M1 Carbine Fans?

[desi2358]

I have been a fan of the little carbine for years. Seriously collected them for @ 20 years, had every manufacturer except Irwin Pederson (the few I found were always more than i wanted to pay) including a couple as built examples bought years ago. Job changes and other events eventually lead to me selling off most of them. Still have a Winchester that only had minimal updates done and a Quality Hardware that got the whole rebuild including an M2 stock. A previous owner also glass bedded the Quality hardware and it is amazingly accurate, the best shooting carbine I ever owned.

I suspect some of the claims about carbines being inaccurate or lacking "stopping power" may have been due to rebuilt guns that were rather loose. My dad was issued one as a vehicle driver and said a lot of the units carbines were loose enough to rattle in their stocks (Korean war era). His Lieutenant picked through and found a couple tight ones, they shot quite well. I am still very much a fan of the carbine!

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

We are pretty fond of our M-1 rifles as well.

These 5 cases will last my lifetime. I enjoy the M1 rifle more.

We keep plenty of ammunition around for them also.

 

[DWalt]

Regarding the effectiveness of the Carbine, back in the later 60s I worked alongside a retired Marine Colonel. He had fought through both WWII in the Pacific and later in Korea, and always carried a Carbine. When the subject of how wimpy the Carbine was came up, he always commented he had put down several dozen of the enemy with his Carbine and never saw a single one get back up. He was not the type of person to doubt. He retired before Vietnam.

 

[Muley Gil]

I have always liked the carbine and have shot several. However, I have never bought one, usually spending my money on some S&W.

I came close to getting one during the last CMP sale, but I wasn't one of the lucky ones.

When I started in LE with a sheriff's office in the mid '70s, the chief deputy had a M2 as his patrol rifle. He had me clean it for him. Of course, I shot it before I cleaned it.

Maybe someday I'll get one. I should sell some of the guns I seldom shoot & get me a War Baby.

 

[wundudnee]

Unlike most of you I waited until was old to get interested in the carbines. I seem to buy high on every thing I'm interested in. I have these three, two that have been rearsenaled and one that has all the early features.

This was my first, a late serial number 1945 Winchester. It could have all the latest parts honestly. It is in a M-2 possum belly stock. All the books, sling, oiler and several magazines were given to me by a good friend. I have learned you will never learn everything about carbines.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

The carbine is a good little rifle. I like mine a lot.

Fulton Armory makes a good reproduction.

I am rounding my collection of WW2 themed guns and accessories with a Tisas M1911A1. From my readings they are a swell reproduction.

 

[Delta Expatriate]

My father, who was in the Field Artillery in WWII, told me he carried a carbine. I never had the opportunity, or got around to acquiring one, and at my age, doubt I will. I do have a Ruger 10-22 with M1 carbine inspired aftermarket stock, and guess that will have to suffice.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

My father, who was in the Field Artillery in WWII, told me he carried a carbine. I never had the opportunity, or got around to acquiring one, and at my age, doubt I will. I do have a Ruger 10-22 with M1 carbine inspired aftermarket stock, and guess that will have to suffice.

Those are neat. And don't cost much to shoot.

 

[austintexas]

I shot M1 Carbines in the USAF until 1968 when I want to Vietnam, There they handed me an M16. Bought my first in 1964 at Shooters Paradise an IBM, paid the princely sum of $35. I have one of each manufacturer now except Irwin Peterson. I have lots of ammo picked up over the years and reload. I picked one up at the last gunshow For $850 Which is cheap now. a nice Underwood.
SWCA 892

 

[rufrdr]

I was given this Quality Hardware M1 carbine several years ago.

I gave my CMP Inland M1 carbine to one of my sons when I was given the QH. My other son will get the QH carbine when I'm gone.

I've owned numerous carbines over the decades, both GI and a couple Plainfields. I served in the Army with two NCOs who advised South Vietnamese units and they carried M2 carbines and thought they were very well armed with them.

 

[JohnRippert]

AND........A 1911 in 45acp.

I have a couple of those, including the centerpiece of my milsurp collection, a decommed Marine M45A1. I originally stayed out of the hunt for the CMP 1911's because I have that one. Nowadays I decided it would not hurt to see if I can get another one.

