M1 Carbine?

[KAPA]

So I have been wanting one of these for some time now, prefer the paratrooper stock but have yet to see one available for sale. I ran across one today with a wood stock that had a Sept 1943 mfr date made by IBM. I know of the over 6 million of these that were made, IBM made less than 400,000 of them so I am thinking this is a pretty rare find. Combine that with the fact that the stock and all was in really good looking shape with just a few blemishes on it, would $1300 be a reasonable price? Great deal or would I be getting ripped off? The rifle was in full operating condition. I know you can get cheaper ones built after the war, but this one could have a lot of history behind it considering when it was built. Hell it could have been on Iwo Jima or Omaha Beach.

So, good deal, bad deal? Can I even find ammo and a few extra mags for this thing? Anyone know of a better method for finding guns like these?

[XC700116]

I don't know squat about the rifle or the value, but you can find some ammo out there, not a lot of it, but there is some available. I'm sure mags could be found as well.

http://www.sgammo.com/catalog/rifle-...ion/30-carbine
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/produc...mmo-30-carbine

[zteknik]

IBM is a good one.
Now is it worth $1300? Depends on if it has all the correct parts and stock.If it does and it's in decent shape it is worth it.
But if it's a mixmaster personally I wouldn't spend over $800.
I would research it to see if it indeed is all correct prior to shelling out the coin.

Yes theres plenty of ammo-(wolf makes steel case for it,but some carbines wont run them)- and mags out there for it,just stay away from the commercial mags,they never work right and not worth the time to make them run right.

Get some books and read up first before spending good money-plus you'll learn a lot
http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/books.html

[7insert]

http://gunbot.net/ammo/30carbine/

You will be paying 49 cents a shot.

$1300 is a decent price assuming parts match and it doesnt have a tapco stock or something wrong with it. If you dont care for collecting one you can get a repro

[rondog]

Kapa - I have a couple of carbines, including an IBM, and I live in Parker. I won't claim to be an expert, but if you want a second set of eyes, let me know. I'd think $1300 would be a top-shelf price for an all correct IBM, but carbines are getting mighty hard to find and prices are climbing rapidly, so who knows. The CMP forums is a great place for info, but the CMP has been sold out of carbines for a long time, with no more expected.

That price may be out of line, or it may be reasonable. Kinda depends on the details of that individual rifle and the story behind it. And how badly you want one and how much you're willing to pay. If it's an all-original, as-issued, correct IBM with all IBM parts that never had any of the upgrades, field modifications, or arsenal rebuilds, and was smuggled home in a duffel bag, it may well be worth every penny. If it's a typical mixmaster that went through one or more arsenal rebuilds where parts were changed and upgrades made, then not so much.

I know I spotted what appeared to be an unmolested, all original carbine with as-issued parts and features and no upgrades, perhaps a duffel bag gun, at Green Mountain Guns once for sale on consignment. I can't remember what make it was, maybe Underwood, but it was priced right at $1000 and it was already gone when I hurried back the next day with the cash. This was 2-3 years ago.

Oh, and if you find an original wartime M1A1 paratrooper carbine with the folding stock, which would be an Inland, you'd better be prepared to sell a decent car in order to finance it! Those are highly sought after and command top dollar.

[DonnyCommo]

FWIW I picked up a Rockola mixmaster with Rockola parts and 200 rounds for $750.

[Robb]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with a few folks here and say I personally think that price is high.
For that price it better be about perfect and all matching with correct/visable cartouches etc. If it has a bayo lug and an adjustable sight then it sure isn't a 1943 original anymore.
If you watch the fs board on ODCMP.com you'd find a much better deal, even on an IBM. If you want an original folder, those go for around a grand + just for the stock, no gun attached, and they're only 'correct' on an Inland in a specific serial number range.

USGI mags are the way to go, but I've heard that Brownells/Midway sells quality repo's that work, but I have no experience, you'll have to do your own research on those.

[Robb]

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=114743

[KAPA]

Thanks for all the replies guys, found out the rear sight is not original so that kind of kills it for me. Also did some research based on what I read here and have discovered that I will never have an original WWII era paratrooper M1. Didn't know they went for as much as they seem to go for... Yikes... So sad!

Good thing though, I don't think I was prepared to drop that much on a rifle at the moment, hopefully in the spring I can find a regular M1 Carbine for around $1000 or so... We shall see!

[rondog]

What kind of rear sight did it have? The originals were two position "flipper" type battle sights, but there were at least two other adjustable sights used as upgrades. Type 2 milled and Type 3 stamped. All were USGI and can be considered "correct", since they were installed as improvements and are more common than the flippers. Most of those were scrapped, original flippers are scarce. There's repop flippers out there, and I believe aftermarkets of type 2's and 3's.