He’s right about the magazines in the video.
A modern day new M1 Carbine isn’t worth the the prices thst they are asking fir them. They are not made to the same quality that the WWII M1 Carbines were.
I bought my first M1 Carbine less than $200. It is a Arsenal rebuild. Don’t get hung up on getting an Arsenal rebuilt one. Most people even many collectors don’t really know what constitutes a parts mix and a correct M1 Carbine. Without having the reference books detailing exactly what parts go with different manufacturers and even from the same manufacturer but from a different date will have different parts and upgraded parts also.
A modern new manufacturers M1 Carbine will never be worth what an origional WWII M1 will be worth. Original M1 Carbine and M1 Garands will always continue to go up in price. I have a Rock-Ola all original M1 Carbine that I bought in 2018 for $1800. That all origional Rock-Ola M1 Carbine in 2024 is now going for over $6k. I also have a certificate of authenticity but I still made a list of all the parts and checked each part off with my reference books to make sure.
If I wasn’t a collector then having a parts mix wouldn’t bother me because the vast majority of M1 Carbines have been messed with at some point in time.
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@Jammo I posted this guide before and it has a lot of good info for anyone wanting to know more about them. I have more info if you need it.
Make sure that you soak up as much vitamin D as possible and have fun on your trip. 
M1 Carbine- Info and accurizing.pdf (44.2 KB)
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Buddy has his dads from 60s or 70s i think. Recently he came across the m1 enforcer pistol version at local shop. Very cool. The rifle has feeding issues. Not sure if he figured that all out or not. I feel like its the magazines, not sure dependable ones are very abundant.
well originally they may have had a few parts from here or there, but it was really the rearsenalling that got the parts all mixmastered up usually much like what the do/did to the M1 Garands. GI’s would take them apart and throw all the parts in a pile while cleaning and then grab a part and clean it and put it in their rifle too… so there was that going on too. A lot of guys only want a m1 garand if its all the same parts, or a m1 carbine that has all the same manufacturer parts, but to me its not how it was done in the war, and after in rearsenalling, so id rather keep it how it wsa with our GI’s and what not. to me if it was good enough to win a war, its good enough to be in my collection and for me to shoot. theres a lot of research you can learn by checking out sites like this one : The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines
theres a lot of reading and other sites out there, but you get the idea.
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yeah a lot of times the mags can be a big problem. i stick to using usgi mags, or believe it or not the korean metal mags. they actually work really well. or at least in my experience they have. the gun itslelf is a blast to shoot. it has 0 kick, i mean even less than an ar in my opinion. i can see how it helped us win the war, it was definately the lightest of all the US rifles.
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And I would be absolutely happy with one of those mismatched ones.
I was under the impression that those had just been pierced together and may not be any good.
But now I understand that’s not necessarily the case. I don’t need all matching at all. I would definitely prefer the history over new as long as it functions correctly.
Let me know if you see any worth buying.
Thanks Steve!
@GamecockOperator
What @GamecockOperator mentioned about the mags is spot on in my experience. Keep in mind they are wear sensitive as well.
What he said.
The Wife paid a pretty penny for hers a couple years ago - but it is one of the Korean Lend/Lease returns that came back, that had been in Storage in South Korea for 60-odd years. It’s Obvious upon close examination hers is an “original” and not an Arsenal Refurbishment.
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My wife bought me one a few years ago for an anniversary present (yes, she’s great). Finding decent ammo at a reasonable price ain’t easy.
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yeah ammo has been an issue when i try to find it locally. for a while there i was buying the Monarch 30 cal from academy as that was all i could source locally… even psa was always sold out. I havent bought 30 cal in some time, but that does remind me i need to increase the ammo stores on that caliber.
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Funny, several months ago PSA actually had around 5-6 boxes on the shelf. As I reached to grab them, an older gentleman asked me a question and we started talking. I turned my back and when I turned back around 2 minutes later, someone had grabbed them.
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yeah they go pretty fast every time i see them
It’s Dog-Eat-Dog out on the Ammunition Shelves!
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Auto ordinance is dollar for dollar the best choice. MAC and nuttinfancy reviews them. If money isn’t an issue, Fulton armory.
The key is factory mags not cheap no name brands.
My auto ordinance made in 1999 is flawless with cheap ammo to underwood extreme cavitators.
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i just saw a m1 carbine on Armslist, its up in the spartanburg area, and the guy wants a trade for it. its a 1943 ww2 underwood m1 carbine. Trade for sig MPX, Sig MCX, FN SCAR, etc…
maybe a good deal if you have something he wants that you got in at a cheap price… maybe.
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Greatly appreciate you keeping your eyes out for me. Unfortunately nothing to part with on his list. Thanks again @GamecockOperator
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Brother man just now seeing this thread. We know that @GamecockOperator and @1911 run vintage M1 carbines, IIRC Steve owns a Postal meter and Greg has a Rockola? I have a Universal 83 production clone if you will. It runs with accassuonal FTF. I can accept that for what l gave for it last yr for $200 w/sling/butt stock mag pouch and 2 mags. Inland back in the day produced the most built in Dayton OH…believe that was GM? Saginaw l think is the rarest? I have owned 3…2 Universal and one lndland. Never one issue with the Inland. Good luck on your choice brother! Wish l kept the Inland!
Edit:
Irwin Pederson
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