M1 Carbine

[evolve23]

I'm quickly learning that the prices for M1 Carbines run anywhere from the $400 to $1200 range. All of what I see on CMP right now is in the $1100 range. I really like these rifles for both the historical significance and the defensive capability.

Will a $500 rifle perform well? Are you paying for the rarity of manufacturer/ date/locale for the more expensive models?

 

[GLShooter]

The $$ on a Carbine are a crap shoot. Most of the time you are paying for the manufacturers brand, the parts type and the overall appearance. The barrel is the big issue and some old beaters shoot the lights out compared to the more pristine ones.

Remember most of these guns have been reworked so the barrel may be in a lot better shape for wear than the rest of the gun. I've got three of them that cost from $250 up to $600 (before prices went nuts) they all shoot the same with adequate performance. No bench rest Rolfe's but fun guns to shoot. I'm going to re-barrel one in 5.7 Johnson if I ever get off my tail and get it sent off!! LOL

Good luck and shoot the snot out of what ever you get.

Greg

 

[robgard]

I have a Inland M-1 carbine that I picked up in the 60's when they were plentiful. I wish I would have bought a dozen of them I gave $45.00 for it. It will feed and shoot anything you put it. Reloads to military ammo.

 

[Orlando]

What you see CMP selling are collector carbines not regular shooters.
A good condition USGI carbine should cost you no more than $600.00- $700.00 max

 

[cuervo]

What the CMP is selling now comes down to three categories, all of which make them expensive:
1. M1A1 paratroopers
2. Bavarian Police or similar
3. Odds and ends because they've run out of carbines and don't have enough to sell on the regular sales page so they're on auction. These might be a regular carbine, a renumbered one, or something with the original flip sight.

I can't remember the last time I saw a GI carbine for less than $500. Avoid Universal, Plainfield, Iver-Johnson, and anything else that isn't GI. Some may work, but not worth the risk unless you get a chance to test it and the price is really good.

If we can get the ones from Korea into the US, prices should be good because of how many there are, but Koreans were not known for taking care of their rifles. Hopefully these are not the same rifles that CMP didn't want a few years ago because they were in such bad shape.

 

[rellascout]

A good condition USGI carbine should cost you no more than $600.00- $700.00 max

The "should" is a bit tricky in this statement. You will find them for this but look around of GB and other places you will find that most of the guns in this range are not USGI guns. They are Iver Johnson, AO and other Non-USGI guns.

These days it seems like $700 is a starting point.

 

[GLShooter]

Thia is my last DCM carbine. National Postal Meter. It is a Service Grade and I paid $575 in 2008. I got a rack grade Inland the year before for $419.00



Greg

The Garands I got in the early 80's were $138 each!! LOL

 

[rellascout]

Believe it or not Saving Private Ryan really jacked up the prices for WWII USGI guns like the M1 Carbine and M1 Garand.

 

[carbine85]

You will be hard pressed to find a good GI Carbine for $500.00. These days guys are paying $400+ for commercial carbines and gun show carbines are going for $675-$800. Check out Auctionarms.com There are too many bidders on Gunbroker.com and all they do is drive up the price. Don't forget to add in the shipping and transfer fee you get stuck with.

 

[38 Super Fan]

Ugh, Carbine prices really did go crazy a few years ago, they seem to have held steady lately, still really high though. I've lost all interest in them, wouldn't mind selling one of mine actually. Originality and condition are among the biggest factors in Carbine prices, also the more rare GI manufacturers will command a premium. It's impossible to say whether a $500 gun will work for you or not.

 

[FMJMIKE]

A good USGI M1 Carbine will run you $700 to $900 nowadays. You might luck out and get a cheaper one but be sure to check for muzzle wear before you purchase one. The original flip sight M1 Carbines are selling for close to $3000 lately. Prices have jumped since the CMP is out of all except auction Carbines.

 

[ifit]

as much as i wanted an original m1 carbine, the price is outa reach for me right now. so i decided on the commercial version which will be a range gun etc.. its a universal 3rd gen, not as popular as the original but at $300 bucks sure is a great shooter
before

after

 

[Old Time Hunter]

Interesting, just found the receipt from the farmer, from whom I purchased two..yep 2, Underwood WWII M1 carbines for the grand amount of $45.00 US dollars on November 18th, 1984. Ladies and Gents that comes to a whopping $22.50 each! After cleaning they were in absolutely perfect condition minus a few handling/battle scars. Sold one in 1992 for $233.00 to a gun shop that specializes in military arms, still have the other. In fact this past weekend I used it and a 1917 M96 Gustav Swedish Mauser coyote hunting. Absolutely great gun for 'yotes. I would not take less than $899.99USD for it, nope not a cent less...

Still has the original sling too, four 15 round clips, two thirty round clips...the old farmer said he accidently discovered them in a box he had sent home from Europe right after the war.

 

[evolve23]

Thanks all for the info. I didn't realize prices had gone up so much recently. I feel cheated - I didn't get into firearms until a couple of years ago, and there aren't any deals to be found anymore!

 

[shootr]

Sure there are! Just the merchandise is different. Plenty of Moisins out there... for now.

 

[ulflyer]

Evolve23: if you're interested in a good shooter with an import mark on the barrel in the $600 range, get in touch with me.

 

[Orlando]

I receintly sold a beautiful Non Import Underwood Carbine with perfect parkerizing, stock and barrel
$700.00, there are deals out there you just have to look

 

[Flash!]

has any bought one of the M1 Carbines that SOG is currently selling? I'm curious what kind of condition those are in before I buy one.

 

[Orlando]

How much is SOG selling their carbines for?
My password with them expired and I never sent info back to them to reregister my Curio Relics Licenese.
Thanks

 

[RP88]

if you go on gunbroker, you can find people selling M1Cs from $450-600 quite often and in good shape. Check there. I scored an Austrian Civil Police loan for $538 a little over a year ago. I imagine the deals are still there.

 

[Flash!]

SOG is asking $695 for most brands..... and $845 for a Winchester

 

[Maverick223]

I love my M1 Carbine, and i'm not alone, everyone that shoots mine wants to keep it. The brand doesn't matter much as long as it is USGI. I would stay away from the early Universals (the early ones are okay and were mostly made from surplus parts). I had a friend that had his fire OOB and disassemble itself (luckily he came out better than the rifle).

IIRC I paid $700.00 for my NPM/Union Switch & Signal a couple years back, and it was 100% worth it.

 

[il_10]

Don't worry about the appearance. Wood can be refinished, metal can be reparked. Worry about the headspacing and the bore. I recently bought a, from what I can tell, mostly original (reciever, lower, bbl) 43 IBM M1 carbine in unbelievable condition for less than $600. It was at some point rearsenaled, but the park is good and it's a great shooter.

There are a couple things that I think factored in to me getting this deal. The front site post was too short, the piston screw wasn't seated, the action didn't properly fit the stock, and the stock was beat up wayyyy bad. I figure whoever had it couldn't get it to shoot reliably or hit anything with it and wanted it gone.
Having recently built an m1 carbine, I had no problem fixing all of this for the price of the front site, some sand paper, and some linseed oil. These guns are easy to mix and match, and super easy to work on (unless you're going into the bolt). Do your research and try to catch a fixer-upper.

 

[TheGrimReaper]

I got a Plainfield and love the little bugger. I want another Carbine.

 

[Dion]

I have a old USGI M1 Carbine, given to me from my father-in-law that I restored. Beautiful gun and shoots well.