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M-1 Carbine

2K views 27 replies 16 participants last post by  Ibmikey 
#1 ·
Looking for general opinion on this rifle’s authenticity, maybe general value. I don’t want to sell it until I have it actually appraised, but is it worth taking serious time to get appraised?
Stamped with Saginaw, General Motors, serial starts 330...

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#2 ·
You got a nice gun there. General Motors did make M-1 Carbines for the war effort during WWII. As far as worth, Its worth what someone will pay for it. I don't wanna say what approximate value it might carry, Simply because I can't say with doing some research. But Good luck with it.
 
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#4 ·
Saginaw Steering made 2 different batches of M1 Carbines- one in Saginaw, one in Grand Rapids. Your SN would be correct for the second batch in 1944. There is an incredible amount of variety in a rifle that was only made (by US armories) for a very few years- flat bolt, round bolt, hi cut wood, low cut wood, bayonet lug/ no lug, ramp sight or flip sight, etc etc etc. And many features changed as the rifles moved back thru ordnance depots.

Yours looks to be in very good condition. I can send you a box to put it in, and a pretty, crisp, green $50 bill.



Just kidding- original MILITARY M1 carbines retail around here for $800 and up. That does not include after war civilian versions such as Plainfield, Universal, etc. Best bet? Take your carbine to a gun show, where collectors and dealers are gathered in one location for your convenience, and get a hands-on assessment.
 
#5 ·
Looking for general opinion on this rifle’s authenticity, maybe general value. I don’t want to sell it until I have it actually appraised, but is it worth taking serious time to get appraised?
Stamped with Saginaw, General Motors, serial starts 330...

View attachment 181970 View attachment 181971 View attachment 181972 View attachment 181973
Yes it's a real one, and a nice one to, I would say general value would be around a $1000.00 bucks more or less !....J&G Sales has the excellent condition Winchesters priced at around $2500.00 bucks I think !..........
 
#8 ·
Lawn, not an M1 Carbine expert (have ONE). Your's looks to be a fine example, but the most important thing is if it works! If it does, you should shoot it and enjoy it! Get ammo in bulk. Ammo is cheaper these days than five years ago. PPU FMJ or SP works well. Get 1,000 rounds mail order (free shipping, usually) and be happy for a few years! For such a fine example, I'd stay away from steel cartridges from Wolf and Tula.

With each shot, honor the soldier that carried that particular weapon in combat, defending his life and the lives of others. Or just cleaning it...One never knew when your life depended on it.
 
#9 ·
M-1 carbines are one of my favorites for "just plain fun". Ours came from the DCM in the 60's. I think Dad paid less than $30 for it, delivered to the house. Ammo was also available in military tins from the Director of Civilian Marksmanship at super cheap prices. Then there were the 1911's ....oh well. Enjoy your carbine. I still do.
 
#11 ·
one of these days, i would really like to have an old M1 Carbine, just for plinking. most o them i run across are on the pricey side of things. maybe one day. (maybe, one day i'll win the lottery too!) :D
 
#17 ·
Exactly what Dallas said!!!

I have a USGI M1 Carbine, and shoot it occasionally, but I ration myself so as to not wear it out too soon. It would never go out in the rain or dusty conditions (pretty much like my '69 Road Runner). I have a great deal of respect for it.

A FA carbine would give my USGI one a nice break. But, then again, it is such a beauty (and pricey), IT probably wouldn't go out in the rain or dust, either...;)
I have my Minis and my CX4 Storm to satisfy most of my shootin' desires, but there is just something about an M1 Carbine that floats my boat...

Trez, if I got another USGI M1 Carbine, I'd be in the same shape I'm in now: too much respect for it to shoot it much in anything other than ideal conditions...

There are other M1 Carbine manufacturers - some are hit-and-miss and usually not interchangeable with USGI parts. My nephew has a Universal that shoots well, but it is just not the same...

In the end, it is unlikely I'll get a FA Carbine. But I keep going back to their page...
 
#18 ·
I would never waste the money on an appraisal. Usually most appraisals of anything are high. Take it to a gun show and get genuine offers on it to get a better idea on its true value. Most dealers at shows like to show their knowledge and will often tell you many things about your particular gun that would increase or decrease the value. Besides an offer many dealers will also give you the retail value (they obviously have to make a profit on every gun).
 
