Author Topic: Value of professionally restored .303 British SMLE (Read 701 times)

minutemen1776 · « **on:** June 03, 2005, 05:15:18 AM »

I have an opportunity to acquire a nicely restored post-WWII .303 British Lee-Enfield. The gun has been worked over by a professional gunsmith, who has refinished the stock, gone over the internal parts, and has bead-blasted and refinished the metal. Nothing has been sporterized; the rifle remains in its original military configuration. The end result is a very handsome (it almost looks new) SMLE. The rifle comes with a bayonet and an extra detachable magazine. Any ideas on this gun's worth? I know the refinishing removes any "collector" value, but I don't think it was a "collector"-grade gun in the first place. The current asking price is $300.

Stan in SC · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2005, 06:06:03 AM »

It may be pretty but it has no more value than $100 as a wall hanger/looker.Milsurp rifles are not considered collectible if "restored".
You can buy an unissued Enfield for approximately the same money.Example the still paper wrapped No.4s.

jh45gun · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2005, 08:57:32 AM »

I agree with Stan once refinished they loose any collector value. There is a difference between restored and refinished. If it shoots good and you want a nice shooter go for it but like Stan said you can find origionals cheaper. Jim

rockbilly · « **Reply #3 on:** June 03, 2005, 12:17:01 PM »

:shock: Too high for a BUTCHERED gun. At best its worth no more than 150-175.

As for "looks handsome", they were not handsome at birth. I currently own two brand new (unfired, unissued) .303 that were produced in 1954. They are good looking military weapons, but they ain't handsome.

HouseofCash · « **Reply #4 on:** June 03, 2005, 01:16:26 PM »

aldersgater, if you feel this is a good gun for $300 then by it. I do not get into the hole mil-surp thing where you can touch it. I have refinshed, reblued and cut up a few mil-surps, most I have left alone because there was nothing wrong with them. But, $300 is not alot of money if you have the money and like it. Theres nothing wrong with making it look stock, but, better then it did when it came out.

Dave.

rockbilly · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2005, 07:00:13 PM »

aldersgater. Go to auctionarms and take a look at item 6708843, it is a sports version of the .303, appears to be in very good shape from the photos, and the current bid is $179. (if I remember correctly, that includes the scope mount) If you don't want to buy from this source, then just watch the bids and see what it sells for. That should provide a better idea of what the market value is for this gun.

I kind of half way agree with HouseofCash, if it really gets your attention spend the money, after all, most of us have caved in to desire at some point.

minutemen1776 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2005, 05:11:54 AM »

Thanks for all the input. I would not describe this gun as "butchered," and I do believe it to be handsome in its own way. Granted, I also like the looks of my Glock 17, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. :-)

I think the ultimate price of the rifle I'm looking at will be closer to $250, which ain't too much. After looking around a bit, I've seen nothing as good-looking for a better price. Everything I've seen in the sub-$200 range is either sporterized or badly worn, and neither of these are appealing to me. Though I'm not concerned about "collector value" or "collectibility," I do want a basically stock, nice-condition SMLE. I've not seen any unissued, still-in-the-paper SMLEs. Where can these be found?