Breaking my handgun addiction, or how I gave an old soldier a new home on the Fourth.

[TeamPB]

After 3 years of bidding at Rock Island Auction House I won. A combination of Covid, economic uncertainty, riots and Fathers day gave me a good feeling about an online (less DEEP pockets participating?) auction. I know a little about carbines, like shooters, not collector's pieces and this looked interesting. It came in on Thursday, but I got caught in a two and a half day 4473 wait. My LGS stayed open on Independence day and the state of Colorado came through. I picked it up on a break from work, stripped, inspected, cleaned and lubed last night. I replaced the magazine catch, spring and safety spring. It looks good for the range today. RMC stock (great condition), Underwood receiver and barrel, mix master. It really looks like it got a rebuild a long time ago and then sat for a long time. It will have a second (or 20th) life of shooting and care.

 

[Muddyboot]

Great purchase, plenty of magazines, spare parts, and ammo choices make the M-1 Carbine a wise buy any time.

 

[JH1951]

Well done! I added one to the stable this year as well.

 

[jbtrucker]

My old soldier dad would have really liked your M-1 thanks for sharing.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Of The 9 manufacture's. What brand is yours?

 

[AJ]

Of The 9 manufacture's. What brand is yours?

There are ten manufacturers:
1.) Winchester
2.) Inland
3.) Saginaw Gear
4.) S'G'
5.) IBM
6.) Rock-Ola
7.) Quality Hardware
8.) Underwood
9.) National Postal Meter
10.) Standard Products
and if you count the one manufacturer that did not get accepted you could include : 11.) Irwin Pederson.

 

[TeamPB]

Of The 9 manufacture's. What brand is yours?

Underwood receiver and barrel. So I would call it an Underwood. The story of WWII carbine production is amazing to me. The success of the Carbine Board (located in the Underwood building I believe) in allocating parts, QC, managing parts interchangeability and all the other wartime needs is very impressive. Carbine collecting is also impressive and beyond my abilities, but I am lucky enough to have a Standard Products M1 as well. I like the way these rifles handle and shoot.

 

[kmyers]

One of the few firearms I keep saying someday one will reside here. Nice example that you have.

 

[Hair Trigger]

There are ten manufacturers:
1.) Winchester
2.) Inland
3.) Saginaw Gear
4.) S'G'
5.) IBM
6.) Rock-Ola
7.) Quality Hardware
8.) Underwood
9.) National Postal Meter
10.) Standard Products
and if you count the one manufacturer that did not get accepted you could include : 11.) Irwin Pederson.

Two M1 carbines I'd love to own; 1- a Rock-Ola made, and 2- one of the paratrooper carbines with the metal folding stock. Did Rock-Ola make any of those? That would cut my number to one.

I didn't know until recently that Rock-Ola was really the company owner's real last name, without the hyphen. I always thought it was named that because it made juke boxes, but some historians think the name gave rock and roll its name.

A very fine collection of carbines you have there.

 

[LCC]

Reccomendations for a reliable M-1 Carbine that doesn't cost a $1000, or is there such a thing?

 

[Valmet]

That's awesome OP. Those are classic old guns that have really increased in value. The great thing about the rebuilds IMO is that they're collectible but one can also shoot them regularly without feeling too guilty.

 

[AJ]

Two M1 carbines I'd love to own; 1- a Rock-Ola made, and 2- one of the paratrooper carbines with the metal folding stock. Did Rock-Ola make any of those? That would cut my number to one.

I didn't know until recently that Rock-Ola was really the company owner's real last name, without the hyphen. I always thought it was named that because it made juke boxes, but some historians think the name gave rock and roll its name.

A very fine collection of carbines you have there.

Thank you about the collection. Most of it has moved on to others. I had one of every manufacturer and the M1A1's were original as far as could be researched.

M1 Carbines are still useful as a home defense weapon.

 

[ameridaddy]

You did good! It looks near-new!

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

War Baby Comes Home!

Enjoy!

 

[LVSteve]

Glad you got something worthwhile from that crowd. I gave up on the Rock Island shower because of their outrageous buyers' premiums and "grouping" habits.

 

[hittman77]

Congratulations!
Hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine.

