Carbine Club

[new2brass]

Hercules, I was just discussing that with my brother. Both into cars and bikes. How heads turn but less and less car and bike shows we deem worthy. With that have to tie it into What Dave says. I had a 1938 Plymouth P6 2 door sedan. paint was pealing and cracked. interior ripped up, fender welting falling apart. I would put it in shows right next to similar cars with perfect paint and interiors. At the end of the day I would bring home the trophy to the dismay of others. you see the car was all original as left the factory an the Plymouth owners group gives more points for original condition than restored. Just the same we had old mopars that were wrecks that had bondo and repainted. we would clean them up, swap engines, seek out factory options that the car never had and enjoyed our cars. When it was time to sell the "hot rods" we had a large buyer base, and though rarely recouped our costs we had fun with them and that was our hobby. When I sold the Plymouth I realized no one cared the points value of the car. I wound up almost giving it away to someone who was going to hot rod it. I pulled the crank hole cover off and sent it on its way. It probably has more value than what I got for the rest of the car.
There are carbine collectors that appreciate it for what it is an the history. Some enjoy it as a shooter. Some seek out all correct as left the factory. Many however enjoy getting it "restored" or close to factory.
Looking back at car collecting you have to evaluate what you have and deem whether or not it is restorable or a base for a hot rod. With carbines the same is true.
From the factory it was made a certain way, parts in a certain order. this gives it history. Once it goes through a rebuild it is just a accumulation of parts. I really do not see much in the way of history random marked parts being assembled. there is no way to document it. Yes there are exceptions niches such as white bag, Dmc, Bavarian returns as well as some other returns where the country did not separate parts. and others for sure.
For the rest, many enjoy having matching parts, this is there hobby. Is it any different than looking for that Luger take down that has the correct numbers or o matching magazine for it? I would argue this is why our carbines keep going up in value than many other war relics. Further would go out on a limb saying it kept the club going.
The flip is the Fakers and Prostitutes (FAPs) who dishonestly pass off stuff.

This brings me back to the topic at hand: the Carbine Club and its last "Printed" issue. the club is not over. it is just changing format. Now I and others would like to keep the club "closed" to the general public to keep the FAPs at bay, while having an open forum to educate the beginner to intermediates on the carbine. This with the hopes to keep those correct carbine correct, while getting better reporting and spotters reports. Then I for one would like a closed group for more advanced club stuff.
Any input for the future of the club welcomed here in this thread, email an pms also welcome. And as first page stated, volunteers and talent.