M1 Carbine info needed

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bratch

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I ran a search but Carbine is a popular word.:)

We have a friend who owns a pawn shop and I do believe he had one sitting in his safe. My grandpa asked about it and he said $250 for it. Of course there could have been lots of confusion in this as well with the conversations happening at different times.

Is $250 good?
Anything to watch out for?

Thanks
 
um, where is this pawn shop? LOL

From what I have seen, that is about 50% of the avgerage cost of low-end reproductions or beat up GI models.
 
What would be considered a low end repro?

Will USGI be marked US prop. or what not?

Thanks
 
If it's a "Universal" this is a normal price.

If it's USGI (Remington, Winchester, IBM, Rock-Ola, National Postal Meter, etc) this price is a steal unless it's a complete piece of junk.
 
Repros include Universal and Plainfield and Iver Johnson. The Iver is probably the best of the three. IAI also makes them now and they look OK, but I've never shot one.

Like Mr. Murphy says, if it's GI, it's a steal. Jump on that puppy and bring it home. BTW, Saginaw (the steering gear division of GMC) also made them for the gubmint. Methinks that IBM also made some too.
 
IBM did also make some, because I've fired an IBM M-1 Carbine. My neighbor didn't even know about it until we cleaned his house. :rolleyes:


We've been cleaning more often. :D
 
Bratch, look under the rear sight for the manufacturer`s name. Sometimes it is difficult to see in entirety, but you will see enough letters of the name to determine the maker. If it IS a GI make, GRAB IT AND RUN!! That would be a great price.
 
Mfgs of USGI M1 Carbines and the quantity they produced are:

Winchester 828,000
Inland 2,632,000
Saginaw 517,000
Rock-Ola 228,000
National Postal Meter 413,000
IBM 346,000
Underwood 545,000
Quality Hardware 360,000
Standard Products 247,000
Irwin Pederson 4,000
 
Avoid the Universal, most GI parts won't always interchange. The new Kahr/Auto Ordnance model looks very, very nice, and USGI accurate.
 
Even if it's just a "Shooter", $250 is a Great price assuming bore is good and it operates well. If the owner is a friend he should allow you to shoot it before you buy?

A copy of my post re Carbines from another BB:

"But how do I tell an original WWII from one made after that?"

One thing to look for is the usualy, poorly cared for, re-import guns like "Blue Sky", etc. Like any other gun that comes back into the Country they have to be marked. On Carbines it's almost always stamped under the barrel close to the muzzle. Generally speaking import marked guns are selling for about $100.00 less than the equivelent.
Decent ones are around $400 to $500. If the one you mention is in good shape with a clean bore $300 is an exc. price!

These little carbines a Ton of fun to shoot!

Good info here:

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

Telling them apart:

http://users.adelphia.net/~dodge360/carbine.html

Good Carbine BB:

http://www.ambackforum.com/viewforu...76fc52a0c3ee45a
 
Not yet I screwed around the house all day :banghead: . Hopefully I can make a quick stop between hunting and eye appointment tomorrow.
 
Hi, Bratch. "...a friend..." Ask him about it. However, look behind the rear sight on the action. If it says 'Universal', ask if you can take the stock off. Look at the return spring. Action off the stock, then look at the underside of the action, if there's two 1/4" diameter springs going into the action, pass. If there's one, buy it. If it says 'Plainfield' behind the rear sight, buy it. If it says anything else behind the rear sight. Buy it. Except for the later two return spring Universals, $250 is a great price.
"...The Iver is probably the best of the three..." Nope. The Plainfield is the best. Iver Johnson bought Plainfield then made some rifles, but the best civilian copies are the original Plainfields.
And for a search? Search for 'M-1 Carbine'. Mind you, just the fact that you tried to do your own research if extremely refreshing.
Go here for M-1 Carbine forums.
http://www.jouster.com/
http://www.ambackforum.com/index.php?sid=5423d2a12e4cdf746be314b2b2880631
 
Heres the rest of the scoop. Went by the shop today and checked them out. They had 2: 1 with wood and one with sythentic stock. Both were Universal had another in pawn but they figured it would be picked up didn't catch its maker.

Sunray: I've been playing on forums (paintball) for years now and have learned the power of the search. However sometimes its hard to get the results you need.

I'll look into the springs. Not sure if they will want me to take apart the guns but I'll see.
 
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