M1 Paratrooper

[bottlerocket]

I've been searching for a Paratrooper version of an M1 Carbine and haven't had much luck. I read some reviews of the Auto Ord M1 Carbine and most of them basically say to avoid it and go for the real deal because there isn't much price difference. Unfortunately those reviews are for the M1 Carbine with the fixed stock, not the Paratrooper version. The sole reason for my interest in the Paratrooper model is due to the fact that my late Grandfather was in the 101st in WWII and jumped into France with one on his leg, so I would like to find one before they are entirely impossible to acquire. The price difference between the real and clone of the fixed stock is a couple hundred at most, but the Paratrooper versions I have seen on gunbroker for the better part of $3000. While authenticity means a whole lot to me, I can't at this point bring myself to drop that kind of coin on a firearm.

Does anyone know of any other viable options? Perhaps get an Inland M1 carbine and get a replica Paratrooper stock for it? Not sure if that would even work, so anyone with experience of these rifles I'd greatly appreciate some input.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

You can still find the Italian import folding stocks around gun shows from time to time for around $400 and throw it on any carbine if manufacturer accuracy isn't an issue with you - and It shouldn't be with the Italian stock.

The differences in the stocks are negligible.

 

[rori]

One other note: I believe that the paratrooper folding stocks were on M2 carbines. You might want to check that out before you get too worried about historic accuracy. FRJ

 

[bottlerocket]

I'm not entirely worried about the composition (manufacturer, date, etc), I just want to get something that looks, feels and shoots like what he had.

 

[ken grant]

Way back in the 60's, myself and a lot others bought carbines from the DCM and they all came with the folding stocks.

A friend of mine made a lot of money by offering to trade standard stocks for the folders and then a few yrs. later sold the folders for much more than the standards cost.

 

[bottlerocket]

He have any laying around still?

 

[Carl N. Brown]

You can still find the Italian import folding stocks around gun shows from time to time for around $400

I paid $80 for mine. I have seen them recently listed for ~$180.
Sarco lists one: http://e-sarcoinc.com/m1m2carbineparatrooperstock.aspx
(Cheaper Than Dirt and The Sportsmans Guide are currently sold out)

In WWII only the semi-auto M1 Carbine was offered in the M1A1 stock. As guns were rebuilt, M1A1 stocked M1 carbines received M1 or M2 stocks, and M2 Carbines were occasionally restocked in M1A1 stocks. WHB Smith "Small Arms of the World" 1966 showed an M2 carbine in the M1A1 stock. Given the mix and match nature of arsenal rebuilds, almost any manufacturer carbine could end up with an M1A1 stock by the time of the VietNam War.

The current AutoOrdnance repro is accurate for WWII D-Day: the "L" flip rear sight, and plain barrel band (without bayonet lug) with MSRP of ~$900.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I think the newer less expensive ones are nice too. Many are knock offs of the Italian version as is shown in how the 3-4 variations of the Italian one is recreated in the cheaper versions but in a xerox of a xerox way. Still great place holders in a collection though.

 

[VA27]

I have a 5-digit Inland in the correct serial range that I put in a SARCO stock some years back. I haven't seen the new batch of SARCO stocks, but if they are as good as the earlier ones, they're quality.

 

[MJD]

If I were in your shoes, I'd pick up a shooter grade carbine and go for the SARCO stock.

It's likely that the most affordable carbines will have the type III barrel band, flip safety, adjustable sights, and other later-war features.

Once you acquire the carbine, you can switch out the later-war features at your discretion and leisure.

 

[madcratebuilder]

If I were in your shoes, I'd pick up a shooter grade carbine and go for the SARCO stock.

It's likely that the most affordable carbines will have the type III barrel band, flip safety, adjustable sights, and other later-war features.

Once you acquire the carbine, you can switch out the later-war features at your discretion and leisure.

+1

This is the reasonable solution. Real paratrooper stocks are ridiculously priced. There are different grades of repro stocks, and you can have the leather and rivets changed to look original.

I had a real stock in the parts box for years and finally found a nice Inland that has cheap because it had a nasty stock. Mated together they are nice, fun the shoot.

 

[carbine85]

One other note: I believe that the paratrooper folding stocks were on M2 carbines. You might want to check that out before you get too worried about historic accuracy. FRJ

The Paratroopers are the standard M1 carbine. The original paratrooper stocks didn't have the selector switch cut-out. A authentic good stock will sell for mote than $1100.00.

 

[bannockburn]

bottlerocket

I would go with a repo stock on a mil-spec M1 carbine as well. If all you want is a shooter for reenacting or plinking with, this would be the way to go.

For many years now there have been a great number of M1A1 forgeries out there that have been passed off as being genuine and all original. Be extra careful if you are considering going the original G.I. issue route.

 

[MJD]

One other thought for going the SARCO route--I notice many USGI carbines with the barrel/op rod/bolt/trigger in relatively good shape, while the stock is dinged and dented from handling and storage in armory racks. I'd keep an eye out for these carbines--you might get a little better price on the carbine because of the poor stock condition.

 

[dprice3844444]

http://www.hayesotoupalik.com/U.S. Military Holsters.htm

check shotgun news,there have been several outfits making repro paratrooper leg holsters for the m1a1 carbines

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/reproduction-us-wwii-paratrooper-m1-carbine-case.aspx?a=490287

 

[bottlerocket]

Awesome! I'll try to find one with a junker stock to swap out.

Those holsters look awesome too!