M1 Carbine experts please chime in

[alks207]

I recently acquired this M1 Carbine and would like to get ya'lls opinions on its originality. I am not very knowledgeable on us surplus, and I am aware that a lot of these were bastardized by trying to make them "original". From what I can tell is that it was reworked post WW2, it has a Rockola barrel and Quality Hardware receiver. The stock does not have ANY markings that I can see. Any knowledgeable shed of light would be greatly appreciated. I took photos of all stamps that I could find but if I need to take more pictures I will. Is this all post WW2 original and configuration, or was it bastardized? What is the current market value for this carbine? Thank you all in advance. Cheers

https://imgur.com/a/W4659iy

[toro1]

I am far from being an expert, but it looks like a blue sky import mixmaster. What is the Serial Number?

[SVT-40]

It's a Korean import by Blue Sky arms.

BS reparkerized most of them with the dark almost black finish on your carbine.They are a mix of parts. The stock isn't USGI it's a foreign made stock and handguard.

It should be a good shooter.

[bigbossman]

With very few exceptions, USGI carbines are all mix-master and not in the "correct" condition they left the factory in. Yours is sitting in a non-USGI stock that is missing the internal "bridge" and has the selector switch cut-out, so an M2 stock designed for select fire carbines. Also - it appears to have been cleaned and sanded, as the butt plate is a bit proud of the wood. and the top of the pistol grip has a clean spot where the Koreans usually marked the guns with white paint/numbers.

As was already mentioned, yours is a USGI carbine that saw use in Korea before being imported by Blue Sky. The good news is it is still a USGI carbine, and USGI stocks are easy enough to find it you want to put it back in a USGI walnut stock.

[alks207]

Originally Posted by SVT-40

It's a Korean import by Blue Sky arms.

BS reparkerized most of them with the dark almost black finish on your carbine.They are a mix of parts. The stock isn't USGI it's a foreign made stock and handguard.

It should be a good shooter.

Thanks. How can you tell the stock/handguard are foreign made?

[alks207]

Originally Posted by toro1

I am far from being an expert, but it looks like a blue sky import mixmaster. What is the Serial Number?

It has a giant billboard on the side of the barrel that says "Blue Sky / Arlington, VA". This is where I'm confused. Weren't most carbines a mixmaster? Or did this importer assemble it from random parts after the post-war refurb process? SN# 4668479

[alks207]

Originally Posted by bigbossman

With very few exceptions, USGI carbines are all mix-master and not in the "correct" condition they left the factory in. Yours is sitting in a non-USGI stock that is missing the internal "bridge" and has the selector switch cut-out, so an M2 stock designed for select fire carbines. Also - it appears to have been cleaned and sanded, as the butt plate is a bit proud of the wood. and the top of the pistol grip has a clean spot where the Koreans usually marked the guns with white paint/numbers.

As was already mentioned, yours is a USGI carbine that saw use in Korea before being imported by Blue Sky. The good news is it is still a USGI carbine, and USGI stocks are easy enough to find it you want to put it back in a USGI walnut stock.

Much appreciated. I'll look for one on gunbroker. What do you think the current value is on the carbine?

[bigbossman]

Originally Posted by alks207

It has a giant billboard on the side of the barrel that says "Blue Sky / Arlington, VA". This is where I'm confused. Weren't most carbines a mixmaster? Or did this importer assemble it from random parts after the post-war refurb process? SN# 4668479

The "Blue Sky / Arlington, VA" is the importer's mark. They brought the carbines back into the country, and importers are required to mark the gun as an import when it comes in. While they possibly could have assembled carbines from parts, most likely they were refurbed in Korea as needed during their service life by the Koreans. Yes, almost all carbines have been through rebuild once, twice, or more.

The Koreans made a lot of replacement stocks out of wood that wasn't USGI walnut, and that is what your stock appears to be.

Originally Posted by alks207

Much appreciated. I'll look for one on gunbroker. What do you think the current value is on the carbine?