 

[AJ]

I use to collect carbines. Had all except an Irwin Pederson. Interests change and all are gone except an Inland that belong to my Uncle. He got it in the mid 60's for $20.00. The stock is marked O.G.E.K. in a box, that means Ogden Arsenal Elmer Keith.

Have a friend that has all the makers including an Irwin Pederson. His are in the rack on the end.

 

[Walter Rego]

I hand picked this 1943 Rock Ola from the selection at the old Sherwoods store in the San Fernando Valley back in 1986. The owner had brought them in from Israel and the import stamp is very tiny and under the handguard. It is somewhat of a mixmaster which is correct given their service history and post war upgrades but does have mostly original parts other than a later stock.

They were running between $169 - $229 depending upon the manufacturer and condition. Wish I had had the money to have bought 10 of them.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

I have a couple of those, including the centerpiece of my milsurp collection, a decommed Marine M45A1. I originally stayed out of the hunt for the CMP 1911's because I have that one. Nowadays I decided it would not hurt to see if I can get another one.

I have wanted one for years, but would feel guilty for owning one since I am not a Marine.

 

[JohnRippert]

I have wanted one for years, but would feel guilty for owning one since I am not a Marine.

My favorite thing that I have done with it was to take my retired Marine Colonel brother-in-law to the range and have him shoot it. We both had a blast that day.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

First firearm I ever handled was the M-1 Carbine my old man brought back from WWII. Never got to fire it though.

 

[Frank46]

Bought a Saginaw steering gear carbine about 12 years ago. One of the Blue Sky imports The stock was cracked so got a halfway decent deal on it. Right behind that dealers table was another dealer in stocks and other parts. So for $65 brand new birch stock and handguard went home plus some books she had dealing with carbines. This was before covid and rapid price increases and an not even thinking of selling. Reload for it on occasion with 110 grain bullets. Fairly accurate. Funny thing about it is that it has a Winchester barrel on it. Had a burr on the inside of the nag well and fired cases would hang up on the burr. Stoned the burr snd no more problems. Did replace both the piston and the threaded part and staked it in place. Course my el cheapo buddy wanted it but that never happened. Nice little carbines, who would thought that 80 years later they would still be that popular??. Frank

 

[.357magger]

I have a Quality Hardware with Inland barrel. QH did not make barrels, and used barrels from other sources. Mainly Inland, I think.

This is common among the various contractors, with very few producing 100% of the parts needed for a complete rifle. It's also a testimony to the VERY rigid standards that the Army imposed regarding specifications on those producing components.

My Standard Products for example uses an Underwood barrel, which is correct for the builds by SP.

A GREAT reference book is "US M1 Carbines, Wartime Production" by Craig Riesch. Available on Amazon in paperback it's easy to throw in a bag for when you're out hunting Carbines, parts, or accessories (and it covers them ALL with LOTS of detailed pictures).

 

[Smith & Hammer]

M1 carbine national postal meter

I recently saw one for sale, and being totally unfamiliar with WW2 rifles. I wanted to find out more about the model M1. every site that has picture's of various M1's, they all had wood stocks on top of the barrel. the one that I'm looking at has a metal shield w/holes on it instead (cooling?). I cant find any models with this configuration. also this one is being offered for $1.900. at this moment I don't have any pics yet, but am working with the seller to send me more.

Just wanted to get anyone's opinion on this configuration and asking price. I'm assuming this would be a C&R qualifier?

Bryce

 

[DWalt]

At one time, the NRA published an informative booklet on the .30 Carbine that thoroughly covered the essentials and variations of the Carbine. Maybe they still do. There is also the military manual on the .30 Carbine which is TM 9-1276. It is easily available and worthwhile reading. Just google it. There are several other books that cover the fine details of its history, but I do not have any of those. There are not many carbines remaining which are in their original WWII configuration as most carbines in military inventories after the war ended were heavily modified and updated in military arsenals. Most contain mixtures of old and new parts from different manufacturers as the government was not concerned in the least about the whims of collectors 70 years later.