M1 Carbine Opinion

[maxwells]

I forgot to mention that he said look at Midway and look at the prices for the ones that have import marks. He said that they are up as high as $2400. This one is a direct vet buy and you don't come across them too often. I just did now & I can't believe the import ones go for so much. It is very confusing.

Thanks,
maxwells

[Singer B]

A rare variant or something like a Rock-Ola or Irwin Pederson with a bayonet lug might go for $2000, but not an arsenal rebuilt Winchester. That guy is mixing apples and oranges. And an all original/all correct Inland or Winchester MIGHT go a little higher, but not that Winchester. The guy is full of crap. Make him a reasonable offer and let it go at that. Don't waste your money overpaying for it.

Couldn't have said it better. I once found a Type 38 with the bring-back letter and intact mum and the guy wanted $1,000. I offered $750 (the gun was in rough shape) and he rejected it. He said he could get 1500 for it. Went back a few months later and he still had it and wouldn't move off the $1000 price. Six months later, I found a Type 38 (no mum or bring back letter, but 13 of the 15 numbered parts matched) and i picked it up for $500. The gist is that there are plenty of other M1 carbines out there at reasonable prices.

[DaveHH]

Wayne, you may have something with the NPM Stock to Winchester. My 5.6 Winchester and another in BQ's term "Mirror Image" in the data base is what makes the AU recoil plates legit. Underwood sent 500 Recoil plates to Winchester in Nov of 43 and by March 44 they got around to using them. That would be a great connection.

The rebuild to type 2 sights almost always was accompanied by a new front sight. My NPM has an RIA front sight. It makes those carbines shoot dead on where an existing sight might be filed down to make it work with a flip sight.

The $2K price is some guy doing a shoot for the moon deal. I'd meet him in person and have the $1600 in cash in hand and appeal to his better sense and the value of taking care of friends. Then point out the pitfalls of dealing with the shipping, insurance FFLs, the possibility of fraud at the other end, possible rejection and associated fees etc. I'd also tell him about the consensus of opinion from this board and then just let it go. Karma has a way of working things out the way they are supposed to work. Tell him about the spring tube carbine's history of failing from cracks and how Winchester had to change to a better way on the rest of their carbines. This is just an honest example of 1 of 6.5M made, nothing special or uber exciting. Good luck.

[Wineman]

This is where patience since you don't "need" a Carbine is going to come in handy. If you want one, and don't want to spend $2,000 keep looking. The $1,000 ones are still out there, but it is a sellers market. Midway and the internet putting prices higher is not helping. Any parts kit AR will out shoot any M1 Carbine, all day any day. Sexy, no. Historical, yes if you consider it has outlasted every other US military arm (1911's???). Even the Taliban is rocking AR's these days. But they were not on Iwo Jima, Bastogne, or Inchon. When something goes from tool prices to fine art prices, all bets are off. People pay millions for some canvas and oil paint. However, there were not 6,000,000 Van Goghs all together, including copies.

Good luck and we hope you make a deal satisfactory to both parties.

Dave

[maxwells]

Thank You again for all your replies and support. You really went above & beyond to help. I know there is nothing else really to say but the guy told me that he is stuck on the $2000. He is in his 70's and he took this out of a house a long time ago. I guess to him it is special. You can see he never cleaned it. The one thing he said is that he saw some on Midway Arms that they are getting ready to sell and he said they go from $1200 up to $2400. I don't understand that they are so much for ones with an import mark and people are going to buy them up.

Thanks,
maxwells

[browningautorifle]

he said they go from $1200 up to $2400.

Most people that quote you these pie in the sky prices don't understand the differences between what they have and what they see. They also can't understand asking price and selling price are two different things. You make an offer and leave it, sometimes you don't get it. He never cleaned it because he didn't care much, it was nothing. Now he's had a look online and thinks he's going to be rich from it.

[USGI]

I believe the ones now showing up again on Midway (originally they were sold out) are returns that buyers weren't satisfied with. Maybe the next guy will pay the same price and feel like he got a deal - "got one of the last ones available, etc." I bought a couple a few years ago for what I was told was "way too much" and then within 6-8 years sold them for more than twice what I had paid. Now wish I had kept them both! Even if you just have to have that one, the value will likely go up with the current trends - remember all those younger guys who "know" M1 Carbines from the video games they played while growing up. Everyone thought the collector value of the M1 Carbine would go flat after the CMP's last bunch, but they were wrong. I let those (2) of mine go for about 1/2 the price your friend is asking. Notice too, that the "Blue Book of Gun Values" used to show the value of those that had gone through a rebuild (or with late features) as 50% of the original configuration. Now they've made "adjustments" and rebuild values are no longer that low. - Bob

[Singer B]

I was at a gun show in Costa Mesa this morning. Not a whole lot there (it is Sunday), but I did stop at a booth with three M1's, all Underwoods and he had them priced at 1200 and 1300. I was rather surprised as they were in really good shape and the stocks were not sanded. I expected them to be closer to 1500-1600. Maybe the market is topping out?

[maxwells]

I was at a gun show in Costa Mesa this morning. Not a whole lot there (it is Sunday), but I did stop at a booth with three M1's, all Underwoods and he had them priced at 1200 and 1300. I was rather surprised as they were in really good shape and the stocks were not sanded. I expected them to be closer to 1500-1600. Maybe the market is topping out?

Did the M1 Carbines you saw at the show have Import Marks on them? Those ones on Midway go as high as $2400 with import marks and people are buying them. All the M1's I see on some of the dealer sites are asking for over $2000 for ones that are arsenal reworked but they don't have import marks on them.

Thanks again,
maxwells

[Singer B]

Did the M1 Carbines you saw at the show have Import Marks on them? Those ones on Midway go as high as $2400 with import marks and people are buying them. All the M1's I see on some of the dealer sites are asking for over $2000 for ones that are arsenal reworked but they don't have import marks on them.

Thanks again,
maxwells

I didn't look for import marks on them. In my opinion, that isn't a detractor since it actually shows that carbine was in service somewhere outside of the USA. I look first for the manufacturer (I'm trying to get one from each manufacturer), then I look at the wood (after learning a lot of great information from the people here). The presence or absence of an import mark doesn't justify a $500 to $800 swing in the value and price. Unfortunately, the person you are dealing with has researched only enough information to screw up the deal. Maybe give him a few weeks. Once he starts taking it to gun stores or auction houses to put it up for sale, he will start to realize what the actual value of the rifle is, the fees and commissions he will be subjected too and what he will actually collect. I can't imagine an auction house or gun store placing that rifle on sale in its present condition and expecting to sell it for $2000 to $2400. I agree with DaveHH and remind the seller you are good to go at $1,600 and please feel free to call me when you are ready to sell. And while you are waiting for this guy to call you back, keep looking for another one, since it is the "hunt" that is so much fun. I've got my eye on a NPM at my local store and just waiting for him to release it for sale. Its like waiting for Christmas. I would have bought one of the Underwoods I saw yesterday at those prices, but I already have a truly beautiful Underwood. Good luck!!