Refinished M1 Rockola carbine. Is it worth it?

[Heavies]

Went to one of our gun shops today to pick up some sizing lube, and I spied a very nice M1carbine. I thought it was one of those newer reproductions, but to my suprize it was a Rockola, barrel and all.
The rifle was refinished by a company (sorry, forget which one), and very nicely done, I'll add.

I do not think it had the original stock, and it had the bayonet lug barrel band, and the adjustable rear sight. (I think not original to WWII).
Question, Rockola M1's are the rarest of the carbines, does the refinishing devalue the weapon? They wanted about $1300, does this sound like a reasonable price point?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[MIL-DOT]

Yes, re-finishing devalues collectible firearms ( and guitars, and furniture,etc.)
I have a freind that's into the classic WWII stuff, and he has a very nice, all original 1940's Rock-Ola. A couple months ago,he and I were discussing a possible deal that involved the Rock-Ola, so I did some digging around, and based on that, I would say $1300 is kinda steep for a re-fin without the original stock.

 

[Heavies]

That is what I was thinking as well. Also, the parkerization was silverish in color. Does that sound right?
Do you know what would be a reasonable price for the rifle?

 

[MIL-DOT]

I think the original finish is more of a greenish shade, silver does sound a little odd.
I'm sure the rifle is still worth a decent amount, but I couldn't even take a good guess. I would just start Googling, and see what's out there, at what price. Good luck, I need to go back to bed now, it's 4:00 a.m. here.

 

[Heavies]

Thank you for your response MIL-DOT.

Any other advice or comments are greatly appreciated.

 

[P-32]

Rockola was NOT the rarest of the M-1 Carbines. It was one of the steering gear company's but the name slips me.

 

[Al Thompson]

Around here that would be very high.

 

[Orlando]

Probably refinished in Zinc which is a lighter gray color

 

[MIL-DOT]

(quote) "Rockola was NOT the rarest of the M-1 Carbines. It was one of the steering gear company's but the name slips me."


(Close, but not exactly, I found this......)

M1 Carbine, Irwin Pedersen

This company was a marriage of the Irwin Brothers Furniture Company, and the gunsmith talents of the famous John Pedersen (of Pedersen Device and Garand competition fame). Unfortunately, the Grand Rapids, Michigan based pairing struggled with quality and quantity problems from the start. As a result, Irwin Pedersen marked carbines are rare. To pick up the slack, the Saginaw Steering Gear division of General Motors (which also had a carbine contract at its plant in Saginaw Michigan), took over fulfillment of the Irwin Pedersen contract from their Grand Rapids plant. The subsequent production was marked S'G' (read S prime G prime). These carbines are found in the Irwin Pedersen serial number block, with nearly any combination of either Irwin Pedersen or S'G' marked parts.


(then this....)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_carbine

"Irwin-Pedersen models were the fewest produced, at a little over 4,000."

 

[FMJMIKE]

Over priced !

Irwin-Pedersen were the rarest M1 Carbines. The silver finish sounds like a Blue Sky import rifle to me. Check barrel for Import marks. I would really need photos and more info to make a better appraisal but on the limited info you have given I would say the Carbine is over priced.

 

[Heavies]

Yes, I am feeling a bad vibe about this rifle. The barrel had the rockola stamp near the front sight, the finish was a silvery color, stock was probably a new reproduction, (there was a tag hanging stating the refinisher company that did the work). Due to the adjustable rear sight I could not make out what company manufactured the receiver, and I did not look for stamps on the trigger assembly or the op rod.
More and more I think about it, the more I think this is a bad deal.
Any collector value is already lost, and mighty pricey for just a shooter.
Thanks folks for your assistance.

 

[nwilliams]

way overpriced IMO.

If it were all original and not refinished then $1,300 might be a reasonable price but even then it would need to be in exceptionally good condition and all correct.

 

[Maverick223]

^That. I'd avoid it and look for a original one (IMO a new stock just takes all the history out of an old military arm like that).

BTW the most rare specimen was not the Irwin-Pedersen, it is an "Un-Quality" marked carbine (contracted out for Quality Hardware but built by Union Switch & Signal). FWIW I have a Un-Nat. Postal Meter (which is actually just a U stamp on the heel beneath NPM & the SN). Can't find out hardly anything about that beast (best sources said it was rare, though not as elusive as the "Un-Quality"), but I like it!

 

[buttrap]

If I recall the Blue Sky ones sold for around 150 bucks when they came in to the US in the late 80s and most where in pretty rough shape. Belive they came from South Koriea.

 

[FMJMIKE]

An original Rock-Ola will sell for much more than $1300. I watch Gunbroker and the originals are going pretty high right now. The Irwin-Pedersen Carbines were the fewest produced by any major contracted Carbine maker during WWII. Now we can get into rare variations made by the major makers like the Un-Quality and line outs but that is a long and different question..........

 

[Maverick223]

The Irwin-Pedersen Carbines were the fewest produced by any major contracted Carbine maker during WWII. Now we can get into rare variations made by the major makers like the Un-Quality and line outs but that is a long and different question.

Fair enough; just throwing that tidbit out there.