BSA .577 Snider

[GQshayne]

This firearm has come into our possession from an estate. We know that it is a BSA, stamped 1871, and is called a .577, 3 Band Snider. Use in numerous military conflicts around the world. It is listed as a collectible by Qld Weapons Licensing, so is not registered and you do not need a licence for it. That is as much as we know, assuming this is correct of course.

Can anyone offer further information on the rifle, what it may be worth, or where is a good place to look to market it?? We do not have any collectible stuff, so we are out of our element here. Any info would be appreciated,

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[ThatNewGuy]

Im not well learned on black powder firearms however typing .577 in all of the usual used gun places gets you anywhere between $600-$900 on average for similar rifles (enfields & the likes) however it seems rebel has sold one of them in the north of $1200+.

I don't want to say anything wrong so ill leave that small amount of info that can be verified.
https://www.rebelgunworks.com.au/produc ... 5993853005
https://www.rebelgunworks.com.au/produc ... 9307464781

Used guns:
https://www.usedguns.com.au/SearchResul ... &sold=true

[No1_49er]

Be careful!
Check the Qld Police 'List of Ammunition Availability'.
Go here https://www.police.qld.gov.au/weapon-li ... ailability
On that basis, I believe that the Snider should be registered, irrespective of its age.

[No1Mk3]

G'day GQshayne,
Sniders are great fun, I have several of them in 3 band, 2 band and carbine versions. Yours has the Mk III breech, an important feature to note when selling as they were the safest of the breech's on the Snider. Yours is not a British Pattern rifle, being a BSA, but would be either Commercial for the trade or for a Colonial order (ie: Queensland Police, Tasmania Prisons, Canadian or Indian Army etc). any Colonial orders placed through the War Office should carry the Crown acceptance stamp on the lock plate, a photo of which would help with further identification of it's origin and perhaps service. As for value, based solely on your pics, a very good condition 3 band that still has the trigger guard sling swivel ($50 to replace!), but unknown bore (Cleaning rod there??) starts at $1200 up to $1800. A verified Colonial issue, and look for stamps on the buttstock for stamps indicating this, can push the price over 2K. Best place, Usedguns, Auctions, or contact QMRC as many of their members collect such things, Alternatively, KEEP IT !!! Cheers

PS: Just noticed the ramrod,

[GQshayne]

Be careful!
Check the Qld Police 'List of Ammunition Availability'.
Go here https://www.police.qld.gov.au/weapon-li ... ailability
On that basis, I believe that the Snider should be registered, irrespective of its age.

Hmmmm..... it is noted on that list though. Dad has also had our local gunshop confirm the same. So we think it is exempt.

[GQshayne]

G'day GQshayne,
Sniders are great fun, I have several of them in 3 band, 2 band and carbine versions. Yours has the Mk III breech, an important feature to note when selling as they were the safest of the breech's on the Snider. Yours is not a British Pattern rifle, being a BSA, but would be either Commercial for the trade or for a Colonial order (ie: Queensland Police, Tasmania Prisons, Canadian or Indian Army etc). any Colonial orders placed through the War Office should carry the Crown acceptance stamp on the lock plate, a photo of which would help with further identification of it's origin and perhaps service. As for value, based solely on your pics, a very good condition 3 band that still has the trigger guard sling swivel ($50 to replace!), but unknown bore (Cleaning rod there??) starts at $1200 up to $1800. A verified Colonial issue, and look for stamps on the buttstock for stamps indicating this, can push the price over 2K. Best place, Usedguns, Auctions, or contact QMRC as many of their members collect such things, Alternatively, KEEP IT !!! Cheers

PS: Just noticed the ramrod,

Thanks to everyone for their input.

No1Mk3, you obviously know a bit about these things. Something I forgot to list was that it was bought in Afghanistan, and brought back into Australia. I can have a look for some markings, as there a quite a few on it.

[No1_49er]

Be careful!
Check the Qld Police 'List of Ammunition Availability'.
Go here https://www.police.qld.gov.au/weapon-li ... ailability
On that basis, I believe that the Snider should be registered, irrespective of its age.

Hmmmm..... it is noted on that list though. Dad has also had our local gunshop confirm the same. So we think it is exempt.

Note that items # 98 - 101(incl.) on the list are .577 for which it is noted that Ammunition is Commercially Available. If I were you, Qld WLB would be a good place to start with queries about exemption. No good just thinking it's exempt; better to know for certain.

[GQshayne]

Be careful!
Check the Qld Police 'List of Ammunition Availability'.
Go here https://www.police.qld.gov.au/weapon-li ... ailability
On that basis, I believe that the Snider should be registered, irrespective of its age.

Hmmmm..... it is noted on that list though. Dad has also had our local gunshop confirm the same. So we think it is exempt.

