[Steelharp]

Ok... at the front of the receiver, it says "U.S. CARBINE M1 .30 CAL", and at the rear sight, it says "19621". I know it's probably not enough info, but I don't know about such things. Stock looks really nice, parts work very smoothly. Asking price is $450. Fair or not?

Mikey D...

[Art Eatman]

GI Carbines sometimes have different manufacturers for the barrel and the receiver, particularly if they went through an armorer's rebuild at some arsenal. Anyhow, look for the manufacturer's name(s). That's a really-low serial number. Each manufacturer had a block of numbers issued, so SFAIK the numbers are sequential for the total production.

If the gun is really nice, the price is "asking" for a non-collector Carbine (some are more rare and bring high prices). It's not horrible, but it sounds maybe $50 to $100 too much to pay.

There was a post-war, civilian-made Carbine which looked the same, but the parts won't interchange. "Universal"? Disremember.

Hang in there. Somebody'll come along with more info.

:), Art

[dude]

FWIW-you can get a new IAI .30 Carbine for that price, all new parts and a warranty

If you pick up that surplus one be sure to make some sort of a deal allowing you to take it to a gunsmith who knows Carbines for inspection. $450 is to much to pay for a surplus .30 Carbine that is not in excellent ++ condition.

Some GI Carbines are worth insane ammounts of money, but these pawn-shop bottom feeders are pretty smart.

[Steelharp]

Art, yeah, the same shop has a Universal for $250; really seems like a sloppy piece of junk next to this other one. I'll try to find out more; the guy said it was GI.

Mikey D...

[hps1]

The manufacturer's name on many GI M1 carbines is more or less hidden under the rear sight, right above the serial number. I have an Inland and all you can see is the first & last couple of letters of the name without removing rear sight.

Regards,
hps

[DamnedDirtyApe]

A GI numbered 19621 falls into the Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors Corporation of Dayton Ohio's 5th block of assigned serial numbers ... 100 - 699,999.

Some think Inlands and Winchesters are the best.

An Inland receiver & barrel matchup is good odds for a totally original rifle.

Barrel mfgr is stamped right behind the front sight.


Edited to add:

A small sheet of thin aluminum foil can be inserted between the heel of the receiver and the base of the rear sight, then "rubbed" with something thin - maybe a Popsicle stick or a machinist's scale to bring up the stampings hidden underneath.

[Steelharp]

Something else I remembered; the top was metal with holes in it. Seems like I've seen some that were wood? What's the difference?

Mikey D...

[Mike Irwin]

Last couple run of the mill carbines I've seen for sale in Northern Virginia have been $600 and up.

[Sven]

I've been researching these weapons for a while, and was shocked to see the low prices people were paying back in 94... compared to what some people are asking now.

A reminder: buy always, sell never - and buy early!

[Art Eatman]

Steelharp, I gotta admit to ignorance as to the originality of a metal handguard. I've seen them, but I've sorta assumed they were an after-market replacement. Just don't know for sure. You might ask Harley Nolden.

Art

[Sven]

Man, I've been looking for an M1 for a little while now, and you just stumble across one.... its not fair.

[Aikibiker]

Damn freemarket economy.

I wish I could find an M1 carbine for that little around here. The last time I even bothered to price one, the cheapest I could find was in the $700 range and that was for the most abused rifle you ever saw.

[Steelharp]

Stopped by to take a second look. It says "NATL ORD INC" under the rear sight; National Ordnance, I suppose? Does that give more of a clue? Also, should the slide lock back on the empty mag? It doesn't.

Mikey D...

[WalkerTexasRanger]

Natl ordinance is not one of the original GI manufactures. The bolt will not lock back on a GI mag, unless it is a 30 round type 4 (uncommon).

Inland, Winchester, IBM, Quality Hardware, Rock Ola, Nat'l Postal Meter, Underwood, Saginaw, Standard Products, & Irwin Pederson were the only original GI makers of M1 Carbines.

Aftermarket manuf include Natl Ordinance, Iver Johnson, Universal,, and now IAI.

I have a several myself and they are great fun to shoot. I currently have a couple for sale, one GI, a Quality Hardware, and also have an IAI that I am very interested in selling as my collection has outgrown space in the safe. If interested send me an email to walkermarka@yahoo.com.

Good shooting!!!

[Chainsaw]

Steelharp, I have a National Ordnance Carbine. Mine works well with the fifteen round mags.

From what I was told, the National Ordnance brand was assembled from GI surplus parts in the early 1960's. Mine has some Rock-ola parts that are noticeable.

I enjoy shooting mine, as it is not in real good shape, but it functions 100%-------------Chainsaw