What is my Irish Contract Rifle Worth

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gerard488

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1954 "Irish Contract" Lee Enfield No4 Mk2 rifle that was issued to a Canadian Ranger. Rifle was issued still in the grease a few months before the Rangers got the new rifles but has dents and dings in the wood and butt plate. Bore looks excellent, Now for the bad: The person I bought it from refused to give me the donation agreement that came with the rifle. He did however, allow me to take a picture of page one of the donation agreement which shows the serial number of the rifle, PF3152xx. The magazine has a PF serial number but is not matching. the bolt , not shown in the pic, is with the rifle and is matching.
My question is, what is it worth as is and would it be worth much more with the original Ranger donation agreement?2 (1).jpg
 

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I know next to nothing about value for an Irish Contract rifle, but you are also adding that it was issued to Canadian Ranger. Just looking at that picture - does the rifle even fit into that case?? Can the flap be closed with the rifle in there? Would need others to comment whether the Ranger association offsets the brown paper "in-the-wrap" Irish contract rifles that have been sold. Pretty certain that you will take a "hit" if the mag is not serial numbered to the receiver - pretty certain they left the factory as matching...
 
Recce21 said:
I'm gonna call BS on the whole "issued to the Rangers" story since all the Ranger Issued Enfields I have seen were Long Branch models
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Actually DND ran out of serviceable LB No4s and bought a quantity on the surplus market back in 90s IIRC. These were from all different manufacturers. You're correct though that the great majority are LB.
 
The only "Irish contract" No4 that worth more than any regular british ones are the ones that are still in the wrap or in like new condition. They worth more because they are still in the wrap or in pristine/unfired condition. Nothing to do with the so called "irish contract" gimmick.
 
The history of these rifles is intriguing, I owned a few of these rifles in south Africa, and interestingly they also had serial numbers beginning with PF... (which i thought at the time was short for Permanent Force, and issued to members of the South African Defense force who were eligible to buy one privately from the Army)
 
Well no one has yet to answer the what it is worth question.

IMHO the rifle is about $800 and being a Ranger Rifle with the case would add a premium to that. So let me take a wild stab at $900 and see what others say........
 
55recce said:
Well no one has yet to answer the what it is worth question.

IMHO the rifle is about $800 and being a Ranger Rifle with the case would add a premium to that. So let me take a wild stab at $900 and see what others say........
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I'd like to see the condition first. The panache of owning a rifle that works is more important to me than being used by the Rangers.
 
It is "worth" what someone will pay you for it. Could be $300 or $1200 - between seller and buyer to sort out... No "price list" to refer to. Serial might have been issued to buyer's grandpa - might really want it, and can pay. Or not.
 
The value is what someone will pay for it. When I've posted results from auctions, I get swamped with remarks like, 'I'd never pay that much!' and 'You're not including the auction costs'. But a full wood No.4 starts at a higher price than any stripped down sporter rifle. Condition makes it attractive. The case is not common, so add a premium over an average padded soft case. As an Irish contract it is a late production No.4 Mk 2 means it is less common in Canada, simply because of all the Long Branch rifles dumped on the Canadian market.

So, is it worth $1000? Perhaps. Is it worth $1500? No. The market isn't that high yet.
 
As a couple of others have said, its worth whatever someone is willing to pay. Put it up for $900 if that is what you want for it. Maybe someone will bite, maybe not.
 
I have found with Ranger rifles that you need to be very aware of stock cracks and barrel rings. They have a bad habit of shooting them with snow jammed in the muzzle and using them as leverage to exit the boats.
 
its also of little use saying "its worth what somebody is willing to pay". That's right up there with "a number of times" and "it will take some time"......
 
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