National Postage Meter Possible Purchase

So the gentleman I bought the 1903 and 03-A3 from is continuing to thin out his collection and is now putting up his carbines.

Of the ones I examined I found his national postage meter to be the nicest. 7 - 43 Underwood barrel, flat bolt, flip sight and most everything seen has the possibility of being original.

Second is an Inland 12 - 43 Inland barrel, flat bolt, flip sight and also most of what's seen is possibility original.

First are the NPM pictures. They were sent to me so I didn't take them.

I'm no expert so I come to those who know more for advice and I thank you for it.
What would the value of each be? Which one would you choose?

This is the Inland and again the pictures aren't mine.
He uses the blue tape for quick identification in the safe.

I only wish to pay what they are worth. He's floated the number $1400 with no definitive answer given yet to which one for that price.

Dang! They sure have gone up in price since since I bought mine a decade ago. A quick look through Gunbroker shows some NPM with starting bids around that amount but no takers. Personally, I think $1,400 is too much. I'd offer him a grand, no more.

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Originally Posted by Sapper740

Dang! They sure have gone up in price since since I bought mine a decade ago. A quick look through Gunbroker shows some NPM with starting bids around that amount but no takers. Personally, I think $1,400 is too much. I'd offer him a grand, no more.

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I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you. I paid $1k for a round bolt, refinished metal, mismatched and import marked Underwood in an M2 stock nearly a year ago as a shooter. The carbine gurus here were beside themselves at what a bargain that piece was. Just about anything carbine has reached cult status and is going for double what it was 10 years ago. Must be that the carbine is prominent in video games is my guess.

Here's the link to that inquiry:
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=78915

Think that either one would be well worth $1400 but would need many more pictures. The National Postal Meter has a type IV mag catch and a flip safety on it which would not be original to the gun.

Thank you for the advice and correction. I will say POSTAL from now on!

I agree on the NPM. I suspect that the entire trigger group could be incorrect since two visible parts are replaced. The trigger group as a whole is very likely a swapped out group. But what is there I would say is worth around $1200 to $1400. The Inland looks like it could be correct. Being that Inlands are the most common $1400 might be a good price. But like W5USMC said, we need more pictures from all angles and we need to see what parts are inside. These days many parts are repros of fakes. Type 1 barrel bands are very often reproductions. Type 1 sights are also. Without detailed pictures, we can't really determine the authenticity of the parts. Those $1400 tags are conditioned upon the authenticity of the parts. Fake parts will quickly bring down the values.

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Originally Posted by jimb16

These days many parts are repros of fakes. Type 1 barrel bands are very often reproductions. Type 1 sights are also. Without detailed pictures, we can't really determine the authenticity of the parts. Those $1400 tags are conditioned upon the authenticity of the parts. Fake parts will quickly bring down the values.

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One thing I can say about this gentleman is he has been in possession of these carbines for 40 years or more. Even if not original to the piece I truly believe none of the parts in his guns are fakes. Of course he had no control over them before he got them but he's had them so long there was no need for reproduction parts back then when originals were still so plentiful.

I guess I won't be finding any more NPM M1 Carbines for $269 any more.

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Originally Posted by Sapper740

I guess I won't be finding any more NPM M1 Carbines for $269 any more.

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We used to travel in a single car, maybe five of us...from Victoria to Granville St in Vancouver to the pawn shops in the '70s and pick up our choice for $75CDN to $125CDN and any features you wanted. I was only paid $330CDN a month gross so, big bucks.