Saginaw M1 Carbine I got from Century

[Flyboy73]

I finally got the Saginaw SG M1 carbine from Century cleaned up and thought I post the details and PICS

I live in the Saginaw area and go by the plant where they were made all the time. So thought I would grab one of these, and maybe get another when the CMP sells them in 2009.

It had some surface rust, which most of it cleaned up. There was some pitting on the side of the operating slide spring hole on the receiver and a little on the trigger housing. None of which can be seen without taking the stock off.

The barrel was dirty, but cleaned up pretty good. I think there may still be a little crud in there, which should clean up with a few more cleanings. Not a prefect bore but should be a shooter.

The stock is a walnut M2 pot belly stock and a 4 hole handguard. I cleaned them with TCP and lightly sanded them and finished them with Casey gunstock oil.

It has a Saginaw SG receiver 322**** SN
Saginaw SG barrel
"JMO" late barrel Band and Bayonet lug
Rock-OLA operating slide
Early "IO" flat bolt
"W" Hammer
"SG" trigger
"RIA" sear
"SA" rear sight
"II" firing pin
"R" extractor
Unknown mark on trigger housing, look like a house with some writing I can't read in it.

"AI" Magazine, I think this a new magazine (auto ordnance?), its not the same finish as the GI mags I got from Numerich. The AI mag would not feed properly and would not drop cleanley when realeses. I put one the GI mags and works great.

Not sure what the IO,R, II, and JMO marks mean. Anyone? I assume the SA is Springfield armory, W is Winchester, and RIA is rock island arsenal.

Of course it has the century import mark on the barrel.

I did change the buttplate with the one i got with my CMP inland. I had this one extra and the one that came with it was pretty bad.


Brion

 

[jrfoxx]

Thats awesome.I really want to get one of the Saginaw M1's, as I grew up in Saginaw (lived there 21 years) and my dad was an engineer with GM at Steering Gear for 35 years.Nice looking gun BTW.It has lots of good "character" marks.Congrats.

 

[jefnvk]

How much did that run, and do they still have them? I'm still waiting around for Century to get their heads out of their butts and give me a dealer logon.

I'm want a Saginaw as well. Lived up the road from it, and a few people in my family have worked there over the years.

 

[Flyboy73]

I paid $579 for it. I think they still have some as i got a list of new prices for them. I guess they changed on how they graded them.

Brion

 

[jrfoxx]

If they still have them, I'll have to find a way to get some overtime at work.I want a carbine, and if I get one it REALLY needs to be a Saginaw, for the reasons explained above.Curse this gun habit for making me work... and overtime at that, ugh!

 

[GarandOwner]

If your really interested in what all the parts mean, get yourself a copy of us m1 carbines, wartime production by Craig Riesch. Only about 15 bucks and has lots of good information about the production and pieces. It is concidered the collectors bible for the M1 carbine, it will tell you what all each part is, and what you should have for a "correct" carbine.

Unknown mark on trigger housing, look like a house with some writing I can't read in it.

Its an Inland

"AI" Magazine, I think this a new magazine (auto ordnance?)

This is also Inland

Your bolt (IO) and firing pin (II) are also Inland

Barrel band, sight and sear are post war replacements

Hammer is winchester, trigger is Saginaw Gear and the extractor is Rock-Ola

I assume the SA is Springfield armory, W is Winchester, and RIA is rock island arsenal.

Yep, Springfield and Rock Island are parts made after WWII as replacements, they didnt make any durring the war

 

[Flyboy73]

The AI magzine looks refinished, not the same finish as my other WWII magazines. It dosn't fit well and will not feed good either.


Brion

 

[GarandOwner]

Original M1 carbine magazines were blued. Post WWII, and magazines refurbished after WWII are sometimes parkerized. There are still many laying around, so one in good condition is not that uncommon. (especially an Inland as they are the most common parts due to the large ammount produced)

 

[Flyboy73]

I think its parkerized. But as I said the mag will not drop free when released and will not feed properly.


Brion

 

[GarandOwner]

compare the size of that to your magazine that does work well, check to see if there are any dents or other misshapes that are interfering with a smooth release. ( Also looks like you need to grease the track of your operating rod. Garand Grease works good. )

 

[Flyboy73]

Will have to look at the mags and compare them. Something is messed up with the follower and the mag is not feeding right.

Haven't had a chance to grease her yet. The pics were taken after i got it back to together. Just a light coat of rust shealth on it right it know.

Brion

 

[ronin223]

AI magazines were inland, BUT there are alot of fake mags around, most or almost all fakes are 30 rounders. If it is AI and a 15 rounder it is original GI, os it must be damaged in some way. If it is a 30 rounder and AI and not working it is likely a fake, most fakes I've owed never worked well. There is a web site which helps you id fake mags but from what I can remember the fake AI had a skinny 'A' comparied to the originals.

 

[Flyboy73]

This is a 15 round mag. Think i figured out the follwer problem. Seems like the spring was not in right or was off. Took it apart and seems to feed better now.

Brion