Florida Shooters Network

I have a friend who has been sitting on one for a while, I have first dibs , but he asked for a fair price...anyone have an idea ??

There are a LOT of variables affecting kit value. And there are Rhodie enthusiasts that put a 20-50% premium on any Rhodie kit. Kits with few modifying factors are around $300 or so, and can go as high as $500 and up. An R1 kit in average shape sold in 20 min of falfiles.com for $325. Another kit is sitting at $475 for a day or so.

Factors affecting value:

Bore Condition. This one REALLY matters. pitting? Frosting? Run a patch down the bore, and use a good light. If it's a shiny bore with good rifling, and passes the bullet test, add $40-100.
Furniture- All plastic or a mix of plastic pistol grip, handguards and a wooden stock? Long butt, short butt, or regular? Bipod or non-bipod hg? (non-bipod adds 20-50 depending on condition.) Wooden stocks also add a premium, but watch the condition.
Finish. These rifles usually have a poor finish, with shiny metal showing. With normal FAL kits, that's a bad thing. With these, it's not a detractor. How much "baby poo" paint is left on the parts. Collectors pay a premium for a kit with a lot of original paint. If it's in decent shape, (figure a 40-70% original finish), add $50.
ZA electropencil marking on lower? another $10 or so..
Grenade launcher gas plug, or regular? grenade launcher adds a premium. $20.

So, if it's in poor condition, anything under $300 is a deal. If it's in great condition, $400-500 isn't out of line, and you could resell it quite easily. Important note, most of these were sold by Tapco or a few other vendors, sometimes for $99, or two for $175. If he paid $100 for the kit, and wants to sell it for $200 or so, it's a real deal. These things aren't getting any less rare, and collectors love the original finish because of the Rhodie history. Whatever you do, don't buy it, blast, park, and refinish it. That kills the collector value, and makes it just another mixmaster kit. Keep the kit in original finish, swap it for a newer/nicer kit from argentina or brazil, and build up a clone. I recommend a Coonan receiver, they're the best value going currently.

I think he said something about the $ 400 range but I will take you tips into account when I go and look at it ...thanks

I do know it has the black plastic stock ( not wood ) with some sort of paint or writing in white ???, and I think it's an R1, thats all I know, he's old and low talker, so I'm not gonna get pics or a better description, its a 2 hour ride to pick it up so I have to take that into account when I make my offer, this same guy bought a bunch of the G1 kits from Tapco way back when.... they were $ 99 so hopefully we can come to a fair price.

tell him I'll give him $150 sight unseen if it's still got any of the original rhody camo paint.

ipscscott wrote:tell him I'll give him $150 sight unseen if it's still got any of the original rhody camo paint.

you already ruin enough guns with that paint

holy cow, look how long it's been since I have been to Fal File's
.

That was going to be my advice, to check with the fellas at FAL Files