M-1 Carbine Iver Johnson

[loose noose]

Just picked up a Iver Johnson M-1 Carbine at Bucky O'Neil's Guns in Prescott. It has a 5 digit serial number starting with AA 66XXX. I was wondering what is the year of manufacture, and was this possibly used in the Korean war? The bore is pristine, and I do believe it is a plain grained walnut stock.

What is the general quality of the Iver Johnson arms? I've got a much older 57 year old Iver Johnson single shot 20 gauge shotgun, I bought brand new, with my paper route money. I did a complete restoration on it about 30 years ago and it still shoots very well.

Any comments pro or con would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Tommygunn]

I'm not positive but IIRC Iver Johnson is a commercial M1 carbine, not a true G. I. one. That makes it later than either WW2 or Korea (no carbines were actually made during the Korean War).

 

[HOWARD J]

It is made with military parts---some receivers are made by IJ
As far as I know they never saw war
I shoots as good as the military one.
I wouldn't count on stock being made from walnut
make sure bolt is locked before firing
have fun
As it has a floating firing pin----make sure reload primers are
set deep

 

[loose noose]

Thank you Tommy Gun and Howard, I paid just under $400.00 for it, and it appears in good shape, I figured that was a fair price, as I seen the Plainfield going for as much as $650.00 and I know that is a cheaply made imitation of the M-1 carbine.

 

[kanook]

loose noose Thank you Tommy Gun and Howard, I paid just under $400.00 for it, and it appears in good shape, I figured that was a fair price, as I seen the Plainfield going for as much as $650.00 and I know that is a cheaply made imitation of the M-1 carbine.

While I will agree with $650 is too much, you might want to research the quality of the Plainfield vs Iver Johnson.

 

[loose noose]

kanook I did, as a matter fact I've worked on quite a few Plainfield M-1's, however I've never worked on a Iver Johnson. I found out on another forum that it was more than likely made in Arkansas, around 1991. I guess it is a crap shoot on the quality though so far it looks like I got a good one. It is fairly accurate with Remington ammo, which is all I got with it. I'll have to reload some of the empties, and try some other type of ammo for further assessment.

 

[Jackal]

All commercial carbines are a crap shoot. For a shooter, the ones to keep an eye out for are the first gen, early Universals that used all surplus/new USGI parts. Most folks mistake them for the later commercial Universals, so they can be scooped up for a bargain and you get what is essentially a USGI carbine for cheap.

 

[Sunray]

Go here. http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_ij.html
No IJ Carbines until 1973 and copies only. AA66XXX is from about 1990.
The IJ Inc. that made 'em wasn't the same as the IJ that made the cheap junker revolvers. Or the current company of the same name.
They bought Plainfield(best of the commercial Carbines) in 1977 and merged with Universal in 1985. IJ went into Chapter 11 in 1986.
Late model Universals are junk. Look for 2 return springs, a toggle for the bolt hold open and a poorly made, stamped op handle(tend to break). No milsurp internal parts fit 'em.
IJ shotguns are exactly what your's is. An entry level shotgun a guy running his own business could afford. Not great, quality, but not junk either.

 

[loose noose]

Sunray, I was but 10 years old when I bought that Iver Johnson Champion 20 gauge, and I thought I had the world by the tail. I could have cared less if it was and entry level shotgun. I made about $3.50 a week delivering the Milwaukee Journal.

Anyway, here are a few photos of that Iver Johnson M-1 carbine, at least I hope I can get them, my wife decided to upgrade from windows 8 to windows 10, so what can I say.

 

[kBob]

IJ made some interesting carbines. There was a model that appeared to be stainless steel with a choate pistol grip fixed stock on it. They made a few in 9x19mm that used modified Browning high power magazines (unfortunately after modification they could not be used in High Powers)

The once I had experience with all worked, more than I can say for late model Universals.

I think $400 was a good price in todays market. But I am hardly an expert at these things. If I had had an extra $400 in my pocket not being saved for anything I would have snapped it up.

-kBob

 

[loose noose]

k-bob, that was what I was thinking, I had a little tine I was killing for a VA appointment, and decided to do a l "look see" at my favorite gun shop in Prescott. I saw it sitting in a gun rack, with a reduced price on it, and after examining it much closer, forked out the money for it. I had been previously looking for one, at a reasonable price, in reasonable condition, and all of a sudden bells went off.

I just recently ordered a sling and an oiler, as well as the bayonet stud from Numerich gun parts, as well as .30 M-1 dies, and a lee length sizing gauge, and 110 grain bullets from Midway.

I'm going to have to do a trigger job on that as soon as I get a chance, there seems to be a lot of grit on the initial squeeze for some reason.

 

[kBob]

GO to the CMP site and look at the info on reloading for the M-1 Carbine. Case length seems to make a real difference. One of those Lee case trimmers with a .30 Carbine guide should be in your future.

-kBob

 

[Bigdog57]

A buddy has the IJ M1 Carbine and a Plainfield - the Plainfield is clearly a better made gun. Both shoot well though.

I once had the IJ 22M1 Carbine in .22LR, an IJ stamped import of the Erma 22LR Carbine. Shot well once I repaired the worn recoil spring. Of course nothing in common with the 'real' M1 Carbines. Fun little rifle though. PO's me that it was stolen. A new magazine now costs more than that little carbine cost me.

 

[HOWARD J]

I have a 9 x 19 MM IJ carbine
The best part of it was the stock---plastic black--took it off & used it on a
regular M1 carbine--made a good looking rifle.
I had a lot of trouble with the Mag on it--it never worked right.
They destroyed a M1 carbine to make that junk weapon.
The parts have sat on one of my work benches for about 25 years--
probably never will get back to them

 

[loose noose]

I was wondering is there any place that that a guy could get the M-2 magazine followers for the 15 round mags? K-bob, I ordered the Lee case length trimmer gauge, along with the dies by Hornady.