Valuation on a snider.

[markH]

I have a snider which I'm thinking of selling but I need help with a fair figure. It started off as a "Bitsa", in that the barrel and action was a 3 band but the only stock they had available was for a 2 band artillery carbine, which obviously looked completely wrong. I shortened the barrel to 21.5 inches.

The barrel needs to be re-crowned and a foresight fitting. Stock is in good nick other than a repair to the toe. Action seems fine and the bore has slight pitting but not deep. Ramrod is missing.

Anyone care to offer a valuation. If it's not too much trouble give me an "as is" figure, plus a second if I got the barrel and foresight done.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...pskyeyv8om.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...pseni3q892.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...psess9zxkp.jpg

[loiner1965]

I have a snider which I'm thinking of selling but I need help with a fair figure. It started off as a "Bitsa", in that the barrel and action was a 3 band but the only stock they had available was for a 2 band artillery carbine, which obviously looked completely wrong. I shortened the barrel to 21.5 inches.

The barrel needs to be re-crowned and a foresight fitting. Stock is in good nick other than a repair to the toe. Action seems fine and the bore has slight pitting but not deep. Ramrod is missing.

Anyone care to offer a valuation. If it's not too much trouble give me an "as is" figure, plus a second if I got the barrel and foresight done.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...pskyeyv8om.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...pseni3q892.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...psess9zxkp.jpg

Cannot make out what mark it is.....is it mk 1. 2 or 3
Cannot see any ordnance marks on lock plate either so looks like a commercial version etc
No purist will want it and it could be a tad lively to shoot too lol
Any Nepalese script on it ?
Value I would say no more than £250 in its present state maybe £300 if recrowned etc
Edit.....since you restocked it without major refitting etc I presume it must be English rather than Nepalese version as they not interchangeable in the stock dept etc.
I have 3 sniders all mk 3

[tacfoley]

Cannot make out what mark it is.....is it mk 1. 2 or 3
Cannot see any ordnance marks on lock plate either so looks like a commercial version etc
No purist will want it and it could be a tad lively to shoot too lol
Any Nepalese script on it ?
Value I would say no more than £250 in its present state maybe £300 if recrowned etc
Edit.....since you restocked it without major refitting etc I presume it must be English rather than Nepalese version as they not interchangeable in the stock dept etc.
I have 3 sniders all mk 3

I agree. The lack of ANY obvious markings on the lock plate is of concern, and what we urgently need is a top view of the action, to show all the marking there. Remember that Mk1s had a simple detented breechblock, but that later models had a proper thumb-operated locking catch. Three-band Sniders also had three-groove rifling, and only the real carbines had five. Mk1s were also iron-barrelled, and only later all-steel.

Depending on where you take it, the re-crowning might just cost more than is worth it to do. It can also go badly wrong - one well-known dealer/gunsmith in the Midlands ruined a genuine 1894 Winchester carbine in 32-20 by not only re-crowning it, but re-bluing it, turning a £2000 and otherwise totally original antique into a £750 re-work.

tac

[markH]

There's no Nepalese script at all. From the latch and rifling it seems to be Mk1. Nothing on the lockplate at all, pics of all markings below:-

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...psr2z9evg9.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...psgtmabe3p.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...psjr1tdajt.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...psdxgdzplb.jpg

There's also marks on the rear sight 1,2,3,4 for the different range settings.

[ashf9999]

Hmm, if it is completely plain that may be problematic. Does the lock have any markings inside? Marks inside are normally the maker, but on the outside they are normally the retailer or final assembler. It is most likely either a volunteer pattern that never had the lock engraved, or a 'cheaper' lock, maybe foreign or later in date.

To have a WD mark on the barrel I'd expect to see an Enfield marked lock with crown (I think).

That said, a cut 'n shut won't be very desirable, especially as you can still pick up half decent ish ones still for a few hundred; retailer marked with the crown. You wouldn't know how it shot until you tried, but I suspect its value would be little more than that of a wallhanger. The cost of the re-crowning and reattaching the foresight will probably be prohibitively expensive compared to the overall value I'm afraid.

[loiner1965]

It's possibly a Nepal p53 lock which will be void of any markings inside and out.
Remove the two screws (nails ) on the opposite side of the lock and half cock the hammer.
Then you be able to remove lock and examine.
Take a pick of the breech area ESP any markings.
If you see a number 25 on the barrel or breech then it's a commercial made rifle and generally worth less etc.
Examine lock plate and see if they is any markings ESP under the rust.
Personally I soak the lock when stripped down in a caustic soda / water solution for a day or two then gently scub with very fine brass wool which will remove crud and rust etc.
Repeat above the dry and do again but with oil etc

[tacfoley]

The cost of the re-crowning and reattaching the foresight will probably be prohibitively expensive compared to the overall value I'm afraid.

See second paragraph in post #3.

tac

[loiner1965]

Just noticed pics.
Looks like a mk2 p60 snider with commercial proofs and also ordnance marks too.
Not worth a great deal due to condition and work needed etc.
If it was in better nick I would bought and restored as I have 3 sniders all mk 3 lol

[loiner1965]

Is it a 3 or 5 twist barrel

[tacfoley]

Is it a 3 or 5 twist barrel

If you mean is it a three or a five groove barrel, then, having been made from a cut-down rifle, it should be a three. The carbines and two-band sergeants'/artillery rifles compensated for being shorter by having five grooves.

tac

[loiner1965]

If you mean is it a three or a five groove barrel, then, having been made from a cut-down rifle, it should be a three. The carbines and two-band sergeants'/artillery rifles compensated for being shorter by having five grooves.

tac

Should be a 1 in 3 twist barrel tac but as you know strange things do turn up when least expected.

I have 2 gahendras which they say have spiral welded barrels but both of mine are solid drawn versions with one being the rare side scripted receiver.

[markH]

It is indeed a 3 groove barrel. The breech does not have a thumb lever, it is simply a detented breech.

[tacfoley]

Should be a 1 in 3 twist barrel tac but as you know strange things do turn up when least expected.

I have 2 gahendras which they say have spiral welded barrels but both of mine are solid drawn versions with one being the rare side scripted receiver.

Solid drawn barrels? In a Snider?

You're pulling my jambe.

Tell me more about these seamless 'drawn' barrels, please.

Better in a new thread to avoid side-tracking this one.

tac

[loiner1965]

Solid drawn barrels? In a Snider?

You're pulling my jambe.

Tell me more about these seamless 'drawn' barrels, please.

Better in a new thread to avoid side-tracking this one.

tac

Lol what I meant tac was sometimes oddities turn up
They say only the improved versions of the gahendra had solid barrels but I have 2 early ones which have them fitted too
Extremely long shot the snider if the this snider had
A 1 in 5 twist