Will Buyers Ever Get Smarter?

[painter777]

Wandering about today looking over completed sales.
Same old things guys paying big bucks for obvious 'Replicas'.
And paying way too much for some mixers.
I commented on another forum that some here may frequent, so this might be a re-post for some.

I can't get over how the Hell S-T-B takes L&S tweeked receiver dovetails and re-parks with supplied repro parts put in NEW STOCKS (all with the same color) then adds their fresh stamps and sell for + or - $3 grand.
It's been years now and guys just keep buying this crap.
Is this where the Stimulus and extra $$ unemployment funds are going ?
Seems insane that everyone knows about the Riverbank boys but none catch on about Ole Sammy.

I also came across a past sale on a WRA 5,7 rebuilt mixer in a SA stock and M4 leather bayonet that recently sold for $3,225.00.
I looked over the 45 bids it had.
Look over the Bid History on this one.
Does anyone get the 'Shill Bid' feeling from this one ?
Seems odd, but IDK.
I just can't believe the final sale price, especially after looking closer and seeing what I believe is the NPM Punch mark near the W stamp on the WRA barrel.

GunBroker.com - Login

It was GB # 874215734

Crazy Out There........ Crazy !

CH-P777

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[RASelkirk]

Charlie,

Knowledge is power and you obviously have it in spades. It's a pleasure watching your threads! However, 99.9% of the general public and in particular, buyers, do not. At least until after the fact...

Russ

[Singer B]

I recently posted questions and pictures reference a No 4 Mk1 that had been converted into a repro No 5 carbine. After getting some good advice, I passed on it in the auction but somebody still paid $550 for it. My guess is some people would prefer a "perfect" rifle to a "correct" rifle. I prefer "correct" to "perfect" and the advice I get from the members here has been extremely helpful, even though I probably over paid a little for the Mas-36 I just picked up.

[tenOC]

Most of us can't understand people paying over 1300 for an import marked Carbine listed as "excellent to unissued". Not correct. Not original. And the unissued means rebuilt.

[painter777]

I shouldn't care but..........
I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me when you see guys spend this kind of money on Replica Carbines. I feel like those of us that know need to step up and out to warn guys.
Here we are sharing our finds and happy for one another when someone scores that Original or that nice shooter they are after.
I know some don't want us butting in, but in time it will be one of us that informs that owner or the next that it isn't what they think/thought it is.
I'm tired of breaking hearts. I just had to wipe the perma grin off a buyers face that just bought a Stan Pro sold to him by a Ontario gun shop that was represented as a 100% WWII as issued. The CC stamp was fake, rear sight fake and the barrel had been used by NPM before it was put on that carbine as a replacement.

Trying to help a seller often doesn't work out either,
A for instance, There was a New seller with no feedback on GB who had a early WRA 1,25 listed. But his description showed he wasn't savvy when it came to carbines. The Carbine was right as rain just having a minor chip in the stock near the recoil plate, a missing swivel and no sling. I contacted him to tell him what he had and the type of description and pictures needed to draw the attention of real collectors. He didn't revise or update his listing. I tried once again this time being upfront letting him know I was interested and that those needed pictures would help me decide my willing to pay limit. Again no reply or any updates. The listing ran unchanged 2 or 3 times with no bids and finally ending with no sale. I don't know if I scared the new seller or if he thought I was a tire kicker, scammer or just sticking my nose in his business. I even wondered with him being new that maybe he wasn't familiar with the Ask a Seller a question option and didn't know how to reply... IDK. With what I could see I had a max payout of $2500 in mind.

It was GB # 865648869

Maybe I'm just a little down in the dumps from breaking hearts. But after reading a post of a guy PROUDLY showing off his new find and it's followed by 6 or 7 replies of oooohhs and aaawwws. Then you see the fake CC and repro parts you find yourself feeling like you have to step in and correct the crowd, thus breaking another heart.

This brings to mind a memory and story I told fellow member here Ole long winded Bobg. Back while still working we were doing a new custom home and a neighbor stopped in with his carbine and 15 to 16 year old son. He said I heard you know carbines and handed me his. He told me he always wanted a WWII carbine in original condition. As soon as he slipped the case off of it I seen it was a commercial. But looking at his proud owners face and the glee on that boys eye.......... I couldn't do it. I just told him it was a nice one. He twinkled his way back out the door. I told BobG about it, who gave me much more than his normal reply of "Yep" or "Nope". He gave me this long winded reply: "You should have told him what he had".
I never seen the guy again because they were heading to FLA for the winter and I can't remember where that build was at. We'd do up to 150+ homes a year. So I've carried a guilty feeling since, wondering how big a let down they'll have when they find out the truth.

Since then I tell what I know. If I don't know I ask. But admittedly there are times this is a Tough hobby.....
It was much easier to tell my Archrival that his ole lady was cheating on him !

Charlie-P777

[tenOC]

Well, you DEFINITELY don't need to be contacting sellers telling them they need to charge more, if or because of blah-blah-blah. John and I discussed that Carbine and I think he tried to contact him about pics to no avail. He might not have but we discussed additional pics being needed for this or that.

Yeah, I'm totally against contacting people to educate them on how to charge higher prices. Isn't that what newer people do when they get the Reisch book and learn a thing or two? I did it when I was green. And I'm embarrassed about it still and it was 8 years ago at least.
I bought an original early S'G' from a pawn shop for 729 buy it now. They obviously got it for a fraction of that. They made their margin and were happy with it.

This isn't to you Charlie, but new people, you don't know the circumstances of how they acquired an item. Don't try to boost your ego by contacting sellers to educate them. ESPECIALLY when you aren't buying it.

[painter777]

Well, you DEFINITELY don't need to be contacting sellers telling them they need to charge more, if or because of blah-blah-blah

It wasn't a 'You need to charge more' type contact.' It was trying to tell him about the needed pics. Start the bid was $2000, no reserve. Never contacted back. I watched it run I believe 3 times. Was thinking he'd drop the open the next listing, if he did I'd try but never listed again. Maybe he sold it local.

I hear you about the Newbies after getting a couple chapters read. Just glad their not reading about brain surgery and having stayed at a Holiday Inn.

Later,
CH-P777

[tenOC]

Yeah, lol, no $20 brain surgery books thankfully.

That WP stamping and W in the slingwell made me and probably most people less interested in it.

[painter777]

I've seen the W/P 2 other times on the bridge, 1 was a broken Type 1 stock, the other I seen was just the stock, don't recall what version WRA it was.
Biggest draw back to me was the CC..... but better pics may have helped.

[pocketshaver]

no offense but with two companies making "factory new" m1 carbines,,,,, I don't see the point in going for a mix master and twice the cost of them. Still not sure if the new factory guns are actually worth the time and investment. But hey, its ok for people to be stupid.