Midway Surplus M1 Carbine

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The value will eventually go down substantially because they're a fairly incapable gun made in insane numbers, and the people who fetishize them are at the age where people die.
You mean sorta like the way Mosins, made in larger numbers and longer, have gone down since they were first imported? lol

Not counting the US, Finland, China, and other Eastern bloc countries that made Mosins, Russia alone has made more than 6X the number of M-1 Carbines, and I don't know if anyone is still alive since they were first produced in 1891, yet they have a mixed age following and the prices are up several times and still climbing....

I can't think of any US arm that has declined in value, regardless of age.
 
All WWII era firearms are set to go down as the 60-90 year olds who fetishize them die off. There is not enough interest among younger age groups, and certainly not the "collectors" (read horders) who buy 10s or 100s.
 
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All WWII era firearms are set to go down as the 60-90 year olds who fetishize them die off. There is not enough interest among younger age groups, and certainly not the "collectors" (read horders) who buy 10s or 100s.

That's probably a fairly accurate assessment. Classic cars are another collectible that might have peaked in value for similar reasons. But today's market is what it is and the reports in this thread seem to suggest that they are selling like hotcakes. Wait 20 years and you probably will get some good deals.
 
Yes, right now prices are very high because a) of a general firearms shortage (now somewhat abated) and b) that the demographic effects are just beginning - remember that old people are the wealthiest group in the US and thus most able to afford discretionary purchases. But they are also closest to dying, and there are very few heirs who want 27 M1 carbines or whatever.

You can see that most generic examples of pre-WW2 US arms such as Krags and trapdoors don't command particularly huge prices. Even 1903s and Enfields are sort of falling off the wagon. And none of those arms exist in nearly the numbers that M1 carbines do. The same will eventually happen to carbines and Garands.
 
I think that's a very reasonable approach. We do have to remember though that there are 6 million of these guns. The prices are driven by a relatively small number of people with extremely large collections. It's not 6 million guys with 1 carbine, it's 30,000 guys with an average of maybe 180 un-shot carbines.plus a few collections of one to a few pieces owned and shot by enthusiasts.
 
I am in the few pieces group, I have two Winchesters from CMP and one a Quality Hardware when it comes in. I will film the "birthing" of it...
 
All WWII era firearms are set to go down as the 60-90 year olds who fetishize them die off. There is not enough interest among younger age groups, and certainly not the "collectors" (read horders) who buy 10s or 100s.

I think you have a strong opinion, but may be a little out of touch on the subject. Do you really think those 2,000+ carbines that sold this morning went to 60 - 90 year old buyers??? So to go along with your line of thinking, 1860 Henry's, 1873 Winchester's, 1873 Colt's, 1903 Springfield's, 1917 S&W's, 1911A1 Colt's and Garands, among other things should be cheap, but they're not, and they certainly haven't ever decreased in price.

Get on Facebook and check out the Military Surplus Weapons from WW1&2 group. I think you'll be shocked at the age group that is currently "into" these older milsurps.

35W
 
I think you have a strong opinion, but may be a little out of touch on the subject. Do you really think those 2,000+ carbines that sold this morning went to 60 - 90 year old buyers???

Predominantly, yes, or will end up there when re-sold to the internet-incompetent by middle men.

Also, realize that this is only a TINY fraction of the 6 million carbines out there. You cannot compare them to guns with tiny runs like the 1860 Henry with 14,000 guns. There are 428 M1 carbines for every one Henry. It's a completely different ball game.
 
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I am glad to hear that since on other forums the general concensus was that it was the old guys raised on "Combat" and Lt. Hanley that was driving the sales.

Of I also collect the Trapdoors, having a Carbine, two rifles, and two cut downs, one to make an officers model and one an Alaskan Guide rifle (not to mention my Ruger #1 in 45/70) The Trapdoor Carbine is my favorite gun of all time.
 
We do have to remember though that there are 6 million of these guns.

There were 6 million. How many were lost in battle and destroyed?

How many were taken by 3rd world countries or even 1st world countries, never to be returned?

