What is a Good Rockola M1 Carbine Worth?

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hps1

hps1

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A good friend has a prospective buyer for her husband's Rockola carbine. I do not have all the pertinent details, such as barrel date, etc. but from picture looks to be in good shape. Can probably get more detailed pictures, but she's looking for a ballpark fair market value.
Any help will be appreciated.
50511484167_27063d233a_c.jpg

Regards,
hps
 
From just hat photo, $1200-1300.

Lots of things can affect that.
Rockola only made 228,000 of the 4.8 million Carbines assembled.
A Rockola marked barrel will double the value.
Serial blocks are 1,662,250 - 1,762,519; 4,532,100 - 4,632,099; 6,071,189 - 6,099,688; & 6,199,684 - 6,219,688.
The Type II barrel band is a huge plus, too.

So, right serial, clean Rockola marking (which will be complicated as it's under the adjustable sight) pushes this to around $2200-2500.

That's a later "M2" style "pot belly" "low -wood" stock. Which will reduce the price some, a couple hundred, maybe, but only a hundred or so if the stock has correct cartouches.

Given that more than 4 million Carbines were rebuilt at Corps/Brigade/Regiment level between '43 and '65, "matching" parts are very rare (unless a previous owner restored them to that state).

Without having the thing in my hands, $2500 is not outrageous in the present market. Barrel band with an "R", "Rockola" on the barrel, milled trigger guard could easily double that. Rockola was only 7% of all Carbine production.

But, that's only my 2¢; spend it appropriately.
 
ROCKOLA should be clearly visible as it’s got the original flip sight. It also lacks a bayonet lug, so this gun looks like it escaped arsenal repair and updating. Most likely it’s got a push button safety too. It’s a rare gun in apparently original condition.

I want it.
 
I'm unfamiliar with the ins and outs of M1 Carbine collectibility, so I'll defer to those two gentlemen.
 
Mosin Bubba said:
I'm unfamiliar with the ins and outs of M1 Carbine collectibility, so I'll defer to those two gentlemen.
Click to expand...

Me, too, but thanks for the info. Been out of the market for a number of years (and was always a shooter, not a collector), plus, they have increased in value a lot since I bought my last carbine.

Knew there's lots of knowledge here and willing to learn from those more knowledgeable in order to help a friend out.

Thanks Capn & Rudolph, will see if I can arrange to take some more pictures and get a closer look for cartouches, etc. to help narrow it down a bit.

Regards,
hps
 
Original, not rebuilt the sky is the limit based on condition. Rarest mfg. Start about 1500, if guess. I wouldn't take less than 750 for my original Underwood.
 
Here's a bit more info on my friend's carbine.
Receiver, Slide, Gas Cylinder, trigger housing and barrel all marked Rockola. There is a letter R on hammer and a BR on flip sight.
50516976568_db2f07cb3a.jpg 50517694641_c0db693116.jpg
Push safety and 15 round mag release.
Repaired hairline crack, right side of stock vv
50517678546_9dda3775c0_z.jpg 50517698786_230f8c73cd_z.jpg 50517086308_67770aa88c_m.jpg 50517845682_ecfdca1b88_m.jpg Excellent bore.
SN seems to indicate it was made between March and November of 1943.
50516965558_1369c9cbbf_z.jpg 50517687441_e50dca0344_z.jpg 50517858942_ac8eb758cf_m.jpg

Regards,
hps
 
I hate this thread. I sold a RockOla and a Saginaw not all that many years ago for half of what they are today. :( Had retired and was selling off some guns for money to buy wood working tools and machines.
Kept a Plainfield repro.
 
Very nice. The stock is a post-war "potbelly" model, but otherwise it looks pretty much original- or at least could be. It was not uncommon for collectors to mix-n-match Rockola parts to make a homogeneous rifle. Rockola did make recoil plates too- is yours marked?

In any event, around here, I would expect to see $1500-1800 on the sticker at a local show or shop.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Very nice. The stock is a post-war "potbelly" model, but otherwise it looks pretty much original- or at least could be. It was not uncommon for collectors to mix-n-match Rockola parts to make a homogeneous rifle. Rockola did make recoil plates too- is yours marked?

In any event, around here, I would expect to see $1500-1800 on the sticker at a local show or shop.
Click to expand...

If it is, I missed it, but didn't think to look at that part closely and could have missed it.

