Collector's value for an unaltered Mark I?

[Fred]

Well I thought about that Randy, and then I thought that if I did, I'd be giving away the obscure but interesting internet site that the rifle is being sold on and having learned what a dog eat dog world it is out there and how it can be every man for himself, depending on who learns about it, I didn't want to tip my hand just yet. As far as expert opinions about this rifle go, I'm pretty confident that what I see is what there is. In the 40 some years that I've been collecting, studying and restoring antique firearms, I've developed a good eye for originality versus something that's been messed with. But, Thanks ever so much though Randy! I'm just going to bide my time and attend the up coming gun show and see if anything else of interest catches my eye first.

[ClaudeH]

Fred, I understand your caution. I have learned to download auction site photos to my computer so I can change their name before posting. Of course that doesn't help if htey have a watermark across the picture.

I look forward to seeing pictures after you have it "reduced it possession".

[Fred]

OK, I've decided that as much as I'd like to own it, I'm going to pass on the Mark I that I'd had my eye on. My wife just told me that the washing machine is broken. We need another anyway. So, for anyone who would like to see it and possibly own it, here is the item number of it on Gunbroker. Not really such an obscure site is it? It is item number 297995375. Fred

[Fred]

OK, I decided that I would buy the rifle . I won the auction. It should be here by next Tuesday if everything goes right. Here's the link to the rifle auction.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=297995375

[stevekaw]

OK, I've decided that as much as I'd like to own it, I'm going to pass on the Mark I that I'd had my eye on. My wife just told me that the washing machine is broken. We need another anyway. So, for anyone who would like to see it and possibly own it, here is the item number of it on Gunbroker. Not really such an obscure site is it? It is item number 297995375. Fred

Guess you'll be wearing dirty clothes for awhile, lol?

Honestly, nice rifle. I think you paid a fair price for it. Not a great bargain, but I suspect you knew that...

[Premod70]

Well this thread has a little comedy to it; I had this rifle on my watch list for several days and placed the second bid yet chickened out for another bump. Little did I know that Mr.Fred was the opposing bidder. Congratulations Mr. Fred, I'm glad it was you that got the rifle.

[Fred]

Hey, thanks! I thought that was you bidding against me Premod70. It's a tempting morsal, isn't it? I was prepared to go higher. Glad that I didn't have to. Thanks for backing out!
I'm going to make this my last purchase for awhile. Well, maybe just one more to stack arms... Fred

[Fred]

Guess you'll be wearing dirty clothes for awhile, lol?

Honestly, nice rifle. I think you paid a fair price for it. Not a great bargain, but I suspect you knew that...

I really like the rifle because it's still intact and original, being just as it was made 93 years ago. Of course it's suffered at the hands of careless handlers, but back then, this rifle was just one of many thousands put into storage and later pulled out again, issued and drilled with. Maybe it went to war in the 30's or 40's. Not many survived in their original condition however, as we all know. This rifle has the look of one that did and I feel passes the test. So, when somebody finaly makes available a reproduction Pedersen Device that chambers a modern 32 caliber cartridge, I'll have the correct rifle to use with it! Hey, they're making reproduction Gatling Guns, so why not?

[Premod70]

Hey Fred, I read your sells sheet and saw you had sold a few rifles recently and had more cash in hand than I did; no need to run it up when all I had was a little over the starting bid. I presently have a Mark 1 that needs a trigger group and a 10 or 11-19 barrel to make it original; I guess I'll keep looking. PS: I didn't know it was you or I would not have bumped the bid rather sent you a PM.

[Fred]

Oh that's OK 70, all's fair in love, war and collecting guns! I was fortunate in finding a British collector of Enfields who lives here in the States who wanted and bought all three of my Long Lee Enfields. The last one he told me he'd buy at my asking price, so I never had to put it up on Gunbroker. My wife got a lot of the money and my mom some more. I bought the rifle so I'd be sure I didn't just piss away the rest. Money has a habit of trickling away on whatever if ya don't just spend it on something. I prefer to spend it on something I can hold in my hands for years to come. Something that is steadily appreciating in value, no matter how slow, is an added plus. This rifle fit the bill. Technically, since the rifle was bought with money received from rifles that were bought by my good wife for me with her money and in her name on her Gunbroker account, it can be said that this rifle, and the other 1903 recently bought, are hers. However, she loves to target shoot and can hit her mark every bit as well as I can if not better with pistols, shotguns and rifles. She's quite a gal who wrangles our herd of unbroken horses with ease. She used to hunt quail and pheasant from Horseback with her Browning over/under. Sharing our guns together is parr for the course around here!