How many are in museums or motion picture arms rental companies?

I doubt anyone has a correct idea how many are actually in US civilian hands.

As far as an older generation dying off and Carbines losing value, a younger generation who play with them in computer war games may just want the real thing at some time.

The fact that they are small, light, have classic lines, and are relatively recoil free adds value right there.

They cost $45 in 1942, equal to $737 in 2021, so they were never cheap to begin with.
 
Predominantly, yes, or will end up there when re-sold to the internet-incompetent by middle men.

With out any data, your opinion is based solely on rectal extraction, but you may believe it if you wish.

Also, realize that this is only a TINY fraction of the 6 million carbines out there. You cannot compare them to guns with tiny runs like the. the 1860 Henry with 14,000 guns. There are 428 M1 carbines for every one Henry. It's a completely different ball game.

But you based your assertion on a certain age groups of shooters having "connections" with a firearm. Those members of society who had connections with Henry's, '73 Winchesters/Colt's et al. are all gone, leaving no explanation as to why they're still in demand and why their values continue to increase.

Like I said, you're welcome to your opinion, but presenting it as though it were documentable fact, as you are, is silly.

35W
 
But you based your assertion on a certain age groups of shooters having "connections" with a firearm. Those members of society who had connections with Henry's, '73 Winchesters/Colt's et al. are all gone, leaving no explanation as to why they're still in demand and why their values continue to increase.
They continue to increase because those demographic groups are, for a few more years, still alive and are the wealthiest demographic in America. They will not be alive in any large numbers for long. There is no market with today's young adults for millions of carbines. They compare them to ARs and have no interest, which if you're thinking in terms of capability rather than nostalgia is dead on.

Pre-WWII service arms do not command particularly high prices, and there's a reason for that. The people who were nostalgic for the Krag are dead.
 
I agree and disagree with you. There are definitely a lot of younger guys into milsurps, mostly, I think, because of video games. Those guys aren’t the norm but they are a force in the market. They are also a force that is willing to pay high, because most of them would rather pull out the credit card and get what they want, now, today, than spend months or years beating the bushes to get a good deal. They want one, not 10, so they’ll just pay top dollar and probably be money and time ahead. Their purchasing habits do drive up the market, because they get in gunbroker bidding wars with the old rich retired guys, who don’t like it that someone’s willing to pay $600 for a rifle they wanted to win for $450.

There are, however, also undoubtedly a lot of old guys with big collections. When those get sold it may in fact cause the market to soften at some point. But not yet, I don’t think. It will take a real generational shift to accumulate enough excess in the secondhand market for the prices to soften notably.
 
At 8:08, I had a Saginaw S.G. in my cart. By 8:09, it was GONE after I entered my cc# and selected an FFL who was on file with Midway.
I ended up with an Inland fair-to-good WITHOUT bayonet lug as they With, were already gone.
I already have a Saginaw S.G. And wanted a shooter as mine though looks like new with an Underwood 8/43 barrel, shoots “Patterns” instead of groups. 12”, +/- at 100yds.

Yes, I’ve tried all the recommended accuracy tricks. Accurate ammo. No help.

If the Inland is decent, I’ll likely sell the Saginaw. I’m a shooter, not a collector.
 
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I had mentioned in other posts that I was on at 9:00, I forgot to mention that was EST, so it was 8:00 CST.

at 3 seconds after 9:00 EST, all the Fine Rockolas were gone, if there were any there at all. I would like to hear from someone who got one
 
I agree and disagree with you. There are definitely a lot of younger guys into milsurps, mostly, I think, because of video games. Those guys aren’t the norm but they are a force in the market. They are also a force that is willing to pay high, because most of them would rather pull out the credit card and get what they want, now, today, than spend months or years beating the bushes to get a good deal. They want one, not 10, so they’ll just pay top dollar and probably be money and time ahead. Their purchasing habits do drive up the market, because they get in gunbroker bidding wars with the old rich retired guys, who don’t like it that someone’s willing to pay $600 for a rifle they wanted to win for $450.

