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.

Some USGI Import stamped carbines sell for $1,000.00. +
Commercial made carbines sell up to $1,000.00 if they have a few accessories.
A Fulton Armory receiver will cost ~$800.00

See he has the Inland marked as Original.
Also see the flip safety and late mag catch on the NPM, if the rest is original I'd consider a bundle purchase.
Offer $2400-$2500 for the set.
You get 2 carbines for $1200-$1250 each and he clears out 2 guns quickly.
You try them out and keep the best. Selling the other if you want.
You'll easily recover the cost with a likely profit per 1 carbine.

That's how I do it. I just haven't got the hang of the 'You can sell this part'

Keep us posted. Add more pics if you can.

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Originally Posted by W5USMC

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.

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Hey Wayne, does it look to you that that stock has also had a type three barrel band on it before as well? Seems like I see a line like a shadow line toward the nose of the stock. The barrel has more finish wear in that area as well as if it once had a type 3 band on it

@jond, really hard for me to say for sure with the limited pictures, you could very well be right.

Ok so someone ended up being way off base, I don't know if it was me or him. When I was looking over the Inland and National Postal Meter carbines he distinctly told me he was looking for $1400 for each. So when I got in touch with him that I was coming in to buy and reiterated what I was looking for he told me that a "wholesaler" had offered him $2300 for the Inland and $2000 for the NPM. He also has several Korean War updated carbines that are now priced from $1700 to $1900.

Seeing as I already have my $1000 shooter Underwood I guess I'm good on carbines for a while. At least the 1903's I got from him were priced reasonably.

Definitely over charging for those carbines. I see good ones at local shows all the time for less.

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Originally Posted by jimb16

Definitely over charging for those carbines. I see good ones at local shows all the time for less.

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Exactly what happens when a middle man gets involved. He sees gunbloker prices as actual asking retail. I really never thought this gentleman would go in that direction but I guess the promise of big money is a great influencer.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

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.

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Jim, you'll probably remember Lever Arms aka "Toys for Men" who were in the downtown core for years before moving to Burrard St. and 5th Ave. in Kitsilano. Old Man Lever scoured Europe and elsewhere for milsurps starting in 1949 and came up with amazing deals. U.S. G.I. surplus 1911's and 1911A1's starting at $69.00, 3 packs of brand new sequential serial numbered CZ75's for $1,000. Ljungman AG42B's for $169.00 SKS's for $99.99 and many, many more great deals.

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Originally Posted by Sapper740

Lever Arms

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At one time, surplus 50rd Thompson drums in bushel baskets for five bucks each...couldn't sell them. Alan took me and another guy down into the tunnels under his Burrard St. store once before he capitulated, he had an MGB sitting down there awaiting restoration. Store isn't the same now...

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Originally Posted by oldfoneguy

He sees gunbloker prices as actual asking retail.

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He might have seen or heard about the recent CMP Auction of a early Underwood with a replacement barrel, Austrian markings and mixed parts. It was INTRAC Import marked also. Can only assume it was donated(?) to the CMP.
It sold in late June for $3,162 after receiving 109 bids.

I see a lot of first time younger buyers on Redditt posting pictures of their mixer carbines asking 'How'd I do? after giving over $2,000.00++. Often with replaced barrels, sometimes Fake parts and post WWII stocks. But they've got that Cool Reproduction Stock Pouch.

The comments show:
It's the older more seasoned collectors / shooters that know the values.
Many of the younger, I call Techy Types want the guns they see in the movies or play on their computer games. And they have the cash for the toys they want. Because many of them still live with Mom or Grandma.

My son only has the guns I've bought for him. He enjoys shooting with me but wouldn't spend a dime on one on his own. When it comes to his field being a Computer IT Tech he has a easy 6 figure+ invested in those toys.

Hang in there sometimes Carbines find us. I'll tell you one day how a phone call to me about renting some of my lifts led to me getting 5 Carbines

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Originally Posted by painter777

He might have seen or heard about the recent CMP Auction of a early Underwood with a replacement barrel, Austrian markings and mixed parts. It was INTRAC Import marked also. Can only assume it was donated(?) to the CMP.
It sold in late June for $3,162 after receiving 109 bids.

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That's disgusting Charlie, even if it was proven to be Audie Murphys personally carried carbine.

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Originally Posted by =painter777

!! I see a lot of first time younger buyers on Redditt posting pictures of their mixer carbines asking 'How'd I do? after giving over $2,000.00++. Often with replaced barrels, sometimes Fake parts and post WWII stocks. But they've got that Cool Reproduction Stock Pouch.

The comments show:
It's the older more seasoned collectors / shooters that know the values.
Many of the younger, I call Techy Types want the guns they see in the movies or play on their computer games. And they have the cash for the toys they want. Because many of them still live with Mom or Grandma.

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This was my supposition in the OP. I don't know for sure but, it's an educated guess what with call of duty and all those other games like it.

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Originally Posted by =painter777

My son only has the guns I've bought for him. He enjoys shooting with me but wouldn't spend a dime on one on his own. When it comes to his field being a Computer IT Tech he has a easy 6 figure+ invested in those toys.

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You know that's all on you don't you?

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Originally Posted by =painter777

Hang in there sometimes Carbines find us. I'll tell you one day how a phone call to me about renting some of my lifts led to me getting 5 Carbines

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Do tell Charlie, do tell!