M1 Carbine advice

Jd2020 · Dec 23, 2020

I’m meeting a guy tomorrow to possibly buy his m1. It’s milsurp not a repro. The stock has a large chip of wood reglued by the receiver. The wood is very dark and seems oil rubbed etc., not like varnish. The original rear sight is replaced with a cheap red dot, but he has the original sight. Says it operates well/shoots fine. Several mags alongside.
I haven’t seen the stamping on barrel, don’t know manufacturer. Loose price discussion, under $1k , more than $500 as far as we got on price.

I’m looking it over and shooting it. What specifically should I look for?

I have a couple gun -a -year budget. I can’t get everything.
I’ve been trying to decide on a pistol caliber rifle lately and stumbled into this seller through an acquaintance. I was looking at beretta storm carbine etc, vs lever gun in 357etc. Considerations: 1) can deer hunt with straight walled 2) HDefense gun 3) maybe...cowboy action shooting. 4) are the marxists in Annapolis gonna ban pcc semis? Obviously the lever would cover more bases than a pcc like the storm/scorpio.
Then I had to meet this guy! I’ve always wanted an m1.
I’m basically figuring if I get a good deal on a sound gun I’ll buy the m1 tomorrow. Thoughts/ advice? Thanks

Melnic · Dec 23, 2020

Does 30 Carbine have the minimum energy rating for Deer in MD?
30 carbine is not known for stopping power

I'd get him to put the original sight back on.

WarPig68 · Dec 23, 2020

Jd2020 said:
I’m meeting a guy tomorrow to possibly buy his m1. It’s milsurp not a repro. The stock has a large chip of wood reglued by the receiver. The wood is very dark and seems oil rubbed etc., not like varnish. The original rear sight is replaced with a cheap red dot, but he has the original sight. Says it operates well/shoots fine. Several mags alongside.
I haven’t seen the stamping on barrel, don’t know manufacturer. Loose price discussion, under $1k , more than $500 as far as we got on price.

I’m looking it over and shooting it. What specifically should I look for?

I have a couple gun -a -year budget. I can’t get everything.
I’ve been trying to decide on a pistol caliber rifle lately and stumbled into this seller through an acquaintance. I was looking at beretta storm carbine etc, vs lever gun in 357etc. Considerations: 1) can deer hunt with straight walled 2) HDefense gun 3) maybe...cowboy action shooting. 4) are the marxists in Annapolis gonna ban pcc semis? Obviously the lever would cover more bases than a pcc like the storm/scorpio.
Then I had to meet this guy! I’ve always wanted an m1.
I’m basically figuring if I get a good deal on a sound gun I’ll buy the m1 tomorrow. Thoughts/ advice? Thanks

As a Milsurp guy, I’d say take the carbine as long as you are comfortable with the price. Original GI stocks aren’t very much if you want to replace that broken one you’ve described. My advice would be to be sure that his red dot addition didn’t permanently mar or change the receiver. Also, keep an eye on the maker. You could be getting a really nice rare maker for a good price if you play your cards right. The maker and serial will be on the top of the receiver right behind the rear sight.

Does it have the bayonet lug? Flip safety? Original sling? Some things to consider...

To your question about Annapolis, if you already have it.. shouldn’t be an issue if they ban PCCs.

Carbines are really awesome guns both historically and range wise.

Combloc · Dec 23, 2020

Run away. You are most likely buying problems. If you want a carbine, buy one that has not been molested. Rebuilt is fine but accept that only if it was done at a US arsenal. That is the only way you can be 100% sure that you are buying a reliable and properly fitted carbine. If you cannot afford one of those, save up until you can. One path leads to regret while the other leads to happy satisfaction.

Jd2020 · Dec 23, 2020

I only saw it for a moment...no sling , the stock has the slot cut out for sling attachment. I swear it has a push button safety. The wood is damaged from him banging/pushing on the rear sight or the receiver under it with a flathead screwdriver trying to secure it. I’m gonna guess he was having trouble with securing/sighting the rear sight. I think he said to the other guy it is a Saginaw but I might have misheard. Pretty sure no bayonet lug.
Thanks guys

Jd2020 · Dec 23, 2020

Thanks Combloc. I’ll see what I see in the morning, I’ll be conservative.

johnkn · Dec 23, 2020

Combloc said:
Run away. You are most likely buying problems. If you want a carbine, buy one that has not been molested. Rebuilt is fine but accept that only if it was done at a US arsenal. That is the only way you can be 100% sure that you are buying a reliable and properly fitted carbine. If you cannot afford one of those, save up until you can. One path leads to regret while the other leads to happy satisfaction.