There are, however, also undoubtedly a lot of old guys with big collections. When those get sold it may in fact cause the market to soften at some point. But not yet, I don’t think. It will take a real generational shift to accumulate enough excess in the secondhand market for the prices to soften notably.

The thing is, the video game guys are rare. There are a lot more guys buying ARs, P90s, MP5s, M40s etc. because of video games. I see those guys at the range weekly. The guy who decides he wants a second line WWII gun because of a video game is an oddity - I've seen maybe one or two of those guys in my life. Finding several million of those guys to buy up all the carbines just isn't going to happen. Without collections with huge numbers of guns, there's no buyers for most milsurps with multi-million gun runs. I mean I wouldn't mind owning one carbine I guess. The 2nd one would take up space and have negative value to me.
 
I thought hard about buying one, but:
1) Thought the prices were kind of high, but I guess it is a fair value in today's market.
2) Just bought a $650 M1 from CMP, so why pay 2 to 3 X the price for something that is way less accurate and not that much range or power.
3) Ammo has always been and always will be too hard to find and too expensive.
4) I only buy shooters, I collect guns same as I collect tools, to use them.
So, for me, these are too high of price for a range toy.

And don't get me wrong, I do collect WWII stuff, so I get the high price of a collectable military weapons.
 
Anyone looking for ammo since I wouldn't doubt there's going to be a good buying run on .30 carbine like there was a 6.5 Carcano when there also a big dump of Carcano carbines. AIM Surplus also had 50 rd boxes of PPU for about $33. I wonder if one my LGS that has had Armscor USA .30 carbine ammo for awhile will suddenly sell out. I've probably bought the majority of that he sold and he probably still has a 1k rds left.
 
I have only seen gun prices pretty much go up, since I paid attention strting in the early 80's.

There is ,sometimes, a glut, like M44's, but thats not the trend.... they are out the roof , presently.

Also, theres the political climates, some administrations effect guns, some dont, but often election years are a boom for guns n ammo.
Then there bans, and on guns or magazines, it drives sales.

Then theres Riots in most major Dem Citys that went unchecked as well as the campaign to "Re-think policing" which is also know as "Defund the Police" and that too, can effect gun prices.

The chance to get a small semi auto for self defense in a city also adds to the drive in prices. Inner city and alot of urban folks are joining the gun owners crowed

My wife has her Rockola ( Royal Tiger buy) and keeps it handy at the fish rack insted of her handgun.
 
I think that's a very reasonable approach. We do have to remember though that there are 6 million of these guns. The prices are driven by a relatively small number of people with extremely large collections. It's not 6 million guys with 1 carbine, it's 30,000 guys with an average of maybe 180 un-shot carbines.plus a few collections of one to a few pieces owned and shot by enthusiasts.

I think the number of serious collectors is maybe about 1,000 guys. I doubt if any have 180 carbines. I think there are several million carbine owners with one or maybe two carbines, and some of them are likely commercial variations not war babies.

Of the 6 million war time carbines that were made I'd be surprised if half have survived. The other half were junked, destroyed, parted out or laying in some dusty warehouse in a foreign country.
 
At 8:08, I had a Saginaw S.G. in my cart. By 8:09, it was GONE after I entered my cc# and selected an FFL who was on file with Midway.
I ended up with an Inland fair-to-good WITHOUT bayonet lug as they With, were already gone.
I already have a Saginaw S.G. And wanted a shooter as mine though looks like new with an Underwood 8/43 barrel, shoots “Patterns” instead of groups. 12”, +/- at 100yds.

Yes, I’ve tried all the recommended accuracy tricks. Accurate ammo. No help.

If the Inland is decent, I’ll likely sell the Saginaw. I’m a shooter, not a collector.


see, you're the guy I always hope I'll stumble across. m1 that needs a new barrel. I've got a brand new original usgi inland barrel that I keep hoping I can find a carbine to put it on. of course, not YOU per se, because you know what they're currently worth. I want that guy who's willing to sell his for 400-600 because it's worn out.
 
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