Question on relative rarity or value of Carbine Makers.

[Gus Fisher]

Folks, I got this question a few days ago and am not enough of a Carbine Collector to answer it correctly, so I'm hoping someone can help me out. Out of the following four makers, is this the correct order for the least valuable to the most valuable in the same basic condition? Thank you for any assistance.

1. Inland
2. Underwood
3. Saginaw
4. National Postal Meter

Information

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[BrianQ]

All things being equal, condition, correct parts, original parts, and with nothing out of the ordinary flip positions three and four.

Of course it is all subjective due to personal preference.

[mparsons]

Gus, I think BrianQ is right or I would personally call 3 & 4 a push. All things being equal.

[Mike in NC]

I think there were fewer Saginaw S.G. carbines made than National Postal Meter carbines. The Saginaw carbines S.G. (not S'G') seem to be less interesting to many collectors, probably because there are no barrel dates. There were some real early S.G. carbines with I cut stocks and dogleg hammers, so few of those that restoring one of these is very dificult. Most of the S.G. production was more vanilla flavor (highwood oval stock, flat bolt, straight hammer, no bevel trigger housing, only two slide variations, same flip sight, etc.) Some late S.G. carbines had low wood stocks, round bolts and perhaps a few other late features. Maybe it is the undated Saginaw barrels on all the S.G. Saginaws that makes them less exciting to some collectors. Maybe others find them not as exciting because of their tie to General Motors and throw them in with Inland carbines.

Underwood had a reputation for very good barrels. That might be another part to the equation to consider. NPM winded up using lots of different barrels, some of where were more highly thought of than others.

[Gus Fisher]

Thanks for the info guys. None of these are S'G' carbines, just plain Saginaws. It will be of great help to the owner.

[ulflyer]

But didn't NPM have the rep for least QC issues? Personally, I love the history of how they got a contract and started up.

[Bill Ricca]

Scarcity, correctness and condition are not the only factors. Value can also be based upon location. When I started traveling to gun shows in the early 1970's I learned a very valuable lesson.

When I attended the OGCA show (Columbus,Ohio) the Standard Products carbines were in greater demand and brought more money. At the Detroit, Michigan gun shows, the two Saginaws were the prime interest. When I attended the Stratford and Glastonbury, Connecticut gun shows, the Winchesters were the most sort after. By the early 1980's I was attending gun shows in the Poughkeepsie area and IBM's were going through the roof.

Sometimes location can increase the value and desire of a particular carbine.

[Gus Fisher]

I understand that Bill. A great buddy of mine lives around Fort Wayne, IN and in that area - IHC Garands were always MUCH more highly prized than other makers because they made some parts there for them.

[comm pogue]

it helps too that IHCs where made in Indiana, Semper Fi Al

[goo]

what about universal (or is it differential)?
...
http://www.maxicon.com/guns/universa..._m1_scoped.jpg
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http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/1347360...3456029843.jpg
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http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/atta...1&d=1227303520
...
they're rare, too.