Do Import markings really hurt?

[NRA]

Yeah thats it! a import mark is like a bad tramp stamp.

[painter777]

[imarangemaster]

Some imports are actually excellent. The CMP Carbines are all "imports" but they did not have an import stamp. They came from Italy and Greece, though they went direct from the foreign army to our government, then to CMP. The Century imports (small stamp on bottom of barrel, are mostly Israeli Mash Az volunteer police (neighborhood watch with guns) weapons, and are exceptionally well cared for.

[INLAND44]

Wow. This thing is really jumping the track. First, there is no correlation of import mark to mechanical condition. Every carbine is an individual and has to be judged on it's own merits. Second, the import-marked carbine will sell for much less than a theoretical identical twin without the import mark. It has nothing to do with collector snobbery. It simply is that no U.S. M1 Carbine existed in service with an import mark, so collectors do not want such AS A RULE. If an extremely rare example popped up with an import mark, it would sell, but for 50% of what it's 'twin' would without the mark.
However, import-marked carbines can be great buys for those who just want a G.I. carbine at the bottom dollar, even though that 'bottom dollar' is probably around $650 at this time. So, the difference in value is not subjective and is not set by 'holier-than-thou' overseers of the carbine world - they do not exist. It simply is a reflection of real value, set by people buying carbines all over the country and paying more for the more-desirable ones. Simple supply/demand.
In another 100 years, the same will hold true. The import-marked carbine will forever be worth half of the same carbine without the mark.

I was just reading a post on the 1911 forum where a guy had just bought an M1911A1 for $X, only to find later an import mark under the grip panel. Value instantly dropped to 1/2. Fortunately for pistol guys, the great majotity of U.S. .45 pistols were never reimported by a civilian company, so import marks are very rare. Quite the opposite with the carbine ever since the flood of imports that started about 20 years ago.

[USGI]

Second, the import-marked carbine will sell for much less than a theoretical identical twin without the import mark. It has nothing to do with collector snobbery.

Actually it does have to do with that, because outside the "world of the collector" the import mark doesn't really make any difference. I don't usually see any difference in price on carbines in stores, or at regular gun shows because of being import marked. - Bob

[emmagee1917]

Hummmm.....at first I thought I was just a snob and I could be happy with that . But now I'm in a quandary . I agree having a large , visible import stamp turns me off , but one under the grips of the .45 mentioned above would have no real effect on me buying it nor that much between it and one unstamped . Does this mean I'm not the happy snob I thought I was ? Is there a psychologichiatristherapest around here ?
Chris

[INLAND44]

So, you would have no problem paying $1250 for the import-stamped M1911A1 when experienced collectors have told you that it's worth $800 because of that stamp? And if you paid $1250 and then discovered the stamp under the grip a week later, you wouldn't be angry? If so, you are incredibly well-adjusted and so have no need for a 'therapest' (sic).

[Neal Myers]

The problem with most Blue Sky imports, & some others, is that they were used & abused by the Korean military. We gave the Koreans a lot of replacement parts, but they eventually ran out of them. Their armorers often made repairs that US armorers would not for safety reasons; e.g., they would weld on a broken/cracked bolt lug. The Koreans never mastered parkerizing; you can permanently scratch a Korean repark with your finger nail.

Some importers, such as Arlington Ordnance, got many good carbines, & repaired problems before selling them. So, there are some good imports out there.

Things are different today, as there are NO USGI replacement barrels available. So, a wise collector will base the value of a "shooter grade" on the quality of the barrel, since even a commercial one will cost $400 including labor. If you can't check out a potential purchase with a muzzle wear gauge, you risk overpaying for a carbine with a bad bore.

Parts (& complete guns) have not been importable for 20 years; things won't get better.

Neal

[Johnny Peppers]

How do you tell a battle worn veteran from one sent overseas after WWII as foreign aid? Mistreating weapons like the Korean imports were doesn't make history. 99.99% of history attached to a Carbine is imaginary. Take each and every Carbine for what it is, which is nothing more or less than what you can see.

[emmagee1917]

So, you would have no problem paying $1250 for the import-stamped M1911A1 when experienced collectors have told you that it's worth $800 because of that stamp? And if you paid $1250 and then discovered the stamp under the grip a week later, you wouldn't be angry? If so, you are incredibly well-adjusted and so have no need for a 'therapest' (sic).

Well , that has happened to me a few times . Or rather , things like it .
I bought a M1C 15-20 yrs ago , complete . Thing shoots under MOA . Been in my safe because of it's value. Just found out it's a well known fake . Not mad .... I'm gonna drown my sorrows in an ankle deep pile-o-brass and a ragged hole. Just kiss that $1200 good-bye.
I bought a 2-inch victory around the same time for even more money. Mint condition . Been a safe queen. Found where it had sold a couple of years before for near what I paid for it , but it was only an 80% gun then. Mad ? Nope , having too much fun turning it back into an 80% gun.
Bought an M1 WH Thompson ($750) , a 1928A1 WH Thompson ($1500) , a Catco M1919A4 ($2500) and a Ramo M1917A1 ( $3500 ) and none of them ran good from the git-go . Over the last few decades they've all been made into nice , reliable shooters . Mad ? You bettcha , at first . But now that they work ( well, to be honest , the M1 has now started to run away -- works too good now ) and with the price increases , I'm getting over it.
If you enjoy gathering the honey , you got to expect the occasional sting.
Well adjusted ? Never been accused of that . Everybody always thought I was a bit out of adjustment.
Chris