Saw this while surfing eBay......Do these things really command this high a price?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/331862618153

I saw one on EE that sold for $300

They have gone up quite a bit in recent years. I have seen many sell in the $200-300 range. $400 is a little high imo

Didn't one go for $525 on GB a few months back?

Welcome to the world of rare and expensive authentic parts! Enjoy the sickness and empty pockets for that accurate clone!

i'm sure a lot of us can remember a time where originals were unobtanium and even repro's were hard to come by.  

kids these days

What hurts is--just like the current trend around SP1s--the financials of the madness practically encourage the disassembly and cannibalization of complete uppers.
Anybody know what recent sales of complete 601 uppers (with sight and port door) have brought?  I'm guessing less than it would have brought, parted out.

This is a moral question I'm facing as I try to plan for a collection downsizing. I've spent years piecing together rifles that, if I were trying to sell them intact, wouldn't even recoup the "old" prices I paid for parts.  And since I will only sell things if I'm forced to to pay for my kids' education, I'm motivated to maximize the return on my investments...but I'm motivated as a collector to not strip everything to pieces.

...Sure wish my kids would take another look at the GI Bill.  

i haven't seen a complete 601 upper for sale in forever.  most of the stripped 601 receivers i would guess are from those air force repacks.  aeyoung got some complete ones but i think that was the most recent uncovering of any quantity worth mentioning.

i agree with the dilemma of keeping them whole vs parting them out.  can't hardly get a deal on even a late sp1 on gunbroker due to all the guys parting them out.  

if it's something you pieced together on a nodak lower, i'd say go for it.  it was a collection of parts to begin with.  

tell your kids to wait for bernie to give them free college

Yeah Gunner, you're going to have to tear em down to get the big bucks. I would guess an original complete 601 upper parted out would bring in the $2,500 range for the parts individually especially if the handguards, barrel and BCG are real nice. Like BW said it all started out as a parts collection when you obtained them. I take it you will be holding on to the machinegun though, right?

I'm sure I asked something like 150 for the originals when I sold them.. Felt that was plenty profit..
(I got a complete 601 upper at the gun show, it was on a 450$ budget build bought from a person walking around..... )

It it weren't so common it wouldn't be worth so much.

I doubt ill ever find another one in the wild.

Actually, I may sell the MG, but as a package. I'm considering auctioning a display package of the original rifle, with every accessory available from the factory, plus all the paperwork I've been able to collect.  Then, since the police rifle came in black, I'll include a semi-auto clone wearing nice green furniture and all correct, original parts except the (NDS) lower.  In essence, it would be a shootable spare parts kit for the original (for the buyer who wants to shoot the MG but is afraid of breaking something)--and if the buyer is interested in displaying them, he could display both the LEO version (black, with bipod and Delft) and the military version (green, with bayonet and grenade sight) side by side with the rest of the accessories.

I will likely keep a clone just for fun (either brown or worn brown/green furniture) and a few critical spare parts, but then sell off any remaining parts I have.

I enjoy having the MG, but it rarely comes out of the safe, and if I can market it right, it could definitely help with the tuition bills (I'm half way through three kids in college).

Note: I am not selling anything at this time!  When the day comes, I'm sure I'll find a way to let people know.  :)