How do you pick a good M1 Carbine?

[Peter M. Eick]

I was asked to help a friend pick out a good M1 Carbine. I asked why they wanted one and the response was "My dad carried one in Korea and I want one like he had. He really liked it." I asked if he remembered the maker but he did not.

So, I know a bit about the carbine. I have read the Kuhansen (spelling?) book a couple of times on it, but that is it. Practically zero first hand experience. I know I have shot them, but it did not make an impression on me.

Here are the ground rules my buddy has asked me to help him live by.
1) No junk or clone ones. He wants real GI.
2) Must be of collector grade or very nice looking
3) Must be shootable
4) He wants to be able to hand it down to his kids
5) He is not a reloader and I don't "do" the 30 carbine for reloading. Commercial ammo only.

So help get me up to speed on the things to inspect and look at on a carbine.

1) What are the gotcha's?
2) What should I look at or for?
3) Any maker better then the others?
4) Is corrosive ammo an issue or do I not have to worry about the barrel much?
5) What other advice or comments?
6) Budget is probably not a big deal, but any advice on reasonable costs would be nice. My bet is he would like to spend less then a grand, but who knows.

Thanks!

 

[MarineTech]

Kuhnhausen's book is good for maintaining and repairing your carbine. It's not very good for helping to pick out one.

Get yourself a copy of "The M1 Carbine Owner's Guide", by Larry Ruth and Scott Duff. Has very good sections on what to look for and how to judge carbines.

 

[Trebor]

I second the Duff book. I have a copy and the section on picking a carbine is very imformative.

The best carbine I found I stumbled across in a gun shop. It was a gun released by the DCM program in the '60s. It still had the original paperwork with the gun. I don't think the last owner ever fired it as it still looked fresh from rebuild. Everything was tight and the gun was spotless when we tore it down. It was head and shoulders above every other carbine for sale I've ever seen. They are out there, it just might take some hunting.

 

[Sam]

After all the visual inspections, get a good cleaning rod and a very tight fitting patch. Run it through the bbl and feel for a tight spot at the gas port.
They shrink the thing on and sometimes it causes a tight spot. If ther is a tight spot, pass it by.

Sam

 

[BigG]

30 Carbine ammo from the beginning has been non-corrosive. The only WWII ammo that was, IIRC.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks. I think I will pick up the book for my interest then next weekend we will start the trek to the local dealers (with a cleaning rod in hand!)

I appreciate it.

 

[joab]

I don't know if this is what you're looking for but Auto Ordnance is still making them

 

[spacemanspiff]

take a look at this one:

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=6948237

 

[Chipperman]

Real GI is best. As far as which maker, it's personal preference. They all are fine IMO. Some are more desirable for collectability, but for shooting it does not matter.

If he's willing to pony up $1k, he should be able to find exactly what he's looking for. I bought a Rock-Ola collector grade 2 yrs ago, all old features (bolt, flip sites, no bayo lug) for less than that.

1. Try to find one that has no import mark (Usually on the barrel, but sometimes on the left side of the receiver).
2. Make sure the barrel was put on straight. Sometimes they are not torqued on correctly, you should be able to tell by looking down the sights.
3. If he cares about the maker, Rock-Ola is the most sought after because they were the fewest made. Winchesters are always in demand, although they made a lot of them. IBM people like also.
4. Try to get one that has the same maker for the receiver and barrel. Again, it only matters for collectability, but some people will pay a premium if they match.
5. Some people go nuts trying to get ALL parts to match. The rifles were not all matching to begin with, so that's not really historically accurate to worry about; but whatever floats your boat.