Collection quandary

[Bigbirdmqt]

I sold an M1C with the scope mount but no other accessories earlier this year. I wanna say it brought about $3,500.

It was in that neighborhood anyway.

Thanks for the info..was that one of the Greek returns? Big difference between them and an original WW2 c....

[rcathey]

Thanks for the info..was that one of the Greek returns? Big difference between them and an original WW2 c....

That’s a good question that I’m not equipped to answer.
Here’s the thread on it with pictures though: https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=66121&page=1

[Bigbirdmqt]

The market is real soft right now on all m1's. I have a large collection an the one you have are way up in the 3500 to 4500 range at the least. That would be to a friend price. With a major auction house with all the providence that you have an the condition you could possibly double that price. Remember two bulls fighting. Best place to see is Gunbroker. most visited site on line.

Thanks, kind of what I thought. I have had these for a minimum of 11 years for the most recent and going back from there. Most likely will have a severe case of sellers remorse if I get rid of the WIN and the C. I was told by the C expert in the GCA that there are most likely less than ten ORIGINAL, documented C’s in Collectors hands, especially mint ones with m-81 scopes. Kind of a nice delima to find oneself, I guess

[AZshot]

I think anyone who has bought in the past 10 or so years has bought at the top of the market bubble. There just are going to be fewer and fewer collectors and shooters that want M-1s in the future. For a myriad of reasons. Though made in the millions with an almost unending supply from DCM and CMP since the 1970s, in the 2000s the internet brought an important aspect of competition and forums to show off the buys. The market went from $315 for DCM M-1s when I got mine in the 90s, to what, $1500 5 years ago? But I don't see the upward trend continuing, over the long haul.

With mid century esoteric collectibles you have two options if you see them as investments:
1. Sell when you think the market is high, do not wait to see if they'll do better in 5 years.
2. Hang on to them for a long period (15-25 years) on the chance they will be worth a lot in your old age. It worked for Pythons, but didn't work for Browning Auto-5s. Because number 1 above still applies.

If you bought high, recently, and want to sell higher, you have to find someone that doesn't believe everything I just wrote. I'm a pretty serious collector of many antiques, some worth 5 figures. These things do I know. But having the top level of rarity helps a lot. There are always buyers out there for the hard to find and cream of the crop. You just have to find them. As you are doing with this thread.

[728shooter]

I think anyone who has bought in the past 10 or so years has bought at the top of the market bubble. There just are going to be fewer and fewer collectors and shooters that want M-1s in the future. For a myriad of reasons. Though made in the millions with an almost unending supply from DCM and CMP since the 1970s, in the 2000s the internet brought an important aspect of competition and forums to show off the buys. The market went from $315 for DCM M-1s when I got mine in the 90s, to what, $1500 5 years ago? But I don't see the upward trend continuing, over the long haul.

With mid century esoteric collectibles you have two options if you see them as investments:
1. Sell when you think the market is high, do not wait to see if they'll do better in 5 years.
2. Hang on to them for a long period (15-25 years) on the chance they will be worth a lot in your old age. It worked for Pythons, but didn't work for Browning Auto-5s. Because number 1 above still applies.

If you bought high, recently, and want to sell higher, you have to find someone that doesn't believe everything I just wrote. I'm a pretty serious collector of many antiques, some worth 5 figures. These things do I know. But having the top level of rarity helps a lot. There are always buyers out there for the hard to find and cream of the crop. You just have to find them. As you are doing with this thread.

One caveat that bears mentioning here: The younger generations that follow show very little interest in firearms such as this. To them, these are ancient weapons from an era well before they were born, a period that they cannot relate to. With that in mind, and the fact that those of us that DO relate to them are slowly fading into the sunset, I see the resale market for these becoming progressively smaller year after year. So sad.....

--728shooter

[rcathey]

With that in mind, and the fact that those of us that DO relate to them are slowly fading into the sunset, I see the resale market for these becoming progressively smaller year after year.

This is already very obvious in the price of trapdoors. Talk about a soft market.

[Bob Seijas]

Garands seem to be different from previous weapons... thanks to video games, even 14-year-olds know about the M1. Those games have a problem finding an acceptable enemy to kill... aliens are OK but kids don't seem to enjoy them as much as people. One group that is ALWAYS OK to kill is Nazis, the ultimate bad guys. That of course means WWII. If you add Zombie or Vampire to Nazi, you are good to go with as much slaughter as you want

[CINDERS]

The may not even know why the Germans were the enemy Bob but recognize zombies and the undead as a real threat.
Though I truly hope that the future generations whom follow us when we finally swing off this rock that they remember all those that went to every war to give us our freedoms we enjoy though I see elements that do not appreciate the sacrifices made and helping to at least combat terrorism that threatens our peace and safety each and every day.
I will never forget nor let my son forget just exactly what his granddad did with privations and never knowing if and when the enemy would come to bomb their airfields again where he served at overseas he was not a hero like some but he was my hero and my Dad considering he came from England in 1929 as a 16 y/o by himself to enlist 12 years later in the RAAF to be trained as an engine fitter gaining LAC rank by wars end.