Little help with my new M-1 Carbine

[Bud Light]

I was given a Rock Ola M-1 carbine today and am not very knowledgable about it. It has a Rock OLa reciever serial number 607xxxx the reciever looks new with a greenish park finish on it. The barrel is also new in apparence is also greenish and has Rock Ola on it as well. I know Rock Ola made relatively few guns. Is this likely a put away gun or is it ok to take to my urban rifle class this fall?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Just MHO, but I would not run a Rock Ola Carbine through the rigors of a class. Rock Ola made only 3.7% of all M1 Carbines -- 228,500. That's a very desirable gun and congrats on the find.

Some additional info:

http://www.fulton-armory.com/M1Carbine.htm

http://www.surplusrifle.com/m1carbine/index.asp

 

[MrAcheson]

Rock Ola carbines are some of the most desirable on the collectors market. If it looks new then it might be refinished which would reduce it's value a little. The way the M1 carbine market is right now it probably won't hurt it much though. I would baby it if I were you and find something else for the class.

Oh and thank the guy that gave it to you. It was a great gift.

 

[Sunray]

"...given a Rock Ola M-1 carbine..." Geezuz, the only thing I get given to me is grief. The green is from long term storage in cosmoline. Give the rifle a really good bath in mineral spirits then a regular bath.
99.99% of all carbines went through an arsenal rebuild. Unless your rifle was stolen from the factory, it's just a carbine with an issue barrel. The internal parts become your concern. The guys on the 'Carbine' forum at http://www.jouster.com/ can tell you more. They'll want to know what internal parts your rifle has. Post every marking.
Mind you, any carbine, even a collector's piece, with handloaded ammo, would be my choice for a fighting rifle. If it's what you have, not everybody has a choice for numerous reasons, money being the biggest one, use it for your course. Good ammo is essential.

 

[buttrap]

If you get lucky some of the old carbines made it past the refit with only a rear site change..not a lot but some did. If it has a bayo lug it probably did not get past that deal.