Inland M1 Carbine values *UPDATE 7/27/13*

[jsfricks]

I have a friend that was given a couple of guns by his mother-in-law and he wants to sell them. Im trying to help him with values. One is a Inland M1 and I'm interested in buying it and want to be fair to him. I've looked online and prices seem to be all over the place. Plus I don't know anything about these other than a lot of different companies made parts for them and a factory gun could have different brand parts on it. I've attached some pictures and if anyone could help with a ballpark value that would be great.

 

[carpriver]

I own a couple of Inland carbines, I paid $500.00 for mine. They are in very good shape. So I would think that is a good place to start.

 

[peyton]

I can say all the surplus rifle prices are going up. I would offer $700.00 if it is a NON IMPORT. A lot were brought in by BIG SKY IMPORTS and you can find the import stamp on the barrel underneath. The stamping was so deep it messed up the barrels!!

 

[ACP230]

Blue Sky Imports brought in the carbines, I think.
I have a Garand with that stamp.

 

[jsfricks]

As far as I can see it doesn't have the Blue Sky stamp under the barrel.

 

[peyton]

That's good, buy the rifle, it is a hoot to shoot!!

 

[LVSteve]

What's going on with that rear sight windage? I have an 03A3 a bit like that.

 

[PlaytheAces]

I picked up a similar Inland earlier this year. It's a non-import, re-arsenaled mixmaster in above average condition. The receiver and barrel are both Inland, and the barrel appears to be original to the receiver. I haven't broken it down and checked all the parts yet, but I'm assuming it's not 100% Inland - thus a mixmaster.

I did a bit of research, trying to figure out a decent price. In the end, I paid $675 and felt I got a pretty fair deal. Don't know if that helps or not.

 

[Bkreutz]

Go to the CMP forum and ask this question there. You'll get a fair assessment of the value. I'm not enough of an expert to tell from pictures but I've seen a lot of real experts pick out all the various details from just a couple of pictures. (I have a 44 Winchester that I play with at times)

 

[Faulkner]

I have acquired a humble collection of M1 carbines in my 25+ years of collecting them. I can provide you with a little insight as to what you have based what I see in the pictures.

You have a late production USGI M1 carbine produced by the Inland Division of General Motors. Serial number indicates the receiver was manufactured in 3rd Quarter of 1944 (July-September).

It appears to have undergone a typical post WWII rebuild as 90% of USGI carbines did after the war. The .U. marking on the stock indicates it went through a post war service at the Underwood facility.

The stock has markings from the Saginaw Division of General Motors, Grand Rapids plant. It is a early "I" cut stock that has been post war modified to low wood configuration. It's probably not original to the gun, but a nice USGI stock non the less.

Check to see what the barrel manufacturers marks are. The original barrel would likely be marked INLAND.

It has late production barrel band, round bolt, and adjustable rear sight. Depending on the markings and with this being a late production INLAND, these could be original or post war upgrades. Interestly, the slide is from the mid production time frame, and though perfectly serviceable, is not late production or upgraded part.

Without actually holding it in my hands for a closer look, I would say $600 to $700 would be a fair price . . . on the lower end if it does not have a INLAND barrel, on the upper end if it does.

 

[Joe Kent]

AS Faulkner said, $600, to $700. would be fair, but Carbines are rapidly raising in value and depending on where you are in the country,I am seeing them go for quite a bit higher than that.

 

[mkk41]

I thing the $600-700 figures above would be fair retail prices. $500 would be a fair 'between friends' price.

 

[Faulkner]

AS Faulkner said, $600, to $700. would be fair, but Carbines are rapidly raising in value and depending on where you are in the country,I am seeing them go for quite a bit higher than that.

Yeah, with a more in depth look at this one it might go for a little more too, it's in very nice condition. I pulled out a couple of reference books for a little closer look at the pictures.

IF the barrel is an INLAND and dated close to the receivers serial number that'll help the value to collectors.

Inland started using round bolts interchangebly with flat bolts around serial number 5,000,000. If this one is a INLAND marked bolt that could help increase the value to collectors.

If the trigger group is all INLAND that could help increase the value to collectors.

The barrel band is not likely original, Inland didn't switch over to the Type III until about serial number 6,300,000.

The adjustable stamped rear sight is not likely original, Inland didn't start using this sight until about serial number 6,200,000.

The slide is a Type III or IV and Inland started using Type V around serial number 3,000,000. A INLAND marked Type V or VI on it would increase the value to collectors. On a shooter carbine, I actually perfer a Type IV.

The stock recoil plate appears to be WINCHESTER marked.

I've already commented on the stock, but by around 5,500,000 Inland had changed from the 2 rivet to the 4 rivet handguards. If I were examining it closely I'd look to see if it is INLAND marked or not even though it's a 2 rivet type.

On closer examination, and still without actually holding it, I'll stick to my original price range estimate. You have a USGI carbine produced during the middle of Inland's production run that has been through a post war upgrade. It is in very nice condition.

What's interesting, and actually kind of a shame, but I could strip that carbine down and sell the parts on eBay or GunBroker for a sum total of about $1,200-$1,300.

 

[dant]

I agree with 'faulkner', he was being very "fair" they do go for more than that...big thing is one has to CAREFULLY look at the barrel ,all the way around between the front sight and the bayonet holder/lug, there are 'other' importers, not just Blue Sky, Odin, Alexandria, Va., come to mind, and they stamp their import marks very "lightly' (they knew that collectors would most likely try and remove these marks, making the gun more valuable)....Blue Sky gave the rest of the importers a bad rap as they stamped their marks with about a 40 ton press and did actually "moosh" the early guns barrels slightly...imported versions are less valuable than a bring home or even a DCM ( CMP) gun, and many, many are rebuilt (parts guns) over the years, not just by armorers, or the arsenals, but by gun shops and owners, collectors whatever.......
Nice pictures, by the way, so go make them a "fair" between friends offer like said above, in the $500 to $600 range...any "extras" ?? case ? ammo , spare mags, etc........

 

[OFT II]

I agree with the prices given above being right for a post-war rebuilt Inland. My only concern would be why the rear sight is so far to the right. Hopefully, it's just because Bubba wanted to see what the knob on the right was for.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I've bought a few like this one at CMP for $419.00. I think Max has one also. That was several years ago when they were flush with carbines. They've been out for some time now and most likely won't get any more. You see them priced at the gun shows around here for $700.00 and up. I'll buy another one if I can get it for $600.00 or less.

 

[Faulkner]

On average, I paid about $250 each for those in my collection, but I bought the bulk of my collection in the late '80's to mid 90's. The most I ever paid was $400 for a mint original Quality Hardware in about 2001, it would go for near quadruple that price now.

 

[mkk41]

(they knew that collectors would most likely try and remove these marks, making the gun more valuable)....

IIRC , removing the importers mark is technically illegal.

And I had one of those heavily stamped Blue Sky carbines. A .300 pin gage should go down the barrel , but a .294 was the largest that would drop thru mine.

I did replace the barrel.

 

[dant]

Once they were 'imported' and much like what you did, wether you replaced the "marked" parts or refinished them, they are are still "parts" guns and / or imports, thus a lesser value,,,heck enough time and money and patience, you can go out and FIND all the "parts" and make it "match"????now what do you tell the buyer??hhhmmm......
caveat emptor baby......

 

[Faulkner]

Interestingly, physically altering or removing the import mark is illegal, but replacing the barrel (which happens to have the import mark on it) is not.

Thats one of the main reasons why original USGI M1 carbine barrels are so difficult to come by these days.