Author Topic: What's a fair price for an Enfield Mark I sporter? (Read 649 times)

MGMorden · « **on:** April 07, 2004, 07:25:30 PM »

I was in a pawn shop a few days ago and saw a sporterized Enfield Mark 1 for sale. Sporter stock, scope (cheapo Bushnell, but the drill/tap is already done), cut/crowned barrel. Very nicely done (though guessing from the style of the stock I'd say it was sporterized back in the 50's or 60's). After working the bolt I fell in love with the thing (smoothest bolt I've ever cycled

). Anyways, the shop wants $250 for it. I'm sure I can talk them down (as you can with all pawn shops), but what would you guys consider to be a reasonable price for the gun?

ajj · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2004, 03:01:42 AM »

It's really hard to say because every sporterized rifle is unique. If the work is done well and you have a need for it and really have the fever and can talk him down some...maybe. My general impression is that sporterizing a military rifle does not increase its market value and may decrease it depending on what you started with and the quality of the work. I would ask myself what, exactly, I intended to use it for. If you need a deer rifle and are just in love with this particular one, fine. If you are just taken with the design and the slick bolt and really want an Enfield shooter I recommend getting a #4 which is a little stronger, has a heavier barrel and much better sights. $150 should get a used-but-decent rifle. Either way, these rifles are a joy to shoot.

S.S. · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2004, 06:12:09 AM »

Key word to me is "sporter" .
A sporterized mil_Surp ruins the value to me.
(Building a Custom on a Mil_surp action is a different story).
If someone simply chops the wood and the metal on a standard
military weapon, I do not see that as a reason to pay more
for it.

Just My 2 Cts.

Thomas Krupinski · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2004, 06:24:15 AM »

It would all depend upon the area and how valued they are there, but I would suspect no more than $75 to $125 depending upon the condition of the bore and how well done the modifications were actually made.

1911crazy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2004, 06:30:19 AM »

I been seeing one at a gun show here for $75 the orginal stock was cut back but the gun looked awesome. If its there again I'm going to buy it either i'll put it back to orginal or put a syn. stock on it. BigBill

MGMorden · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2004, 10:52:14 AM »

This one has a replacement sporter stock, not a cut down one. I actually don't really need it (I've got a .30-06 Savage and a m96 Swede Sporter for deer hunting duty), but rather it just caught my fancy (mainly that smooth bolt cycle

). Most of the work looked good. Only part that looked like it was a little worn was the magazine, which had some medium-level surface rust. The rest of the rifle was in great shape though.

As to it being a sporter, I'm kind of mixed on that. When I'm out shooting for fun, I have a lot more fun shooting a scoped rifle. If I'm going to own a certain chambering I also like to have it in it's original action. Enfield for .303, Krag for .30-40, etc. That's just me. However for collecting purposes I'd much rather have an unmodified version. I'd certainly never chop up an original condition rifle to make a sporter out of it (but again, if it's already that way then I do find those interesting). Best solution for me would probably be to get one sporter and one original condition

.

I'm off for the week, but I have to go in to work tommorow to pick up my paycheck. I'll stop by that shop on the way home. If they still have it I'll offer $125. If they'll go that low I'll take it. If not, no big deal, I might just get one of the $79.95 wire-wrap Enfields from SOG. Thanks guys.

kevin.303 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2004, 07:17:58 AM »

up here a SMLE with a aresenal sported stock and no other modifications goes for about 79.99. with out the mag it's 40.99. i bought a one of the parker & hale models last year with an old weaver K4 and a monte carlo stock for $125. it seems to me that the prices down south seem a little high for certain surplus rifles, but there are probably many more SMLE's here then in the states. any body got a theory on that

litman252 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2004, 04:59:23 PM »

Errrrrrrrr darn comp.------------opps

5.56er · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2004, 03:08:04 PM »

got Mark 1 no. 4 the other day with base and rings and elastic sling for 100 bucks in southwest VA, pretty deal i reckon

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #9 on:** July 02, 2004, 01:53:57 PM »

you can pick them up for $50- $75 depending on condition.A scope adds whatever value that is.There's probably been more moose shot with the 303 British than anything else.The Inuit use them for polar bear and walrus too.My first one was $8 , full wood, still in grease ,out of the Sears catalogue when I was a kid.I of course couldn't wait to ''sporterize'' it.Shot my first deer with it, too.As my dad said,
it'll do the job ifyou hold it straight''