[ARC5] On Hacking

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Tue, Oct 16, 2012 at 12:34 AM, <WA5CAB at cs.com> wrote:


> I have two No. 5 MK 1 Enfields.  One is partially "sporterized" and
> is essentially unsellable.  The other is all original and worth $350-$500.
> The same thing is for the most part true of almost anything from the 40's
> and
> earlier.  From firearms to furniture to vehicles to guitars to paintings to
> jewelery to books.  In original even if bedraggled condition, it's worth
> something to someone.  Modified, polished brightly, painted, taped, etc.,
> it
> is usually worth little to nothing.  Watch programs like Antiques Road Show
> or some of the Pawn or Picker shows.
>

Which gets back to the old 'user vs collector' valuation. Where I grew up
in northern New England, you'd have zero problem getting decent money for
the 'hunting' version while you'd look longer to find a collector for an
untouched model, likely selling it at a gun show or to a dealer. No
surprise that collectors will always be willing to pay the most for the
unused/pristine pieces. The purist is a whole different critter than the
user.

My dad bought one of those surplus 1903 Springfield 30.06 rifles in the
early 60s and with the assistance of a local old timer, created a custom
stock and made it into a hunting rifle. Like the ARC-5 receivers of the
40s-50s, these rifles were everywhere, a dime a dozen, and many were put to
use as tools to put food on the table. The most impressive shot I saw him
make with it had to be over 300 yards, knocking down a deer someone else
had wounded but couldn't finish. One shot dropped it. Not bad for a
shortened barrel.

Maybe 15-20 years ago we were at the big gun show in Barre VT when I spied
an uncut 1903 Springfield for $325 or $350, can't recall. No one bothered
with it, so we took it home. Used but not abused, no inapproriate parts,
holes, etc. Dad had a spare sling, so the worst part was cleaning up the
stock which was black with crud. Some 4 aught steel wool and linseed oil
cleaned it up nicely. Been scraping up the bits and pieces like the
cleaning kit that fits in the butt stock to 'complete' it, ala ARC-5
endlessness. The correct WWI bayonets have gotten pricey, still looking.

Didn't Teddy Roosevelt use a sporterized Springfield? Bet that one's worth
a few bucks (no pun intended).

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4