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M1 Carbine - what's it worth?

tyler-lowe
I have an M1 carbine that I can't find a value for. The top front of the receiver says "U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1". Behind the Rear sights on the top also says "Fed Ord Inc. S.E.M. CA. The s/n on the side of the receiver is 40781 Please help
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13 comments

Date Votes
  • tyler-lowe
    I have a low digit Inland M1 Carbine with matching serial numbers, no rebuild marks, correct sling, excellent stock, etc. An avid collector/dealer told me it was an excellent collectors gun because it had matching serial numbers and was 100% complete/original. He offered me $750 dollars. Is the gun worth more or am I getting a good deal?
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  • RancheroPaul
    Most Dealers through experience in the business simply look at a gun, determine what percentage it is, examine it for obvious flaws, then use their own formula to determine "what they will pay" for the gun.

    One Dealer I know determines the value of the Gun using the Blue Book of Gun Values, (latest edition), by deciding its "percentage." For instance, if the Gun was thought to be an 85% gun, and the figure in the Blue Book was, (Let's just say for ease of calculations), $1,000 for such gun in such condition, then he would offer 40% of that value, or $400 to purchase it. If he knew right where to sell it quick, he might go up to 50%, but rarely.

    If this dealer wanted your gun, he would give you 40% of what he would price it at. If $750 is the offer, I think I would do a little research and check out a "real" sales price for similar guns and then decide what I was getting or wanting to do.

    I Miss The World I Grew Up In!
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  • tapwater
    Tyler, I certainly am not portraying myself as an expert on carbines, however, with your desc., I'd keep it. my 2 cents

    The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
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  • tyler-lowe
    Thanks for replying Ranchero Paul & Tapwater. I am not an M1 collector and really have no need for the gun as I can not use it for hunting were I live. I just want to get a good deal and there are so many oddities with M1's that seem to either drive up there price or makes them worthess to collectors. Wish I could find an online copy of the Blue Book of Gun Values I could use to research the value.
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  • tapwater
    C'mon folks, someone must know of some M1 sites where Tyler can get a fair idea of what it should bring.

    The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
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  • CS8161
    Why don't you take some photos of it and list it here on Gunbroker?

    Chris8161
    Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!
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  • nmyers
    Sorry tyler-lowe, but the "collector/dealer" who looked at your carbine may not have been candid with you. There is no such thing as "matching serial numbers" on an M1 carbine; the only place that the serial # appears is on the receiver.

    Now, it is possible for an expert to determine if it is all original, but that takes a lot of experience. The Blue Book of Gun Values doesn't go into that kind of detail. If you really want to learn about carbines, buy a copy of Craig Riesch's "US M1 Carbines Wartime Production", for starters. If you can take some high quality photos for us to look at, we can try to help, but at this point we don't know enough to be sure.

    If it really IS all original, it could be worth in the $1,000-2,000 range, depending upon serial # & condition.

    Neal
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  • tapwater
    Neal, easy does it. Please don't intimidate new members. I'm new and don't know jack on many subjects. but don't belittle those who are here to learn.

    The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
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  • nmyers
    tapwater, you are right; sometimes things just don't get filtered enough in thought before I put them in writing.

    I edited my last posting; thanks for pointing that out.

    Neal
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  • tyler-lowe
    I don't have a digital camera so I will take the M1 to my brothers house on Thanksgiving and have him take some pictures so I can post them here. They will be online Friday morning. Thanks for the replies.
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  • tyler-lowe
    Neal,

    Thanks for the information about my M1. Sorry about the picture quality - the digital camera was a few years old. I may consider selling the gun after Christmas so i can buy 2 new shotguns. I will let you know if I decide to sale it.

    Tyler
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  • michael minarik
    Taylor, as a rule of thumb NO DEALER is going to pay you the real market value for your M-1 carbine...none! They are in the game for a profit so they buy as low as possible and sell as high as possible!

    If your gonna be impatient to sell it because you have no use for it then be prepared to get taken to the cleaners and don't complain latter on because of your impatience...your ignorance works in their favor.

    My guess is there are a number of military collectors in your area -especially since SAVING PRIVAT RYAN- that will be more than happy to help you assess the value of your M-1. Depending on your area there maybe gunshows where a Mil-collector will have a table set up for buying or trading.

    I've seen an orginal, as new M-1 Green, canvas case sell for more than $100...

    I know first hand that if you can get into the inner circles of collectors for mil-guns you may well double the offer of 750 or more!!! It'll take some work -finding out where they hang out...ya might say- but along the way you will get educated [:)] and the education may change your mind, or you can just be a bafoon and sell it for way less than REAL market value: remember the M-1 you have ain't E-V-E-R gonna be made AGAIN!

    Not many on this planet have a real piece of World History in their closet...and my guess is there are a few BILLION people on this planet...and your the only one that has that M-1....


    I, as in ME, think those book values -after doing gun selling and trading for more than 35 years- are about as realistic as a Snowstorm in hell! Doubt me: pick out a gun in one of those books then ask a dealer or a number of dealers if they would pay a book value at 100 per cent if 'your' gun is 100 per cent...ain't gonna happen...and if you do find one bet your life that he know's where it can be sold for more!

    One time a collector...NOT... a dealer paid me 100 per cent book value on a Pinned and Recessed, model S&W, 629/44 mag I had which was 100 per cent, including original shipping box, and presentation box and all....bottom line it was ORIGINAL.
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  • gskyhawk
    this site may be of help to you
    http://www.jouster.com/cgi-bin/carbine/carbine.pl?
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