Hard to say, as the market has been all over the place. Minimum $900? Blue Sky imported carbines are frowned on by some collectors so a bit less desirable that others. The knock is that they roll stamped some of the barrels on the heavy side, and caused a deformation. I have a Winchester Blue Sky Winchester in my collection, and it is a great shooter.

[sigstroker]

When Blue Sky's first became available, they were looked down upon. Then as carbines became harder to find, they started to regain some status. A guy that knows carbines pretty well told me my Winchester was worth over a thousand bucks. It didn't have any big import marks on the stock though, just a small one on the barrel. The stock was not a Winchester, but it was a USGI one without cracks or big dings.

[SVT-40]

Originally Posted by alks207

Thanks. How can you tell the stock/handguard are foreign made?

No markings, Type of wood, and the removed markings on the bottom of the grip area.

[NorcalGSG]

Fwiw I wouldn't change a thing. That wood looks serviceable, and it's part of the "history" of the thing. A USGI stock won't improve the value other than just what you want.
Just enjoy your piece of history and have fun shooting. Don't waste money trying to "correct" imho, it's a refurb and nothing wrong with that as-is.

[Quiet]

Originally Posted by bigbossman

The "Blue Sky / Arlington, VA" is the importer's mark. They brought the carbines back into the country, and importers are required to mark the gun as an import when it comes in. While they possibly could have assembled carbines from parts, most likely they were refurbed in Korea as needed during their service life by the Koreans. Yes, almost all carbines have been through rebuild once, twice, or more.

The Koreans made a lot of replacement stocks out of wood that wasn't USGI walnut, and that is what your stock appears to be.

During the 1980s, Blue Sky imported them (M1 Garand and M1 Carbine) into the USA as configured by the ROK Military.

The ROK Military treated their M1s the same as the US Military and constantly mix matched parts when they were serviced by unit armorers.

The ROK Military issued/utilized the M1 Carbine as their standard issue carbine up to the mid-1970s.
In order to maintain them in working order, the ROK Military contracted South Korean manufacturers to make replacement stocks, small parts, and magazines for them.

From the early-2000s to mid-2010s, the ROK Gov wanted to sell off more M1s, but importation into the USA was banned by the Obama Administration.
^These were going to be imported into the USA by Century Arms and Lionheart Industries. Initial importation orders were for 84,000 M1 Garands and 22,000 M1 Carbines. The importers were going to pay $600 per firearm.

The ROK Military still maintains 1 million M1 Carbines in reserve to be issued out in case of an invasion by North Korea.
^They will get handed out to people who have completed their military service and are still in fighting condition (age 20-70).

Pics circa 2013... M1 Garands made ready for sale by the ROK Gov.
10 rifles per barrel.

[bigbossman]

Originally Posted by NorcalGSG

Fwiw I wouldn't change a thing. That wood looks serviceable, and it's part of the "history" of the thing. A USGI stock won't improve the value other than just what you want.

Yeah - it would be a personal preference thing, for me. I like USGI walnut stock sets, and I'm not fond of M2 stocks on carbines.

But you're right - it wouldn't do much for enhancing the value.

[hambam105]

Where are the barrels of ammo to with those barreled rifles?

[dfletcher]

Originally Posted by alks207

Much appreciated. I'll look for one on gunbroker. What do you think the current value is on the carbine?

You may want to also check EBay. I found a stock for my Winchester there. Keep in mind that alot of listings are priced figuring someone is looking to match what they have for a rifle (Inland, RockOla, Winchester, etc) to make it "original configuration". All you want is a GI stock.

Don't forget about an upper handguard - want to make sure it matches the stock's finish & grain, as much as possible.

[TMB 1]

https://www.dupagetrading.com/produc...ne-stock-sets/

If you want to change the stock just get a new production stock from Dupage. Rub some Teak or Tung oil on it, no stain. After a while the oil will change stock to reddish color and look really nice.

