+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19

Thread: I need a little advise

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member highpower3006's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last On
    08-02-2024 @ 11:01 AM
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    87
    Real Name
    Jeffrey
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    06:23 PM

    I need a little advise

    I am primarily a collector (some might say an accumulator) of US military firearms for a long time and am aware of what the going prices are for '03's, Carbines, Garands, etc..

    However lately I have become interested in other firearms. My local gun store got a a type 38 carbine in on consignment. It is a 5th series Nagoya in what I consider to be very good condition. The bluing is about 95-98% and there is just a few handling marks on the stock. The only issue is that it has a partially ground mum.

    What I am trying to figure out is what it's worth. I know that there is a premium for matching number guns, but a hit on the value for those that have had the mum defaced or ground off. so the question is, what's it worth?

    I have been thinking of offering him $400 OTD, but I don't know if that is too much, or in line with what the going rate for them is. Bear in mind that I am in the Peoples Republic of California and guns seem to be a bit more expensive out here.

    Since I know that this thread is useless without pictures, here is what it looks like.







    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to highpower3006 For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Legacy Member HOOKED ON HISTORY's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Last On
    Today @ 03:57 PM
    Location
    MS/USA
    Posts
    4,053
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    06:23 PM
    Nice looking rifle overall. Partially defaced mum detracts a bit but that is offset to some degree by the condition of the blue and the wood and having a cleaning rod. Lots of west coasters about who can chip in on the PROC price diffrential.

  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #3
    Contributing Member rambo46's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 07:50 PM
    Location
    R.I.
    Posts
    79
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    07:23 PM
    Good looking piece and nice to see that cleaning rod in place. What does that bore look like ?

    Up here in the northeast, a carbine like that would go between $350 and $425 depending on

    the condition of the bore.

  7. #4
    Legacy Member highpower3006's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last On
    08-02-2024 @ 11:01 AM
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    87
    Real Name
    Jeffrey
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    06:23 PM
    Thread Starter
    Bore is excellent, possibly even unfired. I forgot to look at the bolt face to see if if a cartridge was ever even chambered.

  8. #5
    Contributing Member Aragorn243's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Last On
    Today @ 04:29 PM
    Location
    Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    7,276
    Real Name
    Steve
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    07:23 PM
    I expect it's been fired, quite a bit. The Japaneseicon weren't likely to let a rifle sit around unused. Early versions of these have chrome bores so they generally all look pretty good. As for exterior condition, not bad but fairly typical. The mum is defaced/ground, doesn't really matter that you can still see the outline. Matching numbers are a plus.

    There is no way I would offer $400 for a rifle in that condition with a ground mum. That's a $200-$300 rifle where I live and one very similar is sitting on the rack at a local gun shop unsold for $299. I have seen similar condition rifles with mums for $300-$400 and rifles with dust covers and monopods for $400-$450.

  9. The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to Aragorn243 For This Useful Post:


  10. #6
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    NRA's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Last On
    01-12-2015 @ 09:24 PM
    Location
    Bonita Springs FL
    Age
    60
    Posts
    428
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    06:23 PM
    it is a matching bolt, but at 400 is a tad high

  11. #7
    Legacy Member highpower3006's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last On
    08-02-2024 @ 11:01 AM
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    87
    Real Name
    Jeffrey
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    06:23 PM
    Thread Starter
    Well, it may have been shot, but I can't see any evidence of it having been carried very much. I didn't take any pictures of the magazine floor plate (where it would have been grasped when carrying it), but the bluing is very close to 100%. There are no wear marks on the stock. I think that most of the dings in the wood are a combination of the soft wood these have and careless handling. I have seen many of these that are true battlefield captures and there is always darkening around the raw spots in the wood. The ding below the serial number just looks too fresh to have been done nearly seventy years ago.

    I do value everyone's input on the value of this rifle. As I said, I know the US military market fairly well, but what a type 38 carbine is worth is somewhat of a mystery to me. I feel that the price is probably inflated somewhat since it is on consignment in a gun shop. People tend to think they have to get more for their guns to offset the commission they have to pay. The $400 OTD I was going to offer is considerably less than what someone would pay if they were to give them the asking price.

    I was only interested in it because I see very few carbines compared to the number of rifles I run into, and it is complete with the cleaning rod.

    Remember I am in the PRC and EVERYTHING is a bit more expensive on the left coast.

  12. #8
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    NRA's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Last On
    01-12-2015 @ 09:24 PM
    Location
    Bonita Springs FL
    Age
    60
    Posts
    428
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    06:23 PM
    I say go for it, they do not come along every day.

  13. #9
    Contributing Member Aragorn243's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Last On
    Today @ 04:29 PM
    Location
    Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    7,276
    Real Name
    Steve
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    07:23 PM
    Figured I'd look it up since I have the price guide. Peterson's price for a type 38 carbine in Very Good condition, which this may be, is $300 assuming matching numbers and intact mum. No rifle with a ground mum meets the excellent standard. Good condition is $175 assuming again, matching numbers and intact mum. A rifle can meet very good standards with a ground mum but must be near perfect in all other areas. Now he says there is no set percentage deduction for a ground mum or mismatched numbers but from personal experience at auctions, that ground mum knocks $60-$100 off that rifle.

    I'm not trying to discourage you at all, just letting you know that you can probably, with a bit of patience, get a much better rifle for that price. I know what the bug feels like, been there and it's taken me a while to get over it and it's been paying off for me. I'm finding good rifles at good to excellent prices.

  14. #10
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    303Nut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Last On
    08-07-2017 @ 04:30 PM
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    95
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    07:23 PM
    I once found a real nice T-99 at the LGS and he wanted just to much. It was on consignment and I told the shop salesman to give the owner a call and see if he would take the price I felt it's worth. He called and I walked out with a much better deal. That won't happen every time but worth a try.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Help-Advise on shooting a SC 6-43 barrel that has been modified
    By tomwatts in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 02-09-2012, 10:19 AM
  2. A4 replica advise
    By viking guy in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 12-01-2010, 06:14 PM
  3. Colt 1911A1 Advise Needed
    By Jughead in forum 1911/1911A1 Service Pistol
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 01-10-2010, 11:28 PM
  4. a guy should listen to his own advise..OT.
    By Chuckindenver in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 04-24-2009, 10:06 PM
  5. Equipment advise
    By sg5054 in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 12-16-2007, 04:04 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts