M1 Carbine Question

[Wireman]

All the photos I've seen of M1 Carbines include a wood fore end cover, a short piece of wood, matching the stock's fore end that mounts on the top of the barrel. I have an M1 Carbine of unknown origin that only has a stamped metal plate in the same position. Would any M1C experts know about this alternate version? Thank you.

Wireman

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

Some of the commercial ones came with the metal barrel shroud instead of the wooden handguard that was on the GI models. Some folks swapped them out on GI models.

 

[Uncle Nubbs]

Universal had a stamped metal hand guard on some of their later models. Tell me this... Is there a cut out where the bolt cams on the charging handle? Double recoil springs?

 

[Speedo66]

Was the perforated metal hand guard an actual production item for the folding stock M2 version, or a tacticool aftermarket piece?

 

[Panzerschwein]

An "M1C" is a sniper rifle variant of the M1 Garand.

Just saying.

 

[Gun Master]

Inland M-1 Carbine and Enforcer Handgun

I think this thread leaves it open for any M-1 Carbine question, so what is the experience of the owners of the Inland M-1 Carbine and/or Enforcer ?

Are they any good or not worth the money ?

 

[1KPerDay]

I tried a stamped and ventilated handguard on one of my carbines but it obscured the sights. They didn't stamp the groove deep enough

 

[Jimster]

Do you mean the new made Inland Mfg M1 carbine?

 

[Tommygunn]

Was the perforated metal hand guard an actual production item for the folding stock M2 version, or a tacticool aftermarket piece?

The M-2 was a select-fire version of the weapon and was not produced with a folding stock. That was the paratrooper version.
No WW2 carbine was ever made with a ventilated metal handguard, those were modern aftermarket items or were used on commercially made M 1 carbines.

 

[Gun Master]

Inland Carbine and HG

Yes. I checked on their issuance of new production months ago, and ran into a brick wall.
Any info ?

 

[Jimster]

I returned my Inland Mfg carbine twice because it wouldn't feed the rounds unless I had only 2 or 3 rounds in the magazine. A full magazine wouldn't load or cycle at all. First they replaced the bolt. The second time the replaced the entire receiver/barrel assembly. Still have the same issue. I'm pretty sure it's the magazine holding on too tightly when it's full. I've lost heart and haven't bothered shooting it anymore since then. Some day I'll get a good Korean made magazine and try that. I think a $1049.00 carbine should run flawlessly with the factory supplied mags. The guys at the factory are friendly but never fixed the issue.

 

[Gun Master]

Such a shame !
Thanks Jim.

 

[Wireman]

I know there are a lot of M1 Carbine variants, including fakes and so forth. The stamp just to the rear of the rear sight is unreadable, almost like someone filed it off, but the parkerizing is intact. This rifle has one action spring and the bolt looks identical to most photos I've seen. Here is what the fore end looks like.









-WM

 

[Carl N. Brown]

If the left side is drilled and tapped for a side scope mount, it could be one of the commercial Universal carbines made when they were still using surplus GI receivers.

Markings on original GI receivers were often covered by the adjustable rear sight that replaced the original "L" shaped flipper sight. Sometimes - not always - the markings were restamped.

If markings are not legible, I would say that was because the gun was polished and refinished at some point. I would not say it was because someone tried to file them off.

 

[Sunray]

"...a stamped metal plate..." Commercial of some flavour. Never seen one like it myself. Possibly a home made guard.
The stamped hand guards were on Plainfields and Universals.
"...returned my Inland Mfg. carbine..." Mag issue. Try opening the lips a tick with fine, long, needle nosed pliers. Or an issue mag.
A $1049.00 carbine should shoot and clean itself.

 

[Wireman]

Thanks Carl, the receiver is drilled and tapped for a scope, which I have. That description gives me an idea of what this is...too bad they ditched the wood. That was part of the classic look of the M1 Carbine.

I'm betting this thing has not been shot or cleaned in 50 years. After replacing the gas piston and cleaning out the crud in the cylinder, the bolt won't go into battery. The extractor won't snap over the case rim. It moves, but with great effort. Waiting for a bolt tool so I can clean it out and have a better look. That and a new action spring should do it.

Thanks to everyone for the comments.

WM

 

[rondog]

My Plainfield M1 came with a stamped steel handguard, but I believe it's slotted for ventilation. It's stashed away somewhere, the carbine has an aluminum Ultimak handguard on it. Which is an awesome upgrade, by the way!

 

[lemaymiami]

If you're lucky the commercial carbine you have is a Plainfield (they were pretty much the best of the older commercial carbines -ceasing production in the early seventies - mostly made of USGI parts except for that ventilated upper hand guard and the stock. Their production was all in New Jersey). After they ceased production they were picked up by Iver Johnson -but the quality went downhill from there. Go to this site for additional info on commercial carbines, then look up Plainfield, Universal, Iver Johnson, etc. http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/ This site is pretty much the best source of info I've found about them (and I have a Plainfield).

For currently made commercial carbines the only one I'd ever be interested in is the one that Fulton Armory produces. Yes, it's a bit pricey -but one of their carbines was used to set record scores last year at national carbine shooting events.... Most that value carbines prefer the old USGI versions -but these days you can purchase a Plainfield for less than half what vintage carbines sell for.... I'd avoid "New Inland" at all costs since I've seen bad things revealed about them by folks who purchased one and found it not very reliable at all (understatement...).

 

[mf-dif]

My Iver Johnson has a metal ventilated upper hand guard. They used to sell them a while back everywhere. Even on amazon.

 

[bannockburn]

I had a Universal M1 carbine back in the '70s and it had a wood handguard on it. I think I paid $100 for it and it worked okay even though it wasn't mil-spec. The Plainfield carbines were closer to the original M1 Carbine design and they did come with ventilated metal handguards.

Too bad to hear that about the new Inland carbines; I was thinking about getting one of their M1A1 models.

 

[Jimster]

I honestly think that Inland Mfg just has crappy magazines. My carbine runs like a scalded dog as long as I don't fill the mag to its capacity. I still need to get some quality mags and then I'll update the situation.

 

[phil dirt]

If you have a decent mag you should be able to fill it to capacity and it should feed all rounds with no problem. Get a US GI or one of the Korean mags that are available on various websites and see if that doesn't take care of the issue. If it doesn't, you might even try a different trigger group assembly from Fulton Armory.

 

[loose noose]

I've got the Iver Johnson M-1 Carbine, that I recently purchased a walnut stock and walnut hand guard. believe me if the carbine hadn't been completely reliable I wouldn't have given it a second thought. I bought some magazines for it on line and they work really well too. Thought I had it on my favorites but I don't. Anyway they are the Korean magazines and I haven't had a problem with the 15 or 30 round mags. I prefer the 30 round mags as they are designed to hold the bolt open on the last shot. Note I do load the magazines to full capacity on both the 15 and the 30. I've shot well over a 1000 rounds thru it and it has yet to malfunction.

 

[Speedo66]

I was pleasantly surprised to find the 30rd Korean mags from AIM Surplus worked flawlessly in my WWII Underwood carbine. At $13 a pop they're a great value.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I have an M1 carbine stock question myself. I'm pretty sure of the answer, but was there ever a factory made M1 carbine with a Mannlicher style stock, or would it be entirely aftermarket? There's a nice looking carbine on the used rack of the LGS for around $900 sitting in a very pretty full length Mannlicher style stock. I haven't taken a closer look at it to see who manufactured it, though.