#19 ·
There are still a few M-1 carbines floating around made up of parts which have proven dangerous. I had one for awhile. The maker's name escapes me, but they were made in Missouri. A fellow had some receivers made which accepted GI parts. At the time, surplus carbine barrels were plentiful and cheap. When the supply of carbine barrels dried up, they used 03/A3 barrels turned down to fit as well as some newly-produced other parts. Lots of guys bought the actions and created custom rifles of their own design. The one I had was really pretty - figured stock, jeweled bolt, ramp front sight, etc. I've seen others through the years. The receivers are hit-and-miss on quality, hardening, etc. A tip-off is that on the rear of the receiver where the maker's stamp is located ("Winchester", IBM, etc.) the space will mostly be blank. Watch out for these !
 
#20 ·
Jockey

Hilltop Guns Inc. in Colona IL. Owner: Terry D. He has a vast collection of all original and "Correct" M-1 Carbines, M-1 Garands as well 1911 Original Military Pistols. He knows most everything there is to know about them including he is able to identify correct parts. If you are interested PM me and I can give you additional contact information.

03
 
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#21 ·
I guess all my guns are old, so it doesn't matter to me.. My M1s are the "younger" of my guns, if anything.. :p
I figure they've been all over the world and survived wars, What am I going to do to them that's worse than what they have already been through?
One of my most fun guns to shoot is my 1879 Trapdoor, over a 100 years old and still slingin' lead... :)
 
#23 ·
Yes it's a real one, and a nice one to, I would say general value would be around a $1000.00 bucks more or less !....J&G Sales has the excellent condition Winchesters priced at around $2500.00 bucks I think !..........
GI M1 Carbines seems to be generating a lot of interest lately and price have climbed. I've seen them priced well over $1000 for a minty righteous example. J&G is living in another universe with there prices they put on C&R's they acquired in the last few years. I live in the same town as them and have looked at some of them. Waaaayed over price on everyone I looked at.
 
#24 ·
Reproduction carbines are just as much fun to shoot as originals.

I would love to have an original, like the one I carried in the USAF, (1961-1965) but even if I had one, I would still use my Kahr Arms repro for my everyday shooter and save the original for a collector's item.
 
#25 ·
Locutus, I'm with you! Have a USGI M1 Carbine (circa 1944) which I love, but spare shooting it too much as I don't want to wear it out or subject it to dings.

So I had been considering a second non-USGI one that I could deal with an occasional nick or ding without worrying about round-count. They are very fun-guns with a viable capability unless one is trying to down elephants at 600 yards with a single shot... My interest is plinking and Home/Farm Defense with these.

Should I choose to get another, I'd be inclined to go with Fulton Armory. They are absurdly expensive but quality machines that match USGI specs and standards. Then, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't go out much for fear of dinging a beautiful stock...Absurd, but that's where I'm at.

I'm pretty well set for fun guns, so it is likely I'll not get another M1 Carbine. My latest substitute is a Beretta CX4 Storm in 9mm, that accepts mags from my 92FS. Acknowledge it isn't anywhere capable compared to the M1 Carbine, but I have Mini-14s that will fill that gap. Still, there is just something about the M1 Carbine...

Still pondering. Should the funds accumulate, perhaps I'll give Fulton a call. Not sure I'd go with Kahr if - for no other reason - compatibility with USGI parts.

My nephew has a Universal M1 Carbine given to him and offered to swap (he's going to get everything anyway), but I declined after studying the Universal history. It shoots fine, but every one of my firearms serves as secondary duty as Home/Farm defense, and I didn't have a warm fuzzy feeling the Universal wouldn't blow up at an inopportune moment...
 
#27 ·
Wow I guess different parts of the country demand different prices. Around here a shooter grade M-1 carbine; GM or Winchester goes for $650 to $750. If it is in exceptional condition you might get as much as $850 TOPS. Rock-ola's Can get in the $1000 range and above but the rifle shown I wouldn't pay more than $750 for depending on the bore reading. You can check the CMP site for grading criteria to get an idea of the value based on the condition of your gun. Take it to a gun show and get the bore gauged to see what kind of wear it has and what kind of offers you get. Expect a private sale to be as much as $100 to $200 more than the dealers at the gun show offer.
 
#28 ·
The Carbine in question is an arsenal rebuild after WWII with later features added, there is no way of telling if it had been issued before rebuild as most Carbines found their way into the program, well used or even new. This is not to detract from the OP’s rifle although many more photos are needed to determine Barrel origin coding on other parts etc. The stock seems to have seen harder use than the rest of the Carbine and specific markings need to be determined. This Carbine on Gun Broker would fetch $900 -$1200 ( probably $1000 or more with today’s bidder), I have collected Carbines for fifty years and by comparison the OP’s is sound but nothing special.
 
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