I am brand new to the forum, and I'm glad I found you. I have long had an interest in the M1 carbine and I'm looking at one now to buy. I need some assistance with the markings and possibly a rough estimate on value. It is a National Postal Meter, serial # 146XXXX, with Underwood 12-42 stamped on the barrel. It has the CAI Georgia Vt. stamp on the underside of the barrel. The same serial # as on the barrel is imprinted into the left side of the stock. On the right side of the stock is the GHD over UEF with crossed cannons within a rectangle. The barrel band has "K I" stamped on it. There is no bayonet lug. Inside the slot in the left side of the stock appears to be the letter S, then 2 letters I can't make out, then a letter U. There are numerous dings in the stock, but it is not split anywhere. As I said, I'm completely new to this, and want have more knowledge about this M1. Thanks in advance.
New M1 Carbine -- and new to forum --question
- Thread starter D V Byrd
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A service grade National Postal Meter goes for $575 over at www.odcmp.com. Lots of speculators are buying those up to re-sell at shows and online gun auction boards like www.gunbroker.com. and www.auctionarms.com. I'd say the $575 is probably as cheap as you'll find a National Postal Meter M1 Carbine in the condition you describe. I do know there's a local sporting goods chain that sells all their surplus M1 Carbines for $999.99, but that's on the very high end.
Hope that helps, and welcome to THR.
Hope that helps, and welcome to THR.
GarandOwner
Member
Buy this:
http://www.amazon.com/Carbines-Wartime-Production-Revised-Expanded/dp/1882391438/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212112792&sr=8-2
This book is refered to as "the bible" by M1 carbine collectors. It will have everything you want to know about what each marking means (and if you really get into it, what parts are correct for the rifle as would have come at the time of manufacture) This book isnt about the history of the gun, it is about collecting the rifle, and what every marking under the sun on each part of the carbine means
As far as prices, they are pretty much controlled by how much CMP is selling for, when CMP runs out, the price will go up again. Lots are over priced, but personally I wouldnt pay more than $600-$700 for one, if you wait, you will find one at that price
http://www.amazon.com/Carbines-Wartime-Production-Revised-Expanded/dp/1882391438/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212112792&sr=8-2
This book is refered to as "the bible" by M1 carbine collectors. It will have everything you want to know about what each marking means (and if you really get into it, what parts are correct for the rifle as would have come at the time of manufacture) This book isnt about the history of the gun, it is about collecting the rifle, and what every marking under the sun on each part of the carbine means
As far as prices, they are pretty much controlled by how much CMP is selling for, when CMP runs out, the price will go up again. Lots are over priced, but personally I wouldnt pay more than $600-$700 for one, if you wait, you will find one at that price
Sunray
Member
"...CAI Georgia Vt..." Imported by Century Arms International. Imports have far less value than an issue piece. No collector value at all.
"...left side of the stock..." Likely done by Century. Issue carbines don't have the S/N on the stock.
"...left side of the stock..." Likely done by Century. Issue carbines don't have the S/N on the stock.
Thank you for the replies. This M1 carbine is priced at $595. I am buying it for personal and sentimental reasons, but I am somewhat concerned about the collectors' value. Does the fact that it was imported by CAI and stamped on the stock with the serial # greatly reduce its value?
$595 sounds like a decent price. People say that import marks lessen value, and collectability. That said, most guns have been rearsenaled at some point, unless they are a war bring back, so I wouldn't let the fact that it's import stop me from purchasing. The value will still only go up in the future, and you will find no shortage of willing buyers. In regard to the serial number on the stock, I've read that those were imported from Israel. I have one like that. Sounds also from the markings that you describe on the stock, that you have an Underwood, WWII era stock on the gun, which I think is much more desirable than the later pot belly stocks. Ultimately, no it won't be as collectable, or as valuable as an unaltered piece, but that said, the M1 Carbine refurbs are still collectable in their own right.
Issue carbines don't have the S/N on the stock.
This was probaly done by whatever country was using it. I have a 03 from CMP that was a Greek return with the last 4 of the sn on the stock. I've seen this done in many countries on different weapons.
This was probaly done by whatever country was using it. I have a 03 from CMP that was a Greek return with the last 4 of the sn on the stock. I've seen this done in many countries on different weapons.
dmftoy1
Member
What type of rear sight does it have on it? is it a flip up or a stamped adjustable rear sight?
