M1 carbine value?

ammoeater · May 11, 2010, 02:00 PM

Didn't want to hijack the other thread.

Can anyone hazard a guess as to the value of a vet-bringback M1 carbine that has been hanging on the vet's wall since he returned from the war? It is an Inland, manufactured in the spring of '44. It has the bayo lug and flip safety, along with the bayonet and sheath and windage-adjustable rear sight. No oiler or sling.

He says it has never been modified, it is as it was issued. When was the adj rear sight put into production? He also has some stripper clips loaded up with ammo. Been stored dry and cool, would it be safe to shoot?

Tacoma · May 11, 2010, 08:23 PM

Couple of things to look for the effect value.
Import stamp on the barrel? (Likely not if it was a bring back but...)
Different date/manufacture on the barrel?
Condition of bore ?
Condition of wood and metal?
Proper/matching parts?

That said, inland was the most common of the M1 carbines so there is no huge collectors value. Still, a shooter that wasn't a parts gun is worth $500-$600 all day long.
Adjustable rear started latter in WWII as I recall. Get a serial # and the gun can be accurately dated.

If the price and condition are decent. Jump on it. These are allot of fun and getting pricier all the time.

ISC · May 18, 2010, 03:58 AM

Paperwork certifying it to be a war trophy adds value too, but since it was US manufactured it was probabably smuggled back and doesn't have papers.

blume357 · May 18, 2010, 06:50 AM

was done just after the big war... all of them had the bayonet lug and adjustable rear sight added. Does not take away from the value in my opinion.

when you say brought back from the war, does he mean WWII?

CMP prices are from $475-595 to order one and it will take 2 months or more to receive it.

ammoeater · May 18, 2010, 07:41 AM

He said he brought it back from WWII, and he has done no modification. The rifle was issued to him with the bayo lug & rear sight. From the info I can find, both of those mods were available on issued rifles manufactured late in 1944? The serial # is 5,123,XXX.

Apparently, he removed the bolt to disable the rifle and has since lost it. I can't determine if this should be a flat or round bolt. I assume the headspace should be gauged if he buys a replacement bolt, does anyone know a source for a reasonable price on gauges? They seem pretty expensive...

Thanks everyone for your help!

Lashlarue · May 18, 2010, 10:16 AM

Midway sells the Forster brand headspace guages.I paid $54 for a set of 223's go and no go. I have two 223 rifles and a third now on my list of rifles to buy, so it seemed like something I should have.

gak · May 18, 2010, 11:43 AM

It is a very common myth--that continues to be proliferated--that none of those changes made it to WWII-issued carbines. My bringback/unmodified/one owner (father/me) 6-44 Inland is another bit of evidence. Mine didn't get the safety switch, but certainly has the bayo lug (and came with bayo). B-29 pilot father found (NIB in Guam base junkyard!) and brought back behind his seat. It is true that *most* equipped like the OPs were post-war re-fits, and very few bayo-equipped M1s made it onto the WWII battlefield, but ordnance orders were let early in '44, with production (and perhapssome field re-fits) mid to late '44 and into '45. There are a few (very) pics out there showing them in service.
The windage and range/ramp adjustable sight was late '43 I believe.

May 11, 2010, 02:00 PM	#1
ammoeater Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2000 Location: NJ Posts: 169	M1 carbine value? Didn't want to hijack the other thread. Can anyone hazard a guess as to the value of a vet-bringback M1 carbine that has been hanging on the vet's wall since he returned from the war? It is an Inland, manufactured in the spring of '44. It has the bayo lug and flip safety, along with the bayonet and sheath and windage-adjustable rear sight. No oiler or sling. He says it has never been modified, it is as it was issued. When was the adj rear sight put into production? He also has some stripper clips loaded up with ammo. Been stored dry and cool, would it be safe to shoot? __________________ If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, - go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen! Samuel Adams Philadelphia Statehouse 1 August 1776 Last edited by ammoeater; May 11, 2010 at 02:07 PM.

May 18, 2010, 06:50 AM	#4
blume357 Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 3,943	from what I've read it has been modified... was done just after the big war... all of them had the bayonet lug and adjustable rear sight added. Does not take away from the value in my opinion. when you say brought back from the war, does he mean WWII? CMP prices are from $475-595 to order one and it will take 2 months or more to receive it.

May 18, 2010, 07:41 AM	#5
ammoeater Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2000 Location: NJ Posts: 169	He said he brought it back from WWII, and he has done no modification. The rifle was issued to him with the bayo lug & rear sight. From the info I can find, both of those mods were available on issued rifles manufactured late in 1944? The serial # is 5,123,XXX. Apparently, he removed the bolt to disable the rifle and has since lost it. I can't determine if this should be a flat or round bolt. I assume the headspace should be gauged if he buys a replacement bolt, does anyone know a source for a reasonable price on gauges? They seem pretty expensive... Thanks everyone for your help! __________________ If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, - go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen! Samuel Adams Philadelphia Statehouse 1 August 1776

May 18, 2010, 10:16 AM	#6
Lashlarue Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2008 Posts: 533	Midway sells the Forster brand headspace guages.I paid $54 for a set of 223's go and no go. I have two 223 rifles and a third now on my list of rifles to buy, so it seemed like something I should have. __________________ I've made a lot of money in my life, most was spent on booze, babes, guns, and poker,the rest I wasted!

May 11, 2010, 08:23 PM	#2
Tacoma Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2004 Location: SE New England Posts: 620	Couple of things to look for the effect value. Import stamp on the barrel? (Likely not if it was a bring back but...) Different date/manufacture on the barrel? Condition of bore ? Condition of wood and metal? Proper/matching parts? That said, inland was the most common of the M1 carbines so there is no huge collectors value. Still, a shooter that wasn't a parts gun is worth $500-$600 all day long. Adjustable rear started latter in WWII as I recall. Get a serial # and the gun can be accurately dated. If the price and condition are decent. Jump on it. These are allot of fun and getting pricier all the time.

May 18, 2010, 03:58 AM	#3
ISC Junior member Join Date: August 5, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,982	Paperwork certifying it to be a war trophy adds value too, but since it was US manufactured it was probabably smuggled back and doesn't have papers.

May 18, 2010, 11:43 AM	#7
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Location: Aridzona Posts: 2,767	It is a very common myth--that continues to be proliferated--that none of those changes made it to WWII-issued carbines. My bringback/unmodified/one owner (father/me) 6-44 Inland is another bit of evidence. Mine didn't get the safety switch, but certainly has the bayo lug (and came with bayo). B-29 pilot father found (NIB in Guam base junkyard!) and brought back behind his seat. It is true that most equipped like the OPs were post-war re-fits, and very few bayo-equipped M1s made it onto the WWII battlefield, but ordnance orders were let early in '44, with production (and perhapssome field re-fits) mid to late '44 and into '45. There are a few (very) pics out there showing them in service. The windage and range/ramp adjustable sight was late '43 I believe.