Just bought my 3/44 dated Inland a year or so ago and have no idea why I didn't get the interest many, many years ago.

 

[TheHobbyist]

I congratulate you. If one stumbles across my path it is sold.

 

[Muley Gil]

I shot one years ago and have always wanted one. Somehow, I never got around to buying one. I sent my money to the CMP a couple of years ago, but didn't make the cut.

Maybe one day.

 

[TeamPB]

Reccomendations for a reliable M-1 Carbine that doesn't cost a $1000, or is there such a thing?

My humble opinion: the market sucks now, you will probably have to spend $1000 to have an M1 Carbine you will like to own and shoot.

Hang out on the CMP Forum. Pay very, very close attention to the For Sale, carbine section and pounce quickly.

 

[TeamPB]

Glad you got something worthwhile from that crowd. I gave up on the Rock Island shower because of their outrageous buyers' premiums and "grouping" habits.

Yes, I agree, the premiums hurt! This time, I took the total I was willing to spend including tax, shipping and premiums and worked backwards to my bid. I "won" for $100 less than my maximum bid, Yay! Somehow my cashiers check was $75 higher than my original all inclusive maximum total, sigh. Oh well, so far the little guy has exceeded my expectations. We are off to the range now!

 

[Grayfox]

Congratulations OP. You're gonna love it!
I got my first M1 Carbine back in 2006. Its a 3/43 Standard Products. Then picked up another from CMP when they had them for sale. That one is a 5/43 Inland.
I consider the M1 Carbine to be the ideal urban home defense rifle. Light, accurate and very fast handling. Its got plenty of stopping power without having to worry about blowing through your neighbor's house as well.
The Inland is just as Uncle Sam issued. The Standard Products now sits in a Choate folding stock with an Eotech 512 on top. This is the one I keep handy around the house.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I bought my first "M-1 Carbine" in 1978, it was the non M-1 but look alike, Universal ($99 OTD). It had a pot medal magazine well, that wouldn't retain a mag by the second summer I owned it. It was stole from the gunsmith while in for a replacement! He replaced it with a brand new Universal, which I dumped immediately! I have probably owned 20 different ones one or two at a time. I currently have a rebuilt Underwood (undated barrel) and a rebuilt IBM with a (as of 20 years ago, functioning) T-3 Night Scope attached.

I believe these are one of the most disparaged home defense weapons out there. If you buy junk foreign FMJ ammo, you should expect the poor results you get. I happened onto 8 (50round) boxes of Winchester 110 gr soft hollow pointed ammo. It shoots just fine (before my eyesight went south it did 2" at 100 from sandbags).

My wife has upper body strength issues like many women. She cannot offhand a full size 20" AR or a full size Mini-14, but she can handle a M-1 Carbine just fine.

Years ago at a gun show I bought an old wooden ammo crate of 99 M-1 Carbine 15 round mags for $3 each, I have kept several for myself and long ago sold the rest at $10 each. While both of my Carbines have bayonet lugs I never bothered with a bayonet (we prefer good field knives instead) I believe in using the oil bottle for both oil and the sling retainer!

Ivan

I once had a never rebuilt, but very used up IBM, imported from Korea. It had big white Korean characters on the buttstock. Nobody would pay $85 for it. I used Goof-off and removed the house paint Korean. Raised the price to $150 at the next show and sold it in the first 10 minutes. Turns out "The American Rifleman" that came the day before, but I hadn't read, had a very nice article about M-1 Carbines! I have never seen one for sale at less than $200 from that minute on! (circa late 80's)
ITB

 

[TeamPB]

Well a lot of what we all saw turned out to be true. It is a keeper and it's name is Duc Jr. Duc was the best dog I ever had and is also a 1943 SG CMP Garand, yep, I name my U.S. milsurps after my pets, so this little guy looks like a Jr. to me. Marilyn is also a keeper and she shoots CMP John C. Garand matches (not this year). She does not care for my Standard Products Carbine, but she looks forward to competing with the new to us Underwood (she likes it). Photos: 1)MK with the Underwood, 2)MK with Toro,3) BK playing with rapid fire at 75 yards.

