Outdoor Canada’s gun guy appraises reader firearms—and tells it like it is

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I have a CIL Anschutz Model 310 .22 five-shot repeater (above) that I won in a CIL Safari contest back around 1969. I plan to sell it, so I would like some advice on where and how I can do that, and what it’s worth. The stock has some dings, but generally the rifle is in very good condition. The serial number is 733756, and the gun is stamped “Made by J.G. Anschutz GmbH Wattenfabrik Ulm/D West Germany.” The online forums I’ve visited for information have been of little help. Thank you.

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DOUG KOSHELUK

STE. ANNE, MANITOBA

In the early 1960s, a marketing agreement was reached among Anschütz, Savage Arms in the U.S. and our own Canadian Industries Limited (CIL), which was a large manufacturer of rifle and shotgun ammunition at the time. Under the agreement, which lasted from 1963 to about 1981, Savage sold several Anschütz models in the U.S., while Anschütz marketed some Savage models in Europe. Additionally, several guns made by both Anschütz and Savage were given CIL model numbers and marketed in Canada. Your CIL Model 310 was made by Anschütz on its Model 64 action, a step down from the premium-grade Anschütz 54 action. It’s still a very fine rifle, however.

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The CIL 310 rifles were stocked with a good grade of walnut in the popular style of the day, complete with a flat-bottomed forearm and Monte Carlo butt stock with cheekpiece. The checkering was done by hand, and it’s of quite good quality. Most 310s were well cared for, and they’re usually found in very good condition. I would say yours is in better condition than most, and it has very nice wood in the stock.

A couple of years ago, rifles in very good condition such as yours were selling for $600 to $700. Over the last year or so, though, gun prices have been volatile. With people concerned about their jobs during the pandemic, the value has dropped on many collectibles. In today’s market, a value of around $500 would be reasonable, which is a bargain for a rifle of this quality. If you sell the rifle at an auction, a buyer who appreciates quality may pay somewhat more.