What does everyone think the most valuable Military Rifle is in overall popularity and scarcity?

I am new to military rifles and have a MN, AR, and SKS, but I would love to have a Dragunov...So I pick the Dragunov

Wow! Quite a question and I'm not sure there is any one proper answer. For me it would be a G33/40 in minty condition unless you are talking the rifle that killed Kennedy or Hitlers suicide pistol. National Match Garands fetch high prices too, as do authentic sniper rifles from a lot of different countries.

Edit: Let's not forget G or K 43's with proper capture papers. And paratrooper/takedown Arisakas with intact mums. Authentic Krag carbines?

Whichever one is within arms reach when you need it...

How far back do you want to go? I believe an authentic Model 1803 Harper's Ferry in excellent condition would come close!

Pretty much any military rifle...

I wouldn't mind an M1 Garand either...

I think a Johnson Automatic unissued in the crate and cosmoline with all the accesories would be pretty pricey.

I would like a mint new 98/09 Peruvian Mauser

I collect German wwII so in that area I would say a G41 M(10k to $12K) or the VG last ditch pieces that sell for $15k.

The 33/40 is my focus area and matching unsanded pieces are in the $3K to $4k range at auction. Problem is that most that do come for sale have been faked.

Like this one:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=76643166



That's a lot of M91's!

quote:

Originally posted by John33/40:
I collect German wwII so in that area I would say a G41 M(10k to $12K) or the VG last ditch pieces that sell for $15k.

The 33/40 is my focus area and matching unsanded pieces are in the $3K to $4k range at auction. Problem is that most that do come for sale have been faked.


Like this one:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=76643166



That's a lot of M91's!

John,

Educate us on this. How can you tell it's been faked?

I to collect WWII German firearms, the one I have been chaseing for years is the 1 model FG42.

quote:

Originally posted by octave:
I to collect WWII German firearms, the one I have been chaseing for years is the 1 model FG42.

Hmm, I guess you could twist my arm to take one of them. :-)


I guess I was only thinking semi-auto. If you 'open it up' I guess any stg/mp 43/44 variant would command big $$.

quote:

Originally posted by craigster:

quote:

Originally posted by John33/40:
I collect German wwII so in that area I would say a G41 M(10k to $12K) or the VG last ditch pieces that sell for $15k.

The 33/40 is my focus area and matching unsanded pieces are in the $3K to $4k range at auction. Problem is that most that do come for sale have been faked.


Like this one:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=76643166



That's a lot of M91's!

John,

Educate us on this. How can you tell it's been faked?

The font is wrong on the SN. But, in addition to that the bolt has 40 and 41 features. 33/40 bolts have specific markings that vary by year and this guy has mixed them all up.

quote:

Originally posted by ireload2:
I would like a mint new 98/09 Peruvian Mauser

I would like a mint/new M1924 FN from Venezuela in 7X57mm.... OR a mint/new real antique Baker from the Peninsula campaign of Lord Wellington!

The short Derringer, owned by Ford's Theater, used by actor John Wilkes Booth is insured for $One Million Dollars, as I understand it. Regards!

quote:

Originally posted by Fireball 57:
The short Derringer, owned by Ford's Theater, used by actor John Wilkes Booth is insured for $One Million Dollars, as I understand it. Regards!

Interesting, but not a military rifle.

I own this old clunker......

Whitworth:

That is a nice clunker for sure.

In the spirit of clunkers, here's a few of mine:

Very nice, John!!

Hard choices but my vote goes to the FG/42.


FG/42 link

that FG/42 is a wicked looker, but I'm wondering how many German paratroops caught a magazine in the teeth while firing it.

first I am aware that it could be loaded with stripper clips, too.

Good point. I've often wondered about that. I would really like to meet a vet that used one & ask him about that.

Very cool, Doug!

there's mention of and pics in a thread somewhere of new semiauto FG/42's, made in Germany, I believe.

< edited >
did a search, here's the website, courtesy of frere Edmond-

http://www.ssd-weapon.com/produkte/fg42/fg42.htm

The trouble/difficulty I find in looking at WWII Mausers today is the number of fakes/tricked out rifles that are now out there. Really makes me dream of the 60s and 70s when you could pick up all sorts of cool GI rifles at better prices. Will be at a local gun show next weekend, and I will expect to find maybe half a dozen slightly interesting Mausers at best, plenty of assorted M91s and AK clones, and not a single Mauser police or cavalry carbine will be in sight!!!

But, what's rare? Yep a really MINT Johnson M-41 or even a minty gas trap Garand, so beware of fakes once more.
LLS

got to be the Henry rifle. Those with documentable military provenance are going past $100K. Or the 1873 Winchester that was proven to have been fired at Custer's demise...$489K IIRC

Rich
DRSS

the M1A is the best. it .308 and has awsome stopping power

sierra2, a really mint Johnson will cost the bucks. I've seen ratty ones going for 3K plus. Clarify fake for me. Do you mean parts guns with no matching serial numbers?

Transferable stoner- about 200k R.

I have a Johnson complete with bayonet, its a 7X57.

Since price is a function of desireability and rarity, I don't think there's any real answer to your query, but you have a number of answers that are in the running. Another to add to the group is the Remington Model 1934, a modified M1917 Enfield in 7x57mm caliber. Only 3000 were built.

Bud W

I vote for the first working prototype .303 cal No4Mk1(T) sniper rifle from Holland and Holland.

How about this one?

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=80436632

I of three noted with that code and by far the most complete.

If it had bnz 45 on it instead of swj xe it would have gone for $750 to $1k .

Is it not a matter of where you live. What is extremely hard to find in one place can be really easy and cheap to get somwhere else.

Most valuable? If you limit it to non-full auto guns, I would have to say a Gas-Trap Garand is right up there ($75,000 give or take).

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=81571073

This one might be interesting. Arisaka with single digit serial number.

I've been watching this thread since it first posted and I'll have to lean to the German FG42. It had less than 7,000 produced and it is as rare as hair on a frog.

While it did have several ergonomic and mechanical design features that could have been improved, it did have the one feature that is not too often successful. It was designed to fire full power rifle cartridges in an "Assault Rifle" platform, it did it successfully, and that is rare.

It also has a look that is hard to beat. Kind of like a Shelby 427 Cobra. Mean, lean, and classic.

Regards,

Eric

gau 8 transferable

For me, not a rifle. I am a MG/SMG/STG addict.

Shooting a Bergmann MP 18.1

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7811043/m/589109167

But I think the new semi auto FG42 might be ranking first on my list.

The first Chinese Match lock ever to fire gunpowder comes to mind !. If it's the first it's priceless .IMO . Who says all Chinese stuff are Junk !.

My second choice would be a SAA Colt after all it won the west didn't it ?. Least wise Sam Colt made it seem that way or did he just make Men equal !.

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...