Type 53 - price?

[bladeracer]

Been offered a 1953 Type 53 carbine.
Seems to be complete and in outstanding condition, virtually unissued as far as I can tell. It doesn't look to me like it's been refurbished.

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But the price is steep in my opinion and I don't know that it's justified, or I'm missing something.
I've looked through the sales sites and Type 53's have been selling in the $600-$1000 bracket up to last year, but all that I saw were well used and/or sporterised to some degree.
What sort of money should I be offering for this one if it is a pristine unissued example?

I've actually been looking for an M44, this would certainly fill that niche for me. But as I'm a shooter rather than a collector I can't see me offering more than about $1750 for it, unless it is actually something worth investing in.

[Larry]

What sort of $ are they asking for it. Unissued Lithgows go for about $3k-$4k but I did see some cheaper ones on used guns today.

[No1Mk3]

Is it really 1953? I would check the date stamp carefully, if it is a 1st year of production, and in that condition, then it would quite easily pull $2000 in this country. The normally battered T53's which used to sell for around $350 now sell over $700 to $1000.same as wwhat has happened to SMLE in the last couple of years, so an excellent condition T53 would have pulled $1000 then perhaps $1800+ now. A 1st year is collectible and would pull a premium.

[bladeracer]

Is it really 1953? I would check the date stamp carefully, if it is a 1st year of production, and in that condition, then it would quite easily pull $2000 in this country. The normally battered T53's which used to sell for around $350 now sell over $700 to $1000.same as what has happened to SMLE in the last couple of years, so an excellent condition T53 would have pulled $1000 then perhaps $1800+ now. A 1st year is collectible and would pull a premium.

Yep, 1953, and certainly appears to have been collected rather than used in the past seventy years. Matched bolt and magazine, but I didn't check any other numbers.

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That boogered action screw indicates it's been apart at least once, so possibly "unissued" but been opened up by owners - still extremely nice.

If it's a collectible then it's probably way to nice for me, I just want to shoot it in the paddocks, and perhaps do some competition with it in the future.
I'll chat with the owner and maybe I'll do $2000 but I don't think it's worth more than that to me.

[No1Mk3]

Absolutely not Chinese Type 53!!!! I thought that was too pale and dense a timber for Chinese Chu wood! You have a Polish M44, desirable. I wouldn't pay more than $1200 for one, and only missed one for $1000 by a day in January.

[bladeracer]

Absolutely not Chinese Type 53!!!! I thought that was too pale and dense a timber for Chinese Chu wood! You have a Polish M44, desirable. I wouldn't pay more than $1200 for one, and only missed one for $1000 by a day in January.

Okay, that makes a lot more sense.
Can you direct me to what makes it Polish as the owner is likely to be less than pleased when I tell him.

[No1Mk3]

G'day bladeracer,
There is no doubt in anyones mind that Poland made the best Model 44 Carbines, the only others I've seen that were as good were some Hungarian made ones. Almost all Polish M44 are found in unissued condition and all of them shoot very well, there is one for sale at the moment in Clayton for $1300, which may be negotiable a bit as I have always found that crew friendly to deal with, but offer this bloke a $1000 and see how you go, Cheers.

PS: In answere to your query, the 11 in a circle is the Polish Factory mark,

[bladeracer]

G'day bladeracer,
There is no doubt in anyones mind that Poland made the best Model 44 Carbines, the only others I've seen that were as good were some Hungarian made ones. Almost all Polish M44 are found in unissued condition and all of them shoot very well, there is one for sale at the moment in Clayton for $1300, which may be negotiable a bit as I have always found that crew friendly to deal with, but offer this bloke a $1000 and see how you go, Cheers.

PS: In answere to your query, the 11 in a circle is the Polish Factory mark,

Thanks No1Mk3, excellent information.
Unfortunately I'm expecting he got ripped by somebody selling it to him as a pristine Type 53...

[Larry]

Well I guess you could argue that's is a 53 after-all that is what is engraved right there on the barrel.

[dnedative]

Never seen a nice Chinese mosin yet, was confused until I noticed it was a Polish one.
I picked up an equally as mint Romanian M44 probably 18 months ago for $800, would say that Polish M44 would be worth in the $1200-1500 range.

Very nice rifle, too heavy but lol

[dnedative]

Unfortunately I'm expecting he got ripped by somebody selling it to him as a pristine Type 53...

I dont even think the Chinese have a mint Type 53 in their national collection lol
They all got run bloody hard and put away wet etc