M1 Carbine Assistance

SW CQB 45 · Jul 8, 2025

A close friend wants me to help him sell a M1 Carbine that once belonged to his uncle. When his uncle passed some years ago, my friend was given all his guns.

I dont have any knowledge on the M1 Carbine, so I seek guidance.

I was told his uncle would impulse buy at gun shows.

The receiver is marked Winchester serial #5609xxx. I am told it functions however it was missing the rear sight. The metal shows pitting and discolorations on the exterior.

I tried to look for hidden numbers on the steel components but could not find any. The sling and oil bottle are not originals (I know that much HA!)

if you can tell me if this is something or just a ruffie.

I can provide additional pics or we can discuss further offline.

thanks in advance

dsf · Jul 8, 2025

Well, she looks a tad rough but is an early version - looks like a Type 1 barrel band (thin, no bayonet lug) and a push button safety, not the flip type. An "L" flip rear would be appropriate, not 100% on that as the stakes left & right may mean adjustable. Upper handguard is two river rather than the later 4 rivet. The stock is an M2 type, shown by the cut out on the left side at the receiver to accommodate the FA switch.

I don't know enough to know if it's special. I paid $900.00 for my Winchester a few years back, in considerably better shape though. Figure nearly any "not special" M1 carbine is going to be +$800.00 or so.

Matt_X · Jul 8, 2025

Well I agree that if its functional its a shooter or truck gun, not a collectible per se.
I don't know what is going on with the slingwell markings, but the overall stock shape looks like a "type 3" or cut down type 2 Winchester or maybe Marlin. Need to see the inside to know more. There was a 'Type 4' made with the bridge removed and the selector fire switch clearance, but that is less common. http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/stocks.html Some of the markings on the stock have been attributed to Isreali returns.

The serial number is Summer 1944 production (Ruth & Duff p.32). That falls in the third block assigned to Winchester

The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines - Serial Numbers

U.S. Carbine Serial Numbers

www.uscarbinecal30.com

Its possible that this carbine was built with a type 2 barrel band as it seems to have now, but the barrel shows considerable wear to the finish which at least from the photo is evidence that it had a type 3 band at some point. (Type 3 band accepts a bayonet).

IMO it is not worth installing an original flip sight on this carbine. You can find an used adjustable sight and it will cost far less and be just as useful.

Glenn R. McMannly · Jul 8, 2025

ANY M1 carbine is no longer to be considered a “truck gun”.

These are historical pieces meant for collecting at this point in present. They deserve to be preserved. A modern soulless plastic AR would make a far, far better truck gun.

This example has significant patina but has many sought after early features. Winchester made an excellent carbine. I wouldn’t sell that if I were you.

Greyman50 · Jul 8, 2025

Looks really Rough with rust on several places which will reduce value quite a bit. Front band looks funny in what little of it in pic. Barrel looks to of had a bayonet type front band ( type C)due to color of barrel. Really need more pics. Should be a mfg name and date behind front sight on barrel. My copy of “ War Baby” is in storage

SW CQB 45 · Jul 8, 2025

here are a few more pics. thanks for the information. I appreciate it.

the stock on the bottom was the rifle, the other is a spare.

front sight

Greyman50 · Jul 9, 2025

Other stock looks to be correct from what can tell from pic. Sometimes Winchester barrels only had a “W” stamped on bottom of barrel close to front of stock. Op rod looks to be original, flat bolt is early and looks to have early push button safety
FWIW seeing the condition you could find someone to vapor blast or very fine bead blast and clean up all the parts then use one of the many cerakote finishes and you would have a good shooter. Would replace the op rod spring as they can be found online.

Mike SC Hunter · Jul 9, 2025

Due to it's condition. I say you'd be extremely lucky to get $500 for it.......Does the bore look like a sewer pipe?
BTW I have carbines.

Greyman50 · Jul 9, 2025

Yea, forgot to ask what bore looks like? Unless someone shot the cheap china 30 Carbine ammo in it all US ammo was non corrosive.

Retired W4 · Jul 9, 2025

That is a real Mix Master of the M-1 Carbine. Some non-GI after market parts and GI parts from different times in the evolution in WW II. A decent arsenal rebuild brings good money these days but I think that one should be left in the barrel, after scrounging the few good GI parts on it. Too much time and money would have to be invested to make it a plinker, and it's not worth it.

Matt_X · Jul 9, 2025

The stock that wsa on the carbine was an 'M2' aka "pot belly" style as shown on the linked page.
The one that you're identifying as the spare is the one that I was saying could have been made by Winchester. There's various clues but it takes some time to look for them. Regardless a wartime manufactured stock in reasonably good condition is worth something.

As far as value, you can see from this thread there a pretty wide range of opinions. You're friend will have to decide how much effort and patience the sale is worth. Condition of barrel will play into the value. Not just how the bore and rifling looks, but for the more knowledgable buyers, condition of the crown and measured muzzle wear.

