HELP! inherited gun dilema

[david_the_greek]

sorry to take up space guys but I need alittle bit of advice and value info for a friend. A good friend of mine recently inherited an arisaka type 44 carbine in excellent conditon, a nambu(?) type 14, an m1 carbine (post war production, extremely fun non the less), and a japanese officers sword. He has to split with either the type 44 carbine or the M1. he has no real preference but has no idea of the values of the firearms. the type 14 is in excellent condition and I have seen them go for a fair amount of money. The type 44 seems in great condtion, has the flower marking, the bayonent not directly attached to the barrel (supposedly freefloated for a short distance and a positive attribute I hear), and what I believe to be a mud/dust cover for the muzzle. its a cool looking gun. So what do these run price wise? the barrel is in seemingly excellent condition. would it be sound advice for him to pass the carbine or the type 44 over to his younger brother (he has to hand one over). the carbine was a blast to shoot for sure but on a $ value side which is the better keep? thanks for any help guys.

 

[john paul]

whatever makes you happy

look on gunbroker.com or gunsamerica.com to get prices but personally I'd look at it from the ammo stand point. I know you can get 30 carbine at walmart!

 

[Sunray]

It's chambered in 6.5 x 50. Midway has Norma ammo. Cheap it ain't. $40.99 per 20.
There was one without the 'mum' on auctionarms back in 2005 that apparently sold for around $500.
What make is the M-1 Carbine?

 

[Vaarok]

A japanese Type 44 carbine is worth more than a thousand dollars, minimum. With a dust-cover and mum and in good shape, far more. EXTREMELY rare and valuable.

Ditch the post-war M-1 carbine, you can always find a new one for sale. Type 44s, you cannot.

 

[EricTheBarbarian]

well if hes wanting to go shooting Id get rid of the 44. The ammo for that is ridiculously expensive if you can even find it.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Keep the Nambu and type 44 Carbine -- both are valuable and their value will only go up.

 

[Ian]

A thousand bucks for a Type 44? That sounds way high to me.

I think the cheapest of the lot would be the Nambu, at maybe $400-$500. My guess for the Type 44 would be around $700. Both of those could vary depending on details, obviously. Some variants of those guns are more of less valuable than others.

The M1 carbine is certainly the most easily replaceable of the bunch, and probably the least likely to appreciate in value (except perhaps in the case of another AWB).

I would pass along the carbine, and keep the two Japanese pieces. If I wanted to shoot one, I would reload for the 44. It uses readily available 6.5mm bullets, and the brass can be ordered easily enough.

 

[lamazza]

^^ What Ian said.
If you don't want to spend money on brass there are resizing dies to found as well. Post WWII M1 Carbines are easily replaceable.

 

[david_the_greek]

thanks guys. I could have sworn I'd seen some auctions of that nambu with holster going for between 800-1200. I keep telling my buddy that his type 44 might be a worth alittle more than he thinks. He likes that little M1 though. anyways I think I might have swayed him over, especially with the general consensus of this board. the 44 is in awsome shape by the way, great bore, flower is perfect, dust cover hingest arent even loose.

 

[Ian]

If you want to find out more about the Nambu (and its value), you might post some photos of it over in the Japanese section of Gunboards: http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=42

 

[arashi]

If they were "brought back" by a relative, he will be sorry to sell them...