Agreed.

I’ve never once been sorry for buying quality. I’ve been sorry many, many times for trying to save a few dollars.

Also, careful with the original 20 round mags in Md., but I’m sure u know that.

Good luck.

Allen65 · Dec 23, 2020

johnkn said:
Agreed.

Also, careful with the original 20 round mags in Md., but I’m sure u know that.

Original GI mags for the M1 were 15 rounds. But still same problem transferring them in MD.

Pale Ryder · Dec 23, 2020

30 Carbine is not going to meet power requirement of 1200 fpe for deer hunting in Md.
Not all straight walled cartridges are allowed, .22 LR.

johnkn · Dec 23, 2020

Allen65 said:
Original GI mags for the M1 were 15 rounds. But still same problem transferring them in MD.

Lol, yep, not sure why I wrote 20 considering the hundred or so I have and the 8-9 high quality original Carbines I’ve sold from my collection over the last year. Thanks for the correction.

JamesDong · Dec 24, 2020

I'd be on the south side of 500 dollars. For a quick check... bring a 30 cal bullet with you and see if the muzzle swallows it up. If it does.......... the barrel is shot out then it needs pretty much everything and I'd stay away unless I could steal it.

Jd2020 · Dec 24, 2020

Thanks I’ll try that

Pinecone · Dec 24, 2020

Pale Ryder said:
30 Carbine is not going to meet power requirement of 1200 fpe for deer hunting in Md.
Not all straight walled cartridges are allowed, .22 LR.

IIRC the min power requirement was specifically to prevent the use of the .30 Carbine.

Pinecone · Dec 24, 2020

Original stocks were finished with raw linseed oil. So oiled is correct. All carbine stocks have the sling/oiler cut out.

No bayonet lug means it is WWII configuration. The original rear sight should be the flip sight. Most carbines got the bayonet lug and adjustable rear sight during arsenal rebuild after the war.

Red1917 · Dec 24, 2020

Definitely curious to see what you find, hopefully something good. They are fun shooters

JoeRinMD · Dec 24, 2020

Pinecone said:
Original stocks were finished with raw linseed oil. So oiled is correct. All carbine stocks have the sling/oiler cut out.

No bayonet lug means it is WWII configuration. The original rear sight should be the flip sight. Most carbines got the bayonet lug and adjustable rear sight during arsenal rebuild after the war.

And I think the original version started with the push-button safety at the front of the trigger guard. When it was realized that troops would mistake the mag. release for the safety, they shifted to the lever twist-style safety button.

JoeR

Jd2020 · Dec 24, 2020

Ok , pictures! I didn’t buy, but he’s right down the road and I told him I’d make an offer after Christmas. We shot thru a mag and it ran and shot fine. The bore looks nice, clean, shiny, no visible pitting, the rifling is clear-I don’t know enough to say how deep vs worn it is, but looks good. I know nothing about the make, vintage, serial, features existing or missing, hopefully the pics are clear enough for some feedback. The rear sight is a peep with a round dial knob on right, definitely old. It mounts by sliding sideways into a slot. But it doesn’t stay on? Please let me know your thoughts on yes/no quality and price. Thanks!

noddaz · Dec 24, 2020

What the heck is this?

It looks like I drilled that hole...

JamesDong · Dec 24, 2020

Well it was made by Saginaw that's a good thing, the rear sight mess isn't.... Did you put a round in the bore and see if it still grabbed or did it bottom out to the brass?

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Dec 24, 2020

Just from the photos it doesn't look too bad at all...but it would cost probably at least $150-$200 or more to get a correct stock and hand guard. If you don't care about originality a birch reproduction stock will work fine. You could always sell that stock to recover some of the costs of a replacement.

It has early features...the pushbutton safety and the narrow barrel band. A flip-up rear sight would be correct for its vintage but most Carbines received the updated adjustable rear sight you said comes with the piece during arsenal rebuilds. Installing either rear sight would cover that hole.

Most carbines that I've seen tend to have their original barrels due to the use of non-corrosive ammunition...can't really say that about 1903 and M1 rifles...they used corrosive ammunition until the early '50s.

I can only go by the asking prices I've seen at gun shows...usually about $1k or more for even mixmaster guns...you have to deduct what a replacement stock would cost. You also don't know for sure what might have to be done to do something to repair the rear sight dovetail for a sight to stay put...maybe something you can do or maybe it needs a gunsmith's touch. I think the top of the market value on that M1 is maybe $750...probably $650-$700 is a more fair market value. Anything less than that and you're golden.

M1 Carbine advice

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