Do Import markings really hurt?

[VOODOTHATIDO4U]

As I was just reading the tread on the Inland M1 carbine from Italy, it opened up some questions.
Does Import Marking really hurt when collecting? I have been going back thru a few years on this forum and some of the comments about this Issue. As mine is a Import (INTRAC-Tn.) it got me to thinking and reading more about Imports and the History they play in Collecting and pricing.

I'm sure many have you had maybe some heated debates on just those Issues. Is a M1 that fought in the pacific or North Africa and then ended up in Germany still not a Collectible? I did alittle backtracking on some of the Italian M1's and found what I thought was an interesting site. EUROARMS - CARABINE WINCHESTER M1

The racks of M1's on that site makes a person wonder just really how many are still out there and if Imported would they still demand a pretty penny? I've read some posts where the one's from Korea here have a very large Blue Sky Import mark on them. However, they are still getting what I would call a decent price selling them at times. Are they still not collectables? I wonder, doesn't the history of all war weapons make it somewhat a collectable with or without an Import mark? Maybe beauty really is in the eye of the beholder then. What's your thoughts on Import markings?
Mic

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[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I see the import marked carbines selling for less then carbine's without the markings. How much depends. Some guys don't care as much as others, if the price is right.

[NRA]

IMO I think import marking harms the value, very similar to a ground mum. But thats a whole new debate in itself.

[topaz]

Its part of the history of the carbine, Just be careful with Blue sky the mark is to deep and may harm the barrel

[Bruce McAskill]

I think you will find that it's the purist collectors who caused the "it's only an import" type attitude. A shooter could care less about import markings. If it shoots well for him he is happy. Back when the Blue Sky carbines were coming into the country there was a lot of carbines around and not just from Korea. This also caused the prices of carbines to drop which was another thing the purists didn't like as their collections were suddenly not worth as much even though they were mostly all original carbines never rebuilt. So now it's more of a price difference between rebuilt carbines (which the imports all are) and originals with the price for all going up but the originals are going out of sight. I can see paying a bit more for an original but not what they are going for now.

[firstflabn]

The market price is the amalgamation of many decisions by many buyers and sellers. Capt. Obvious signing off now.

[painter777]

The market price is the amalgamation of many decisions by many buyers and sellers. Capt. Obvious signing off now.

So very true........

CH-P777

[ChipS]

Shortly after I started collectiing I discovered the conventional wisdom was that the import marked carbine was inferior to, and therefore less valuable than, the unmarked carbine. As time passed I developed the philosophy that it all depends on what you see when you compare the two - and I don't take either side. The pristine, unmarked, as-manufactured carbine commands big dollars, because they are crisp, clean, handsome and rare. But that carbine has never fired a shot in anger and probably spent its whole life well oiled, seldom used and sitting in a soldiers locker far from any conflict. On the other hand, the typical import marked mixmaster is usually 'salty', the edges are worn and the finish is going or gone. The wood is beat up and most of the parts have been replaced one or more times - for a reason. But the condition of the carbine says it has led a full and usefull life, and the import mark says it most likely was 'there' in the beginning, when and where the battles of WWII were raging. IMHO the safe queen can never command the respect due the true battle worn carbine. As to monetary value, that is a function of personnal taste and of supply and demand. There are a lot more battle worn, import marked mixmasters available out there than there are pretty safe queens. To each his own and be happy with both.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

And some find a super nice import, then just change out the barrel. Sell the import barrel to recover some costs. Then the Carbine at a higher price.

If it was all about money, the seller would just part them out. You will get more then selling it whole. Thing is time. Selling a complete carbine is much quicker. Smaller profit, but a shorter time frame.

[kenwest516]

I asked this question a few weeks ago. My opinion is I don't mind the import mark. I don't like the reason it is there,but the mark itself is no big deal. It is part of the firearms history now. It shows proof to me that it was somewhere in the world doing what it was intended for. Defending someone. I also like the ones that have been rebuilt it shows me hard use and that it most likley saw action. Then there is the whole "if it could talk thing". Sure the pristine original unmarked ones are pretty but the battleworn one will always get my attention quicker import mark or not.I have two carbines both Inlands with import marks both mixmasters and both in good working condition. The one has a nice m2 stock in the 950,000 serial number range ,but my favorite is the first one I bought in the 6.7 million range. It has an m1 stock on it that to quote a good friend "looks like it was kicked across Iwo Jima". I have a beautiful all original 1917 Eddystone and a Garand neither have marks. I don't think either have the bragging rights the carbines do. It's not the guns fault the mark is there so I don't think it makes it any worse of a choice. I also say I would't turn down a potential date because she had a bad tattoo.