Faulkner
Member
I've been wheeling and dealing in USGI M1 carbines for about 30 years or so. Back in the 1990's, what I think was the golden age for these and C&R firearms in general, I was always on the hunt for the next M1 carbine for my collection. In fact, I found the hunt to be as much or more fun than the actual acquisition.
I've backed way off in the past 10 years or so, in part because USGI M1 carbines have really skyrocketed in price. I recall a quote from Bruce Canfield about M1 carbines which went something like, "you can't really pay too much for a carbine, but you might pay too soon." I didn't quite understand what he meant at the time, but I eventually figured it out. Case in point, back when nice carbines were selling in the $250 range I bought one for $450. It was a really nice Winchester and I was very hesitant about buying it because it was close to double the going rate at the time. It finally hit me that I just paid $450 too soon, but today I could easily sell that Winchester for over $2500.
So, although I don't actively hunt for them, I still occasionally run across a lead or a tip that I might follow up on. In this case, I received a call from a perfect stranger who was referenced to me by a mutual friend. He said he was liquidating his gun collection and had a nice M1 carbine he wanted to sell to someone who appreciated them and my name came up. It peaked my interest so I met with the guy and ended up making the deal.
The story is this is one of the 120K or so M1 carbines the DCM sold to NRA members back in 1964. That's what caught my attention in the conversation with the guy because I've bought a couple of other "NRA" guns through the years and they have always been in very fine condition. It proved to be the case with this one as well.
The stock is marked with arsenal rebuild marks dated 1962, so it was pretty fresh out of rebuild when released in 1964. Having gone through the rebuild it has the standard post war upgrades including adjustable rear sites, barrel band with bayonet lug, flip safety, and round bolt.
Although Quality Hardware was a prime contractor for war built USGI carbines, they only manufactured one component themselves, the receiver, and even some of them they subcontracted out. Therefore, since they didn't make any of their own barrels you'll always find a Quality Hardware M1 carbine with another maker's barrel. This one has a very nice Underwood barrel dated January of 1944. Even though the barrel is marked, you can always readily identify an Underwood barrel because it has machine marks that almost look like very fine threads. Other makers barrels were machined with a smooth finish.
The guy said he'd never fired the carbine since he bought it in 1964, and I doubt it had been fired since the rebuild in 1962 because upon inspection I found an oil soaked barrel length swizzle stick still inside. When I pulled it out the guy said he had never noticed that in there.
There is not a ding or dent on the stock anywhere, it's in very nice condition. Sling and 1944 dated magazine pouch came along with the deal.
I've backed way off in the past 10 years or so, in part because USGI M1 carbines have really skyrocketed in price. I recall a quote from Bruce Canfield about M1 carbines which went something like, "you can't really pay too much for a carbine, but you might pay too soon." I didn't quite understand what he meant at the time, but I eventually figured it out. Case in point, back when nice carbines were selling in the $250 range I bought one for $450. It was a really nice Winchester and I was very hesitant about buying it because it was close to double the going rate at the time. It finally hit me that I just paid $450 too soon, but today I could easily sell that Winchester for over $2500.
So, although I don't actively hunt for them, I still occasionally run across a lead or a tip that I might follow up on. In this case, I received a call from a perfect stranger who was referenced to me by a mutual friend. He said he was liquidating his gun collection and had a nice M1 carbine he wanted to sell to someone who appreciated them and my name came up. It peaked my interest so I met with the guy and ended up making the deal.
The story is this is one of the 120K or so M1 carbines the DCM sold to NRA members back in 1964. That's what caught my attention in the conversation with the guy because I've bought a couple of other "NRA" guns through the years and they have always been in very fine condition. It proved to be the case with this one as well.
The stock is marked with arsenal rebuild marks dated 1962, so it was pretty fresh out of rebuild when released in 1964. Having gone through the rebuild it has the standard post war upgrades including adjustable rear sites, barrel band with bayonet lug, flip safety, and round bolt.
Although Quality Hardware was a prime contractor for war built USGI carbines, they only manufactured one component themselves, the receiver, and even some of them they subcontracted out. Therefore, since they didn't make any of their own barrels you'll always find a Quality Hardware M1 carbine with another maker's barrel. This one has a very nice Underwood barrel dated January of 1944. Even though the barrel is marked, you can always readily identify an Underwood barrel because it has machine marks that almost look like very fine threads. Other makers barrels were machined with a smooth finish.
The guy said he'd never fired the carbine since he bought it in 1964, and I doubt it had been fired since the rebuild in 1962 because upon inspection I found an oil soaked barrel length swizzle stick still inside. When I pulled it out the guy said he had never noticed that in there.
There is not a ding or dent on the stock anywhere, it's in very nice condition. Sling and 1944 dated magazine pouch came along with the deal.