It is what I did with my CAI imported Saginaw carbine. I saved its beat up M2 stock so I could put it back to its original as imported condition if I wanted to.

[bigbossman]

Originally Posted by TMB 1

https://www.dupagetrading.com/produc...ne-stock-sets/

If you want to change the stock just get a new production stock from Dupage. Rub some Teak or Tung oil on it, no stain. After a while the oil will change stock to reddish color and look really nice.

It is what I did with my CAI imported Saginaw carbine. I saved its beat up M2 stock so I could put it back to its original as imported condition if I wanted to.

That seems to be a reasonable and economic solution.

[kcheung2]

Numrich and Fulton Armory are other sources for new stocks, although they are higher than Dupage. If you need the metal parts & don’t want to take it from the existing stock, Fulton has those.

If you really feel like taking a chance, J & G has used stocks, but they are a grab bag. Might be cracked, might not. All will need some cleaning. Maybe order a few, practice stock refinishing on the junkers and keep the best one?

[bigbossman]

Originally Posted by kcheung2

Numrich and Fulton Armory are other sources for new stocks, although they are higher than Dupage. If you need the metal parts & don’t want to take it from the existing stock, Fulton has those.

If you really feel like taking a chance, J & G has used stocks, but they are a grab bag. Might be cracked, might not. All will need some cleaning. Maybe order a few, practice stock refinishing on the junkers and keep the best one?

I remember way back when (2000 or so?), Century Arms was selling Korean take-off carbine stocks for $5 each. I had nothing better to do, so I ordered 50 of them. All were dirty, some were cracked beyond repair, and they all needed to be stripped and refinished. Almost all were USGI walnut, and I got several nice stocks out of the pile - Winchester high-wood, IBM, Saginaw, etc. Sold off most of them for about $40 each, and kept the best ones.

Those were the days.

[alks207]

I see that J&G sales have M1 Carbine stocks, but prices range anywhere from $19.00 - $200. I'll give them a call later on today to clarify such a big price range.

[SVT-40]

Most of the stocks I've seen ar J&G are junk. I live in prescott, so I go there often.

OP. Why do you need to replace the stock?

The carbine is nice as is. It will always be a Korean import, so why spend around $100 to get a new US made stock?

Replacing the as is stock won't increase the value of the carbine by much, and definitely won't make it shoot better.

I would just enjoy it as it us.

[toro1]

I'm with SVT on the J&G stocks. I've looked at them many times and never took one home even as a project stock. Unless you can put your hands on the stock you are buying from them, I wouldn't do it.

[KansasGunner]

USGI carbine stocks can be made of walnut, yellow birch or wild black cherry per Grafton H. Cook's The M1 Carbine: A Revolution in Gunstocking.

[alks207]

Originally Posted by SVT-40

Most of the stocks I've seen ar J&G are junk. I live in prescott, so I go there often.

OP. Why do you need to replace the stock?

The carbine is nice as is. It will always be a Korean import, so why spend around $100 to get a new US made stock?

Replacing the as is stock won't increase the value of the carbine by much, and definitely won't make it shoot better.

I would just enjoy it as it us.

Thanks for your input. Honestly, it just kind of bothers me that it doesn't have USGI stamps on the stock, but not enough for me to pay over $100. I think I'll keep it as is, and if I find a USGI stock later on for a decent price, I'll pick one up.

[vor503sm]

Don't over think it! Even the originals were not always from one manufacturer. Gets some dies and shot. Great thing is not much powder needed and typically available!

[sbo80]

Originally Posted by alks207

Honestly, it just kind of bothers me that it doesn't have USGI stamps on the stock

Except a USGI stock isn't quite correct on that rifle, either. Changing the stock is like trying to hide the rifle's history. Which you can't do because of the importer stamp anyway. Personally I like the evidence of the journey these rifles took. I have a French receiver Russian Mosin, that ended up a Finnish M39. How cool is that.