What don't I see?

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Carl Gustav	What don't I see?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 3219 (12/22/08 11:38 AM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None http://www.gunbroker.com/...ewItem.asp?Item=118285896 The above rifle sold for what seems an extremely high price. Is there something about it that I'm missing? I have a similar rifle that is all matching with a matching bayonet that I bought from Century Arms about ten years ago for around a hundred dollars. Carl
ParrisIsland79		#1	[-]
Posts: 88 (12/22/08 11:49 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Jeeze. And I thought the UF55 for $419- I saw the other day was high. Maybe the guy that bought it is a CEO of something that got bailed out.
Ray Newman		#2	[-]
Posts: 331 (12/22/08 01:59 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The add reads: "I am not an expert on these guns but I'm told the serial number falls in the range of the somewhat desirable 'Irish Contract' rifles. I'll let you do the research." You guys are missing the Holy Grail -- it's an Irish Contract rifle. For some reason, the No.4 Mk II rifles in the Irish Contract serial number range (PF309348 - PF359347 ) have a seemingly much greater desirability & value than other No.4 Mk II's. Plus it is all matching, looks very clean, etc. Too bad it doesn't have the matching bayonet & scabbard. A 1954 date is late in the game for these rifles. You also need to consider that some people will pay for what they want or need to round out their collection. As well as that voice in the back of their head that sez "they ain't makin' 'em anymore." IMO, the price is on the high end & such prices will only cause similar No.4's to go up. But then again look @ the prices of firearms. I can recall when Trapdoors, 03's, 03A3's, US Model 1917's, etc., were just war surplus junk....
ParrisIsland79		#3	[-]
Posts: 91 (12/22/08 03:34 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Ray -- Good point on the Irish contract logic. I admire Enfields, but do not as of yet know the nuances of this fine breed, so (jesting myself here) you are right -- I didn't even see a Holy Grail. My reference about the UF55 I saw was from an original question I posted about a week ago trying to determine whether a UF55 was worth $419-. Or was the dealer just trying to jack it up a bit. I try not to be a schmuck when I can help it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. This is indeed a great site.
Carl Gustav		#4	[-]
Posts: 3225 (12/23/08 09:32 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Mine has serial number PF363235 so it's just beyond Holy Grail status. Carl
jcjordan		#5	[-]
Posts: 905 (12/23/08 10:55 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Well I've got a "Holy Grail" rifle & paid less for it than that but a fool & his money is soon parted. This is one of those reasons I stay away from auctions as sometimes you get in a bidding war w/ someone who really doesn't know the real value of something but they just have got to have it any any price. But should I decide to part w/ my grail, I'll quote this auction so I can ask for $1000+ for mine as it was just out of the wrap by Brian Dick when they were still around in numbers. Hollis P Wood & William Kelso..the finest of American Heros!
temperflash		#6	[-]
Posts: 368 (12/23/08 11:56 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Rekin anyone that bid on it even noticed that the buttstock doesn't match the fore end?
Ed Novak		#7	[-]
Posts: 1760 (12/24/08 12:05 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	"Irish need not apply". Anyone else remember that? Now, "Irish" is in vogue wrt to No.4, Mk. 2 rifles stamped with the correct serial numbers. No disrespect intended; just a thought about how things do change. "Irish Contract" rifles seldom have any "Irish" history of being "Irish" by ownership - a few, yes but the preponderance of them, no. Most of the contract was placed in stores for future U.K. needs. "Buy the rifle; not the story" applies well here. LECS member #2. NRA Life Member
Metaleer		#8	[-]
Posts: 3 (01/15/09 11:30 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I purchased a No.4, Mk.2 serial number PF337435 that was part of the unissued "Irish Contract" that you speak of. My rifle was made in January of 1955. There are still some of these rifles floating around out there, some still in paper and cosmoline. Most of these were never supplied with a matching bayonet & scabbard. I have been looking for many years for a matched set with no luck. The quality of these rifles is outstanding. The wood when issued was birch for most of this contract and had a light yellow color. The wood tended to stain very easily. Clean unfired rifles are getting harder to find and lately there have been a few from this contract running in the $750-$1,000 range. Like the man said it is a lot of money but then again they are not making them anymore.