Regards,
hps
 
whughett said:
I hate this thread. I sold a RockOla and a Saginaw not all that many years ago for half of what they are today. :( Had retired and was selling off some guns for money to buy wood working tools and machines.
Kept a Plainfield repro.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the club. Had been on an army post AMU in 1962, planning to continue shooting competition as a civilian and puchased an M1 Garand from Kleins. Paid the extra $10 or so for "select" grade. The stock had nearly 1/4" gap at heel of receiver. I purchased another stock, glass bedded it & proceeded to accurize it per the NRA bulletin. It had the early rear sight so I put a new sight, reamed and fitted gas cylinder, etc. Yeah, I noticed the British proof mark on top of the barrel just behind the sight and knew that this rifle had been lend leased to GB but never dreamed these rifles would bring a premium down the road. Oh well, I bought it to shoot and it served me well until I shot the barrel out (it had quite a lot of shallow pitting when I got it, I'm sure from corrosive ammo, but shot well for a few thousand rounds). It still has the same barrel and I could probably restore it to the condition it was in when I bought it, as I think I still have the original sight and most other parts are those that came with the rifle. Would have to find another stock. It does still have the early op rod without the groove milled....hmmm......might be a good project for a rainy day, it would make a lot better collector than a shooter today. :cool:

Regards,
hps
 
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I would expect to pay $2000 for that Rockola.
If you posted it on the CMP Carbine forum, people would be pm'ing offers.
BTW...if there is any CMP paperwork from the purchase of that carbine, it adds to the value.
 
Rockola only made 7% of all Carbines. Definitely in the bottom third of "rare" variants.
This one has a barrel and a trigger guard assembly all marked Rockola, and both an Type II front band, and the early L sight. So, this is a rare bird indeed.
Last year, Morphy's sold a Rockola, receiver marked only, plain birch stock, for $2600.

So, in that condition, and that level of rarity, I'd not be surprised to see four grand for the retail price. Not on GB, naturally, but among the serious collectors. The kind of people who are not going to flinch at $500 for a Rockola-marked correct stock.

amd6547 said:
BTW...if there is any CMP paperwork from the purchase of that carbine, it adds to the value.
Click to expand...
This is early enough to possibly have DCM (precursor to CMP) paperwork.
 
CapnMac said:
Rockola only made 7% of all Carbines. Definitely in the bottom third of "rare" variants.
This one has a barrel and a trigger guard assembly all marked Rockola, and both an Type II front band, and the early L sight. So, this is a rare bird indeed.
Last year, Morphy's sold a Rockola, receiver marked only, plain birch stock, for $2600.

So, in that condition, and that level of rarity, I'd not be surprised to see four grand for the retail price. Not on GB, naturally, but among the serious collectors. The kind of people who are not going to flinch at $500 for a Rockola-marked correct stock.

This is early enough to possibly have DCM (precursor to CMP) paperwork.
Click to expand...

Thanks to all for the various opinions and advice, especially CapnMac for all the extra effort he put into advising what to look for and what pictures would be advantageous. Thanks to all the good advice, I think my friend is on the right track now to get the best price for her fine specimen.

I never thought about looking for DCM papers, but her deceased husband was a lifelong NRA member and may well have purchased the carbine back when they were sold along with the 03's & 1911's through the NRA; thanks to you all, she is searching his papers to see if that might be the case.

Regards,
hps
 
Tell her we feel for her after her loss, it is never easy losing a lifelong partner like she has. We wish her good luck as she moves forward during these tough times.

Be sure to let us know what the final selling price and what kind of person the buyer may be (if known). We're curious to see where this amazing piece of American military history went and how it went for her.

Stay safe.
 
I've been following because I've got a rockola with the original (pre-cmp) paperwork, but mine is nowhere near has nice at that one. An uncle bubba'd the stock back in the day. My memory is fuzzy, but I believe the paper showed something like $35 for the gun and 500rds of ammo in either the late 40's or early 50's.

It's nice to know roughly what they're worth.
 
Back in the I believe 80’s, some one better informed may know, large quantities of 30 carbines were re-imported into the US . A local dealer had several hundred. He allowed me to go thru the pile. I looked at every carbine for a RockOla marked part and assembled one with parts. I did the same for a Saganaw. Not one Winchester was in that pile. Lots of Singers though. Both guns kept a couple of teenage boys happy on the range. I still have a Ammo box full
of loose hand loaded rounds from those days.
 
It is worth what you can sucker some fool to pay for it. People over pay and when they receive their purchase they have buyers remorse because their purchase does not match the sellers description. Sellers run up the price because their gun might have a certain part or mark, but do they lower their expected price due to nicks or dents or hidden rust or pitting. Don't pay asking prices just because the seller wants to sell high, use common sense and ask why is the item still for sale if it is such a good value. Buyer be aware!
 
nitabar said:
It is worth what you can sucker some fool to pay for it. People over pay and when they receive their purchase they have buyers remorse because their purchase does not match the sellers description. Sellers run up the price because their gun might have a certain part or mark, but do they lower their expected price due to nicks or dents or hidden rust or pitting. Don't pay asking prices just because the seller wants to sell high, use common sense and ask why is the item still for sale if it is such a good value. Buyer be aware!
Click to expand...
Wow, rolled out of bed on the wrong side this morning?

That said, yes, all value is relative. You might spend too much on an M1 Carbine, but its hardly money ill spent, and a fool could do much worse for a handy and effective rifle with historical significance as an added bonus.
 
If it has RockOla parts, barrel, wood and the stock insert ( forgot the correct name ) I would go $1500-2000. FYI bluing tends to be bad ........ BUT RockOla is a great Collectable...... the name!
 
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