Four Fingers of Death
04-23-2005, 08:06 AM
I have just picked up a No4 Mk1 Sniper rifle with a No32 Mk1 Telescopic sight.
I got it very cheap because there is some concern about the fact that it is a genuine one. I think it is and even if it isn't, the scopes I have seen for sale here in Australia, sell for at least four times what I paid for scope and rifle.
I think it is a rifle that has been rebuilt by the Aussie army. The scope is dated 1941 and comes in a tin which is dated 1955 and both the serial number of the rifle and scope have been stencilled on the outside. This has been done many years ago by the look of it.
At the moment you pay about $400-450 and more for good No4s here. I picked up both for $550 Australian. The gun dealer was going on about the guy tring to rip people off by stamping the numbers on. I don't think that is the case. I think the guy must have picked it up years ago when they were very cheap here and is obviously not aware of the current value (either is the gun dealer, you gotta get a win every now and then). Since mil rifle shooting has taken off over the past few years the prices of these things has gone through the roof. I think if he was trying to rip someone off, he would have been asking for more money.
Does anybody know much about these?
I think it is an aussie rebuild, because we were not so particular when rebuilding and didn't worry about matching numbers, etc wheras the English were very anal about it. These guns in England were not serviced by field units, but were sent back complete with scope for repair I am told. We just got them shooting apparently.
It was my intention to sell it as soon as I could get a good price for it, but now that I have it home and had a good look at it, I'm beginning to grow fond of it. It has lovely walnut wood work with a very straight grain.
The scope is out of focus. Is there a focus adjustment, or am I up for a rebuild.
I know a gun writer who paid nearly $3000 Australian for one of these in spectacularly poor condition and the scope was in pieces. He was happy to get it.
I would appreciate any help.
Mick.
(ex Australian Light Horse in the Centurion Main Battle Tank era.)
I got it very cheap because there is some concern about the fact that it is a genuine one. I think it is and even if it isn't, the scopes I have seen for sale here in Australia, sell for at least four times what I paid for scope and rifle.
I think it is a rifle that has been rebuilt by the Aussie army. The scope is dated 1941 and comes in a tin which is dated 1955 and both the serial number of the rifle and scope have been stencilled on the outside. This has been done many years ago by the look of it.
At the moment you pay about $400-450 and more for good No4s here. I picked up both for $550 Australian. The gun dealer was going on about the guy tring to rip people off by stamping the numbers on. I don't think that is the case. I think the guy must have picked it up years ago when they were very cheap here and is obviously not aware of the current value (either is the gun dealer, you gotta get a win every now and then). Since mil rifle shooting has taken off over the past few years the prices of these things has gone through the roof. I think if he was trying to rip someone off, he would have been asking for more money.
Does anybody know much about these?
I think it is an aussie rebuild, because we were not so particular when rebuilding and didn't worry about matching numbers, etc wheras the English were very anal about it. These guns in England were not serviced by field units, but were sent back complete with scope for repair I am told. We just got them shooting apparently.
It was my intention to sell it as soon as I could get a good price for it, but now that I have it home and had a good look at it, I'm beginning to grow fond of it. It has lovely walnut wood work with a very straight grain.
The scope is out of focus. Is there a focus adjustment, or am I up for a rebuild.
I know a gun writer who paid nearly $3000 Australian for one of these in spectacularly poor condition and the scope was in pieces. He was happy to get it.
I would appreciate any help.
Mick.
(ex Australian Light Horse in the Centurion Main Battle Tank era.)