Mangrovite303	What don't I see?	#9	[-]
Posts: 3 (01/16/09 05:41 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The way I look at it is look how much you pay for a bare "Remchester" production rifle (say $1700 AUD). If the store runs out can simply order in an identical one brand new all day every day- the only difference is the serial number. It looks exactly the same as the next but it depreciates 25% as soon as you walk out the door with it. Now suppose an in-the-wrapper No.4 Mk2 turns up for $1000. You could buy it and say well I paid alot compared to lesser examples. But you paid less compared to the new production rifle and the LE will most likely appreciate in value. Just my 2 cents.
Gabreski 1st FJ		#10	[-]
Posts: 202 (01/16/09 02:19 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Glad I picked mine up a couple years ago. Though its a UF55 in the 10xxx range it was still in the wrap. Has had only 10 rounds through it. Purdiest one I own
Ed Novak		#11	[-]
Posts: 1774 (01/16/09 10:35 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Mangrovite303 wrote: The way I look at it is look how much you pay for a bare "Remchester" production rifle (say $1700 AUD). If the store runs out can simply order in an identical one brand new all day every day- the only difference is the serial number. It looks exactly the same as the next but it depreciates 25% as soon as you walk out the door with it. Now suppose an in-the-wrapper No.4 Mk2 turns up for $1000. You could buy it and say well I paid alot compared to lesser examples. But you paid less compared to the new production rifle and the LE will most likely appreciate in value. Just my 2 cents. I' take exception with this, Devil's Advocate sort of thing - probably the most accurate "remchester" on the market is the Savage 110 series. Rifles almost certain to best the best of the LEs priced far higher. "Collector value" aside wrt the late production No.4. LECS member #2. NRA Life Member
Mangrovite303		#12	[-]
Posts: 4 (01/17/09 02:16 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Accuracy never entered my mind when I wrote the last.
sgmsteve		#13	[-]
Posts: 640 (01/17/09 10:26 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I've been following this and have found it interesting from the standpoint of the wild fluctuations in price of what some of us think are common items. I guess it boils down to supply, demand, and interest. Items that were common when they were imported become scarce as they flow into private ownership. Then, if interest rises, they go up in price. My first milsurp was a UF 55 SN 11000 range that I paid $100 for. I saw one go recently for $1100. Go figure. Since then I picked up a second UF 55 SN 1500 range for very little more than the first one. At a gunshow last year I found a No. 4 Mk2 in PF 350000 range 11/54 date for $130. Now I see one in that range going for over $700? I love to shoot my UF 55s. They are the most accurate of my 20 odd Enfields and right up there with my Schmidt Rubin 1911's and Swede 96's. They love the 12" gong at 200 yds! I collect for my enjoyment and to appreciate the small arms that my brother Infantry carried throughout the 20th century. The only downside I see to this trend is in how it affects me in adding to my collection. Bummer! Steve
temperflash		#14	[-]
Posts: 371 (01/17/09 08:06 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Shooting a sub MOA group with a nine hundred dollar high middle grade rifle is less satisfying than shooting a sub MOA group with a Walmart special, and neither can compare with developing a taylored hand load and bedding and tweaking a sixty five year old clunker till it prints groups as good or better than the vast majority of of high end custom ordered rifles. Guns that have required no investment of time and energy on my part lose interest for me fairly quickly. Guns that were basket cases when I first saw them have provided a wealth of personal satisfaction when put back into good safe and accurate condition. I've let a lot of fine weapons pass through my hands, some I wouldn't mind still having, but if I'd kept every rifle I ever owned I'd have run out of room long ago and missed out on the many fine rifles I've had since then. My Enfields are rifles I've never felt like passing along. The actions are perfect for my particular needs. A hand injury makes operating most bolt actions awkwards and often painful, and lever actions are out of the question. I can operate the Enfields with speed and precision, almost effortlessly. I had just noticed awhile back that nearly every rifle and shotgun I own is a short throw action with rear locking lugs. Guess this is the best action type for me.
Metaleer		#15	[-]
Posts: 6 (01/18/09 11:28 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I agree with temperflash in that anyone can buy a rifle to shoot well if you are willing to lay out the money. To take an older rifle, Enfields for me, and make it shoot is pure pleasure. How many times have we all started to work on one of our rifles to find the sun suddenly setting and wondering where the time went? Or remembering the smile it brought to your face when you dialed in to the right combination to produce that great target? One year when I went hunting in New York State. My friends laughed at me for leaving my Remington Mountain rifle at home in favor of one of my Enfields. I bagged the biggest and and largest racked deer that year. One of those who laughed at me now shoots an Enfield. Nothing can compare to the feeling of holding and shooting a rifle you have personally restored ... unless it is dreaming about the next one.