[skooter]

Hello guys I came across a P-trooper 30 cal. carbine made by Iver Johnson . It looks old but in excellent shape and shoots great . I would like to know did they have this weapon during WWII and what is the value of this weapon?Thanks.........skooter

[Gordon]

Iver Johnson Carbines were made in the 85-93 and are spotty quality reproductions. SOME are better than the Universals however, depending where and when they were made.A like new 'Paratrooper model' goes for $400 around here.

[mcattack]

Yes they did.

As to value, overall condition and location will decide that. I'm assuming it has a sliding stock if it's a paratrooper, which should increase the value somewhat. What is the asking price on the weapon or did you purchase it already?

Check gunbroker.com and or gunsamerica.com as this should give you a basic idea of what they are selling for (look for the ones that have bids) in the real world.

[Jim K]

That needs some clarification. As Gordon says, Iver Johnson carbines were made in the 1980's and 90's, well after WWII, and they were never made for, or sold to, the military.

The M1 carbine was used in WWII, in both solid stock and a folding stock configurations, the latter for issue to airborne troopers, primarily officers and MP's. (Airborne troops generally carried the standard M1 rifle.)

Further, the "partrooper model" GI carbine (the M1A1) has a left side-folding stock, not a sliding stock. Sliding stocks and under-folders for the carbine are all civilian products.

Jim

[MarineTech]

Just to add to Jim's comments.

There was only 1 of the multiple WW2 manufacturers that actually produced the paratrooper models from the factory. It's been a few years since I've owned an M1 carbine and all my literature is gone, but I believe it was Inland.

Finding a paratrooper stock on anything else guarantees it's either an arsenal rebuild (which would have the appropriate markings) or a home done job that somebody did in order to crank up the price of the gun if it's being billed as a true paratrooper model.

[bender]

I bought a paratrooper m-1 carbine back in the late-1980s at a gun show off a marine vet. The stock looked "too nice" to me, but the folding handle looked just right. It shoots great and is a lot of fun. The markings are correct. Its an Inland, from 1943 I think.

I thought at the time it looked semi-redone... but it was only $275 so big deal...

[Jim K]

Original M1A1 stocks in good shape are bringing over $500, without the carbine. Note that there have been a lot of reproductions (the Italian ones are quite nice) and a lot of downright fakes, so if contemplating a purchase, learn before you buy.

Jim

[Jagermeister]

Here is a different model, not made by mfg, but designed from a select fire carbine, and used in Viet Nam by Advisors using small boats in support of the Viet Namesee 41st Ranger Bn in the Delta region of Nam.

3 30 round magazines were carried on the gun and it was used for supressive fire during an ambush. The barrell was cut 3inches from the stock, crowned at 9 degrees.

Yes! we carried M16's, however, the driver of the boat could not get activated with the 16 because it had to lay on the floor. The modified Carbine was carried on the lap of the driver and made the activation almost instantanious.

JM

[Ron James]

One of our crew chiefs came up with one of those in 1966, We didn't ask him where he got it and he wasn't telling. It would really spray the bullets, the safest place to be was probable right in front of the muzzel, because the bullelts went every where else.

[Ron James]

PS In 66 we were still using the M-14. Only had a few M-16s in our unit and a few CAR 15s and we were hell the way up in the Hignlands.

[Jagermeister]

We discovered that by crowning the bbl accuracy was OK up to about 25 yds. Not much over that. But it did put out 750 rpm, and like you mentioned, it was kind of "spray and pray" but it did help suppress fire.

JM