What’s your vintage gun worth? These OC readers find out

Checking out a military Ross rifle, a 1920s Thompson carbine, a Parker shotgun and a WWII German pistol

Whether you have a question about antique guns, modern firearms, ammunition or reloading, expert Dave Anderson is here with the answer. Please send your detailed questions and applicable, high-resolution photos to editorial@outdoorcanada.ca. 

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I am a volunteer for the Saskatoon Museum of Military Artifacts. We have two firearms that have been donated to the museum. The first is a bolt-action Ross rifle (above); the second is a Thompson semi-auto (below). Do you know what they might be worth?

Alfred Hovdestad

Saskatoon Museum of Military Artifacts, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The Ross rifle appears to be the model Mk II 3*; the date stamp on the butt stock indicates it was made in 1909. Along with the Mk II 5*, this rifle was officially designated the “Rifle, Short Ross, Mark II” in 1912. The C.M.R. stamped on the stock, meanwhile, suggests the rifle was used by the Canadian Mounted Rifles, a mounted infantry unit. Incidentally, a later model, the Mark III, earned a poor reputation as a combat rifle in the First World War.

The Mk II 3* was made with a 28-inch barrel, and it’s one of the more commonly encountered models. It’s certainly of interest to collectors due to the unusual straight-pull action and the connection to Canadian military history. Many of these firearms were later used as sporting rifles, sometimes with the stock cut down and the barrel shortened (which severely reduces collector interest). This particular rifle appears unaltered and in good original condition, which increases its collector value. At an auction, I estimate it would get $900 to $1,200.

As for the Thompson, it is a 1927 A1 carbine made by Auto-Ordnance, now a division of Kahr Arms. Production of this model began in 1991, and it’s still being made. It is a reproduction of the Thompson model 1927 submachine gun, but with a longer barrel and only capable of semi-automatic fire. These are generally considered to be well made of quality materials. There’s a lot of steel in the receiver, contributing to the overall weight of 13 pounds. The current suggested retail price is approximately US$1,500.

Your particular Thompson appears to have been made before 2006, the year the cocking knob was changed to a spherical design. I’m not sure if a firearm in current production can be called a collectible, but this model should have appeal to a collector or shooter who is interested in Thompsons, but can’t own the fully automatic original. It appears to be in as-new condition, so I estimate it would be worth around $1,500 at an auction in Canada.