Price check on a couple of M1 Carbines please

[mrstang01]

I was visiting a gunshop today, and they have two M1 Carbines FS.

One was a Quality Hardware parts gun with Winchester stock and barrel, original cartouches on stock for $650. The other is a Winchester with original barrel but all other parts are later additions, including an M2 stock, price on it was $595.

Are these reasonable prices, or should I hold off?

Thanks,

 

[FPrice]

Those would be good prices up here in the People's Commonwealth in a gun store. I had a Quality brand M-1 and it was pretty good. Between the two I think I'd go with the Winchester. Assuming they are in good shape.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I hadn't kept up with the M1 carbine market in over 8 years and was shocked at the prices that were being asked for them at a gun shop two weekends ago. I'm glad I bought mine in 1993-94 for only $129-149 each. They are really fun guns and I love both of mine. My wife loves shooting them, too. I remember that M2 parts were quite plentiful back then. I happened to see several M2 bolts, a couple of slides, and a few other parts...like selector switches. I was amazed at the high prices on the parts, too, like....$95 for an M2 bolt!

 

[ScottsGT]

That Winchester sounds like a good price if it is not an Import, as mine is. Stamped on the barrel: "Blue Sky Imports" At least they did not stamp the receiver! Usually, knock $100 off for an import. Did'nt matter to me, it's still a USGI Carbine, just went elsewhere before it was brought home.

 

[joegerardi]

What Scott said. The prices aren't bad if they're not imports.

Quality Hardware manufactured just shy of 360,000 Carbines, less than half of what Winchester made. If you ever decide to return it to "as-issued" state with all QH parts, you might be hard-pressed to find them. Contrary, because it's a slightly more rare rifle, it's value is higher.

I have an Underwood Feb. '44, and I just love the thing. The quest to return it to its origonal state is a combination of a scavenger hunt and a research project at the same time.

Good luck, whichever you decide.

..Joe

 

[M2 Carbine]

From what I've seen at the guns shows lately, $500+ will get you a shooter and $600+ will get you a fairly decent looking rifle.

One of the beauties of the Carbine is it's as simple as dirt. Break or wear out a part, stick another in and keep on shooting.

When I did a lot of FA Carbine shooting I had a big zip lock bag full of broken and worn out parts, even a cracked receiver.

I still keep a lot of spare extractors, bolts, slides, etc.


BTW, Kramer mentioned M2 parts. There's about a half dozen parts that the ATF considers an illegal M2, if you have all of them in your possession, even if you don't have a Carbine.

Two parts that have NO use in an M1 Carbine are the Selector Switch and Disconnector.
To be on the safe side do not own these two parts and you will not accidently own an illegal M2 Carbine, no matter what other M2 parts are in your rifle.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

M2 Carbine stated - "Two parts that have NO use in an M1 Carbine are the Selector Switch and Disconnector. To be on the safe side do not own these two parts and you will not accidently own an illegal M2 Carbine, no matter what other M2 parts are in your rifle."


Yes, I believe there are 7 parts that will get you in deep trouble, really quick, whether you actually have am M1 rifle or not. And, as stated, those two parts are definite "no-nos". I do like an M2 bolt, though. I prefer the heaftier weight of it. I like to think that the heavier weight of a standard M1 slide and the M2 bolt slow the speed of the recoil/reloading sequence and helps reduce some fatigue. Not too sure if this is correct, but I like to think it does....I really like those old M1s. I wish I could afford an original paratrooper stock, but, one day, I may break down and buy a reproduction for one of my rifles.

 

[M2 Carbine]

And a third part that has no use in the M1 Carbine is the trip lever but I have found these in M1's.

The Trip Lever has a central pivot pin that replaces the Trigger Housing pin.

So, about in the 80's it wasn't too uncommon to find a Carbine with an M2 Slide and Trip Leaver.

I even found one Carbine that had all the M2 parts except the Selector, so it was legal.

A nice haul of parts for my M2.

BTW some of the other FA M2 parts, that are routinely used in M1's are, hammer, sear, slide, bolt and trigger housing.

Like I said there's no problem having any or all of these parts.
Just don't have the two that you have no use for anyhow, the Selector and Disconnector.

 

[greg531mi]

I think the prices will come down. I also bought in the early 90's, one for $200 with 2 stocks, and one for $65. FMJ ammo, isn't bad in price, but the softpoints and hollowpoints are expensive. Glad I reload!!!