My guess is that someone began changing parts to a WW2 era configuration, either becaue that's what they wanted or for WW2 re-enacting or such.

SW CQB 45 · Jul 9, 2025

thank you everyone. I will look at the bore soon and report back.

This is the info I was looking for.

Dave Haynes · Jul 10, 2025

SW CQB 45 said:
A close friend wants me to help him sell a M1 Carbine that once belonged to his uncle. When his uncle passed some years ago, my friend was given all his guns.

I dont have any knowledge on the M1 Carbine, so I seek guidance.

I was told his uncle would impulse buy at gun shows.

The receiver is marked Winchester serial #5609xxx. I am told it functions however it was missing the rear sight. The metal shows pitting and discolorations on the exterior.

I tried to look for hidden numbers on the steel components but could not find any. The sling and oil bottle are not originals (I know that much HA!)

if you can tell me if this is something or just a ruffie.

I can provide additional pics or we can discuss further offline.

thanks in advance

Winchester kept production records and the 5.6 area is about Feb 44. Barrel band is a type 2 which is correct (and valuable), They were usually not marked. The receiver has been buggered up by someone pounding out the Hemphill adjustable sight which could be correct. Win mixed flips in with adjust in this period whatever was in the box. (This is hardened steel around the sight and if you remove and replace from the wrong side this happens) the chips and poor staking means that it is not good and the fact that it is gone sort of proves it. Some flips were not staked at all. Winchester assembled AFTER finishing and the wear is just that, the finish is worn off. The Win stocks have a distinct flat bottom and are often unmarked.
The small parts look all period correct. I'd clean it up, check the headspace ( remember to disassemble the bolt and not force it closed) Buy a bolt tool!!!!!! What we have is what was possibly a correct early 44 Winchester ruined by someone trying to put a flip sight in a gun that wasn't supposed to have one. The part swappers ruin another one.

Dave Haynes · Jul 10, 2025

SW CQB 45: I'd take some lacquer thinner on a rag and start wiping these parts down. See how many have a small w on them. The trigger housing will have a W C on the right side rear, there will be a w and proof marks on the barrel, bolt will have a w, and inside the slide, the recoil plate on the stock may have a w on the outside facing up or none at all if another maker maybe on the side. Take the plate out of the stock (on the spare one) and look at the wood underneath it, if it is original to the wood it will have a distinct finger print matching the underside of the plate. Small bolt parts marks on the firing pin and extractor. The hammer will have a w and safety (usually EW),sear and trigger will have a w Look closely for the Winchester cartouce on the right side of the stock..handguard will have a w Winchester had well struck marks on the outside rear of their wood. Disregard the stock that the carbine sits in, it isn't even close to being correct. The lack of marks on some Win parts is because they made a lot of them including the wood. Quality Hardware made only one part, Inland made some parts but contracted out a lot. If this is what I think it is it could be worth a lot more than you think. Clean it well and look VERY closely. Record which part has a mark and what it is.

Matt_X · Jul 10, 2025

You're correct the records indicate the receiver was stamped early February. It probably went out the door in March, but could have been later. Regardless of what gets done to it, it will be seen as a corrected carbine. Might it get more if all the parts are well documented? Maybe. I'm usually willing to pay more when I know more about something. At the end of the day, this one I'd still see as a shooter assuming it functions well.

Dave Haynes · Jul 10, 2025

Matt_X said:
You're correct the records indicate the receiver was stamped early February. It probably went out the door in March, but could have been later. Regardless of what gets done to it, it will be seen as a corrected carbine. Might it get more if all the parts are well documented? Maybe. I'm usually willing to pay more when I know more about something. At the end of the day, this one I'd still see as a shooter assuming it functions well.

That type 2 barrel band could fetch $2-300 or more by itself. If he finds a lot of correct parts, and I think he will, it would be worth a couple of bucks to have somebody with the skill, do a little rehab on that receiver. A really comprehensive cleaning is called for. The barrels sometimes look horrible but clean up waaaay better. If he decides to part it out parts sold off a completed gun will fetch more if the information about the situation is included. People are crazy for Winchesters. A beater refinished Win is still worth good money.

And if he finds the parts I mentioned marked W he may have a great Win with a busted receiver. If that Win stock is the one it came with ? he should easily see the Win cartouche, if it has no Rebuild stamps (Like that pot belly wood has)....?? He then has to find an H in shield (Hemphill) sight and he's got a valuable gun. This guy isn't correcting anything, he replacing missing parts. Of course it's a shooter, they are all shooters.

SW CQB 45 · Jul 11, 2025

thanks again

I am in deep on some major projects and hope to get to this soon. I will check it.

M1 Carbine Assistance

SW CQB 45

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dsf

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Matt_X

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The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines - Serial Numbers

Glenn R. McMannly

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Greyman50

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SW CQB 45

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Greyman50

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Mike SC Hunter

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Greyman50

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Retired W4

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Matt_X

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Dave Haynes

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Dave Haynes

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Matt_X

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Dave Haynes

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