 

[Gene L]

I kinda wanted one, but not seriously, I guess. Back when they were $125 all day long I didn't have $125 to spend on one and ammo was problematical. All available was FMJ and was essentially plinking ammo. No one thought about using one for a home defense weapon back in those simpler times.

Forgotten Weapons has a couple of episodes on the M1 Carbine. More of these were made in WW 2 than M1 rifles, which I found interesting. The story of their development was informative. Short-time development for a military gun. And very effective.

According to Ian, magazines were the problem with the carbines...they stuck way down and could easily get bent. Probably not a problem if you are not in combat. But if you can get extra mags reasonably, wouldn't be a bad idea.

They were very popular because they were lightweight and accurate enough at combat ranges...but they are a carbine, nothing like the power of a rifle round. I believe they weighed 5.1 pounds. I read a book, "The Last Stand of Fox Company," a Korean War book where Marines first came in contact with Red Chinese troops. A LOT of Chinese troops. The Marines felt like it took a head shot with a carbine to stop the Chinese, whose uniforms were frozen, so the story went. The .30 Carbine round from a long gun has as much energy at 100 yards as .357 at the muzzle, so it's a performer. Definitely would penetrate a frozen Chinese uniform and a Chinaman inside it.

 

[31FordA]

Two M1 carbines I'd love to own; 1- a Rock-Ola made, and 2- one of the paratrooper carbines with the metal folding stock. Did Rock-Ola make any of those? That would cut my number to one.

I didn't know until recently that Rock-Ola was really the company owner's real last name, without the hyphen. I always thought it was named that because it made juke boxes, but some historians think the name gave rock and roll its name.

A very fine collection of carbines you have there.

All the M1A1 paratrooper carbines were made by Inland. You'll run across other manufacturers that have been put in paratrooper stocks, but only the Inlands are authentic.

 

[AJ]

All the M1A1 paratrooper carbines were made by Inland. You'll run across other manufacturers that have been put in paratrooper stocks, but only the Inlands are authentic.

You are correct that only Inland made the M1A1 model. However, they were only made in certain blocks of months, not certain serial number blocks.

There are some real good books out there that will tell you more than you want to know.

1.) War Baby! by Ruth
2.) War baby Comes Home! by Ruth
3.) U.S.M1 Carbines Wartime Production by Craig Reisch
4.)A Collector's Guide to the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine by Bruce Canfield

Have them all from a misspent youth of collecting both models
The Carbine Club and the The Garand Collector's Association are very informative also.

 

[kaaskop49]

Back in the late 60s, a friend's dad had a Winchester carbine he bought from the DCM in 1963, IIRC. Price was $20, also IIRC! Can someone confirm? He treasured that gun. Every time we went to the range, he would put 5 or 10 rounds through it.

As to effectiveness, NYPD gunfighter Jim Cirillo wrote that his unit would keep any M-1 carbine taken 'off the street.' He said it was effective with HP ammo. Not a bad recommendation.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[AJ]

Back in the late 60s, a friend's dad had a Winchester carbine he bought from the DCM in 1963, IIRC. Price was $20, also IIRC! Can someone confirm? He treasured that gun. Every time we went to the range, he would put 5 or 10 rounds through it.

As to effectiveness, NYPD gunfighter Jim Cirillo wrote that his unit would keep any M-1 carbine taken 'off the street.' He said it was effective with HP ammo. Not a bad recommendation.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I have an Inland that my Uncle bought in the 1960's and he hunted wild pigs with it. After he died my Aunt found out I collected Carbines and she gave it to me. Yes, the price was $20.00 in the '60's. Found this on another board.
The M1 carbines sold through the DCM in 1963 were "unserviceable-unclassified, safe to fire". Which meant they could be any condition, new, used, or re-built . They were not classified by condition. They were shipped with no magazine, sling, or oiler. But they were well worth the $20.00, including shipping, that they cost. About 300,00 were sold to N.R.A. members back then. All sales were recorded at R.I.A. and can be verified through the CMP.

 

[sekiarcdr]

I got my Winchester model way back in the 60s via the NRA, for about $20. also my 1911 Colt model .45 for the same amount. Still have both.