In a pawn shop again... I gotta stay outta these places! M1?

[Steelharp]

In a pawn shop again... I gotta stay outta these places! M1? NEW INFO POSTED

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]

Additional info...

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 [email protected].

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