Note that items # 98 - 101(incl.) on the list are .577 for which it is noted that Ammunition is Commercially Available. If I were you, Qld WLB would be a good place to start with queries about exemption. No good just thinking it's exempt; better to know for certain.

I appreciate your input, as this stuff can be confusing at times. Maybe I am interpreting this section wrong, but this is the wording of that schedule -

"The following table identifies ammunition that has been assessed and/or approved by the authorised officer as not commercially available."

So as I understand it, anything on that list is exempt. How have you determined the opposite??

[GQshayne]

G'day GQshayne,
Sniders are great fun, I have several of them in 3 band, 2 band and carbine versions. Yours has the Mk III breech, an important feature to note when selling as they were the safest of the breech's on the Snider. Yours is not a British Pattern rifle, being a BSA, but would be either Commercial for the trade or for a Colonial order (ie: Queensland Police, Tasmania Prisons, Canadian or Indian Army etc). any Colonial orders placed through the War Office should carry the Crown acceptance stamp on the lock plate, a photo of which would help with further identification of it's origin and perhaps service. As for value, based solely on your pics, a very good condition 3 band that still has the trigger guard sling swivel ($50 to replace!), but unknown bore (Cleaning rod there??) starts at $1200 up to $1800. A verified Colonial issue, and look for stamps on the buttstock for stamps indicating this, can push the price over 2K. Best place, Usedguns, Auctions, or contact QMRC as many of their members collect such things, Alternatively, KEEP IT !!! Cheers

PS: Just noticed the ramrod,

OK, a bit more info on the old girl. Photos would not be possible without specialist gear, so I will just have to write down what we can decipher.

The lock plate has a crown with the letters VR underneath, Also a crown with BSA 1871.

Nothing on the butt plate that I can see though. We know he went to Afghanistan but also Nepal, and of course the rifle could have travelled to anywhere over the years before he bought it.

There are symbols and numbers on top of the action - an arrow, WD, crown. And on the barrel quite a number of symbols such as crossed flags, WD, 2P and a few other things. Much more than a modern firearm that is for sure.

[No1_49er]

Be careful!
Check the Qld Police 'List of Ammunition Availability'.
Go here https://www.police.qld.gov.au/weapon-li ... ailability
On that basis, I believe that the Snider should be registered, irrespective of its age.

Hmmmm..... it is noted on that list though. Dad has also had our local gunshop confirm the same. So we think it is exempt.

Note that items # 98 - 101(incl.) on the list are .577 for which it is noted that Ammunition is Commercially Available. If I were you, Qld WLB would be a good place to start with queries about exemption. No good just thinking it's exempt; better to know for certain.

I appreciate your input, as this stuff can be confusing at times. Maybe I am interpreting this section wrong, but this is the wording of that schedule -

"The following table identifies ammunition that has been assessed and/or approved by the authorised officer as not commercially available."

So as I understand it, anything on that list is exempt. How have you determined the opposite??

Shayne, I believe that your interpretation might be shy of the mark.
Please understand that the list (which is by no means exhaustive) has a column headed [Ammunition Status]. There are TWO descriptions therein: Ammunition is Commercially Available, and, Ammunition is NOT Commercially Available.
Immediately under the text you pasted from that document is this; "List of approved or Non approved ammunition/calibres as at 11/03/2020".
Further, on that web page, there is a link to 'Antique Weapons', and from that is the following:

"You do not require a weapons licence or a permit to acquire to take possession of an antique firearm. However, you should ensure that the firearm you intend to acquire fits the definition of an antique.

An antique firearm is defined under the Weapons Act 1990 as a firearm manufactured before 1 January 1901 that is either:

a muzzle loading firearm;
a cap and ball firearm; or
a firearm in which an authorised officer decides that ammunition is not commercially available.

From that last sentence, and from that WLB list (specifically line 101), .577 Snider ammunition has been defined as being commercially available.

Therefore, a .577 Snider is not, for the purpose of Qld WLB licencing requirements, an antique.

As I have already said, "If I were you, Qld WLB would be a good place to start with queries about exemption. No good just thinking it's exempt; better to know for certain."

[GQshayne]

I have looked again and found that extra column to which you refer. Geez it was hard to get my laptop to scrroll across to find it. Typical weapons licensing making things harder than they need to be. Even the website is poor!!! LOL

Thanks for that info. Given the dates involved are from 2005, perhaps an updated ruling needs to be obtained if possible. I will pass the info on to dad.

Cheers,
Shayne.

[No1_49er]

You are correct by saying that the (original) decision is dated 2005, however the "Ammunition Availability" list is as posted on Qld WLB web site on 16/11/2018, and further states that List of approved or Non approved ammunition/calibres as at 11/03/2020
How much more recent do you want the information to be?