectors source

Some one has "improved" it by a light sand job and shinny finish. Based on the pic's and description it is also mismatched with the rifle s/n 41202 and the scope off s/n 36315. Missing scope caps and scope case. Nice rifle for a shooter but not a collectable.
 
I have been collecting for almost 30 years and this is the first time I seen a dealer with one for sale.I may have missed some,but I only know of about a dozen in canada.Half are mis-matched.If this one was matching it would be $10,000 -$12,000.00
Only about 1600 were made and most of them are in Australia.
 
Saw an Enfield sniper in a shop in Sydney last year. Didn't look closely or handle it at all, but it had a price tag of $12k. Had a short chat with the guy behind the counter too. Meant to go back one day and check it out and maybe get pics if they allowed, but that didn't happen.
 
Hard to believe Collectors Source especially, would price it so low, but it sure didn't last long for sale.

They are very rare here in Canada and if it went $9,000, that is quite a good price for an all correct piece, unless indeed it was a put-together. If it wasn't all correct, then in my opinion, that price is on the high side, howver, I could be wrong. Prices on No.4 LB and HT snipers (correct and not) have risen dramatically over the last few years.

If anyone ever comes across one here in Canada for sale and needs some research vetted by Skennerton and our internal Advisory Panel to compare it against, these articles are quite thorough discussing the two variations that were manufactured...

Australian No.1 MkIII* H.T. Sniper Rifle (Short Bracket) Serial #76222 (Converted by Lithgow 1944-46)
c/w matching A.O.C. Model 1918 (3x) Scope Serial #76222 (Mfg by Australian Optical Co., Victoria)
c/w Canvas web sling with an inside layer of hard plastic (latex?). (Mfg in 1941 by B.H.G. Ltd)

1917/1945 No.1 MkIII* H.T. Sniper Rifle (Short Bracket) (224 pic photo montage)http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=3591


(Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)

----------------------------------------------------------

1916/1945 No.1 MkIII* H.T. Sniper Rifle
Australian No.1 MkIII* H.T. Sniper Rifle (Medium Bracket) Serial #40068 (Converted by Lithgow 1944-46)
c/w matching A.O.C. Model 1918 (3x) Scope Serial #40068 (Mfg by Australian Optical Co., Victoria)

1916/1945 No.1 MkIII* H.T. Sniper Rifle (Medium Bracket) (165 pic photo montage)http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=418-1916-1945-No.1-MkIII*-H.T.-Sniper-Rifle-(Medium-Bracket)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Doug
 
Badger, your collection always amazes me. One day you should make a thread showing it off in all it's glory
 
I think it was a piece together - could be wrong. Scope was non-matching after reading the ad on Collector's Source.
I thought it was priced on the high side (which I think is SOP for C.S.)
 
Yeah, I don't recall seeing anything priced low at CS and they don't negotiate. The stock looked sanded and refinished, to me, and couldn't see any of the typical Australian stampings on the left butt. Love to have one of these but at prices like these one needs to be certain.......

milsurpo
 
Apparently those snipers are almost always mismatched scopes, so that isn't a good way of determining it.

This is why I stay out of snipers, too many variables and too much money!
 
Eaglelord17 said:
Apparently those snipers are almost always mismatched scopes, so that isn't a good way of determining it.

This is why I stay out of snipers, too many variables and too much money!
Click to expand...

Scopes on HT's were indeed numbered and matched to their respective rifle serial numbers, and also scope brackets were set up as separately matching paired numbers...

Refer to the research articles above and examine the photo montages for more information ..

Regards,
Doug
 
BadgerDog said:
Scopes on HT's were indeed numbered and matched to their respective rifle serial numbers, and also scope brackets were set up as separately matching paired numbers...

Refer to the research articles above and examine the photo montages for more information ..

Regards,
Doug
Click to expand...

Not saying that they weren't just that currently as it stands most rifles have mismatched scopes. Much like the Japanese Arisaka Sniper rifles, most have mismatched scopes now, either due to mix up in importation or what have you.
 
I think there is some speculative buying (and pricing) going on driving up prices on stuff. That in turn with reduced circulation of popular items, additional young new collectors to the fold, an aging main body of collectors who likely have more disposable income, and the realization that new milsurps outside of comblock stuff is or has dried up is all factoring into it.

Look at dewat pricing - it has gone ape sh!t. Guys wanting $2500 for a cut up Bren is a pretty good example.
 
When they were surplus in Australia,the scopes were mixed up.The great thing about Ht's,is that all the serial #'s are known.Very hard to fake.
It was a good price.Badgers two matching rifles would sell for,maybe,$12000.00-$15000.00 or more.Probably less than 20 in canada.

Check out what a mis-matched HT is selling for in england,10500.00 british pounds.

http://www.thedevizesgunsmith.co.uk/rifles/rifles-full-bore-service-and-sniper/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom