Boyes value?
Brand new here, first post. I have two Boyes rifles in .50 cal. which I have owned and cared for for about 25 years. One (pictured) is original except the .50 barrel and perhaps 80% in appearance. I fired this one half a dozen times shortly after I bought it but not since. The other had been parkerized so it looks terrific but is not original finish. Never fired this one at all. Both have barrel pitting, I assume from prior use with corrosive ammo. Both have magazines which have been machined to take .50 cal ammo. I'm thinking of selling one or both of them. Online research about asking prices is all over the place. I've seen $3500-$7500, no idea what they actually sold for. Any thoughts you have would be very much appreciated.
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The prices you've mentioned are very accurate. Most of these rifles were rebarreled to fifty caliber in order to avoid being classified as Destructive Devices. For many years these were just about the only fifty cals in civilian hands but that has changed; there are dozens of modern fifty caliber rifles out there and re barreled Boys rifles have fallen out of favor. Actual .55 caliber original rifles which are registered as Destructive Devices are rare and command much bigger money than the rebarreled rifles. Looking at the prices of a rebarreled .50 cal used Boyes that is 60+ years old and a brand new Barrett M95 means that most fifty caliber buyers will go for the Barrett (or any of the otehr dozen fifty cal builders). Unlike modern fifty cals, the Boys is very uncomfortable to fire and since most people who buy them never plan on shooting them it makes condition critical to value. Since your Boys has been rebarreled to a non regulation caliber it also means that it is no longer Curio and Relic eligible and that hurts it since it has to be transferred to a buyer as a regular rifle. 0 -
I got mine for just under $ 3,500.00 a few years ago. Rather than modifying the mags, I ordered custom loaded ammo at 5.27" OAL (IIRC) so the stock mags would work without alteration. Mine was used by the FAA to test impact resistance of aircraft pressure bottles in the 50s, and has been well cared for.
If you have a place to shoot them, do it. The single baffle brake doesn't do what the multiple baffle break on the Barrett does, but the 40+ Lbs. of the rifle goes a long way to making up for the difference. I shoot mine 3 or 4 times a year, putting 10 - 20 rounds through it per trip, depending upon what else I've brought with me.
IMO, you will need to find an idiot like me to buy the thing for much over $ 3,000.00. There are few places to shoot it and it is expensive to feed. If you can find someone who has a place to shoot it and likes the look and feel of old military firearms, he will have trouble resisting the purchase.
Good Luck,
Don
Edit: Mr. Christian is usually 100% in his comments, but I have to disagree with the 'uncomfortable to fire' statement. My nephew's girlfriend (maybe 100 lbs.?) has fired mine, and although she was a little surprised at the total energy expelled, did not have a big issue with the recoil.0 -
Thanks, guys, I appreciate the insights and rapid response. You have a great site. 0
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