think the values will go up ?

just got an email from rock island auction co. they are going to have a show on the discovery channel nov 30th called ready aim sell. in that show they will auction off carbines ,one being the prototype t-3 with all documentaion. with these types of shows coming up and getting air time,do you think it will bring up the values of carbines ,or hurt the market because everyone and their mother think they have a collector piece ?
what is your thoughts?

---------- Post added at 10:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:32 AM ----------

the t-3 is estimated to sell for $25,000-$50,000

I personally believe the carbines are priced too high now. There were Millions of carbines made and there isn't a logical reason why they are selling for 400-800 dollars. I'm just glad I bought my carbine years ago for under 125 dollars.

Hope the show is better than RIA's auction description. It says "less than 1000 total ever produced" when even the most casual observer knows 1,919 T3s were accepted in '45 - and that doesn't count the 700+ T3 Carbines made in Inland's first batch in 1944. Further, the description fails to grasp that there was also an M1 model - and it is extremely likely that that is the type used on Okinawa. So, nice piece of technology history, but not much military history there.

6 million made yes, do the math on how many may be left-"IF" there are 320,000,000 americans and 80,000,000 gun owners only one in 13 or 14 can own a carbine if all survived-maybe 50% of americans today had a ancestor who served in WW2 or Korea-thankfully most people don't want to own one! After all it is only detachable magazine fed semi auto rifle made for the US Army that can be converted to a MG with addition of easily obtainable parts at gunshow or on internet that us common citizens can ever own with out a $200 tax. While this act would be a clear violation of law and get a monster fine and time in the pen it creates a wow factor of what it can be. All the parts were made by US contractors for our government. This was not done on any other weapon. It is only legally ownable weapon made for war that is shootable in a comfortable form in my opinion by 10 yr olds or older whether male or female. It is also the last weapon made for war that we would want to comfortably shoot when we are in our 90's. Again I am speaking my opinions and they are free! Now the worst part of carbine collecting is fact that most collectors can not be satisfied owning just one of them. The neat factor is 10+ brands of them that there are. This makes the carbine collector friendly like a 1911a1--you need 5 makers of them to have a complete ww2 collection of one of each maker, look what you need when you get to the carbine world. Is like the luger world. Then you have the major changes made that drastically changed the looks from early to late. Collector heaven!! There will not be many cheap ones left to buy ever. When a new copy is $600 why would any real one be worth less if it shoots and hits??? I confess, I am a carbinaholic with severe case of carbinitis that requires monthly treatments. When treatment is missed severe deprevation sets in. LOL--christmas is coming!!!! Happy T-day!!!

Someone on here told me years ago that gun collectors are nuts, but carbine collectors are FN nuts lol, it is us who drive up the prices because we pay them

I too, do not know why carbines are so high. I was helping my brother in law shop around for one, and the prices for what were CMP rack grades are STUPID! Found a few online for $500-600, but for the most part you would think the had early features and type one bands. It is not like there is a shortage. GUn shops have them, Big 5, and dozens and dozens of them on Gun broker and guns America.

Rebuilt carbines function in a free market like a commodity. Plentiful supply balances demand at the market clearing price. Has nothing to do with one potential buyer's opinion. Just another example of Adam Smith's invisible hand. Not that complicated.

i find it absolutley amazing that some gun dealers, who should know their business, actually ask upwards of $1200 for a commercial copy .......used ,yes used, ive seen it lol

Just normal inflation is going to raise the price 3%-5% a year. Then you add all the other stuff, maker, condition, features, ect.

Seems that they, CMP's, have almost doubled in value about every 8 years since the 60's.

Didn't buy at the $20 price, I was in high school. 1972 I was just out of the Navy and too poor looking for work. But I did start around 1978 and paid $65 for my first carbine. Sold at shows from 1987 to 2002 and those were the prices in my area.

1964......$20
1972......$40
1980......$80
1988......$160
1996......$320
2004......$640
2012......$1280 ???

Imports in good condition were not far behind those numbers. (other then heavy stamped Blue Sky)

Gold used to be $36 an oz too.

Jim

bought my first carbine at a Houston gun show around 1973 for $125