No bayonet lug is a good thing to collectors as the bayonet lugs were added after WWII. The CAI thing will negatively impact "collectability" but there are a ton of other things that may or may not have a bigger impact. (The book that was recommended is a good one) You can download a sheet to "inventory" every part on the gun from the guys in the forums over on http://www.odcmp.com. That and the book should give you a good idea of how "original" the gun is.
Good Luck! (and post some pictures of it. )
Have a good one,
Dave
No bayonet lug is a good thing to collectors as the bayonet lugs were added after WWII. The CAI thing will negatively impact "collectability" but there are a ton of other things that may or may not have a bigger impact. (The book that was recommended is a good one) You can download a sheet to "inventory" every part on the gun from the guys in the forums over on http://www.odcmp.com. That and the book should give you a good idea of how "original" the gun is.
Good Luck! (and post some pictures of it.
)Have a good one,
Dave
Dave Markowitz
Member
Century Arms (CAI) recently imported a number of M1 Carbines from Israel, to whom they'd been supplied as foreign aid. The Israelis used them as weapons for police and school guards. They probably stamped the s/n on the stock. I have an Underwood imported from Israel with a similar stamping.
The gun was originally made by National Postal Meter. The barrel was made by Underwood-Elliot-Fisher, the typewriter manufacturer. The "barrel may be original to the gun or it may be a replacement. There's no way to be sure.
The "GHD over UEF with crossed cannons within a rectangle" is a US Army Ordnance inspection cartouche.
To say that it has no collector's value isn't accurate. All US martial arms have some collector's value, as long as they haven't been bubbafied. It doesn't have the same value as a pristine, all correct, no-import-marking Carbine, but it has some collector's value. The value will only go up. $595 is a reasonable 2008 price for a GI M1 Carbine, assuming it's in good functioning condition with no rust.
The gun was originally made by National Postal Meter. The barrel was made by Underwood-Elliot-Fisher, the typewriter manufacturer. The "barrel may be original to the gun or it may be a replacement. There's no way to be sure.
The "GHD over UEF with crossed cannons within a rectangle" is a US Army Ordnance inspection cartouche.
To say that it has no collector's value isn't accurate. All US martial arms have some collector's value, as long as they haven't been bubbafied. It doesn't have the same value as a pristine, all correct, no-import-marking Carbine, but it has some collector's value. The value will only go up. $595 is a reasonable 2008 price for a GI M1 Carbine, assuming it's in good functioning condition with no rust.
dmftoy1
Member
Looks to me like you've got a post war gun or a post war refurbish. I can't tell for sure from the pictures but it looks like you've got a walnut stock with ALOT of character . .if that's the case then I'd say you''ve got a really nice one.
Have a good one,
Dave
Have a good one,
Dave
bannockburn
Member
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- Apr 24, 2007
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D V Byrd
While your carbine may not hold strong collectors value because of its importers marks, the fact that it's a National Postal Meter carbine does make it one of the less common manufacturers types within total carbine production. NPM only produced a little over 413,000 carbines, or about 7% of total production. Compare that with the Inland Division of General Motors which produced over 2,632,000 carbines and you can see why the NPM products are not encountered as much. NPM did not make carbine barrels; most were supplied by Underwood-Elliot-Fisher. In fact many of the carbine manufacturers produced very few of their own component parts, with most of them coming from a well organized and managed network of sub-contractors. From these sources, the 10 prime contractors were responsible for the construction, assembly, and delivery of the M1 carbine to the government.
While your carbine may not hold strong collectors value because of its importers marks, the fact that it's a National Postal Meter carbine does make it one of the less common manufacturers types within total carbine production. NPM only produced a little over 413,000 carbines, or about 7% of total production. Compare that with the Inland Division of General Motors which produced over 2,632,000 carbines and you can see why the NPM products are not encountered as much. NPM did not make carbine barrels; most were supplied by Underwood-Elliot-Fisher. In fact many of the carbine manufacturers produced very few of their own component parts, with most of them coming from a well organized and managed network of sub-contractors. From these sources, the 10 prime contractors were responsible for the construction, assembly, and delivery of the M1 carbine to the government.
my-rifle
Member
DV Byrd, from the looks of it your stock is beautiful. My Saginaw, which I bought for $500 is heavily dinged, though functionally it's fine. I think you did well with your purchase.
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